Lesson Goal
This lesson is designed to teach a logical sequence of connected points.
Lesson Intro
Central Europeans are often very detailed-minded and diligent. A style of rhetoric that is popular among Germans is connecting ideas together in a chain. This is similar to building ideas on top of each other like a ladder or a pyramid.
Lesson Plan
This chapter introduces techniques on how to build an argument from connected ideas. It introduces the chain, ladder and pyramid sermons, all of which are similar and it gives a sample.
Lesson Body
A ladder, a pyramid and a chain sermon are all similar. However, there are slight differences as follows:
1. A Ladder of Targeted Ideas
Many ideas lead upward toward a goal, such as the process of salvation, the development of a doctrine, steps preparing for baptism, etc. The points of the sermon are like stepping stones or the rungs of a ladder. For example, a theological study of the process of salvation could involve the following points, not necessarily in exact time sequence in every case, but definitely leading upwards in the same direction: calling, election, regeneration, conversion, unity with Christ, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, glorification.
2. A Chain of Linked Ideas
Many ideas are linked together, such as points on how to develop a strong marriage, steps to spiritual maturity, building faith, the history of ancient Israel, etc. For example, the process of spiritual maturity may develop over time but includes some linked events, such as:
First link ? find a source of right Christianity (orthodoxy): Orthodoxy refers to the conventional standards of Christianity. It does not only mean right teaching, but also right practice. We will not find true Christianity in some wacky fad or money-grabbing cult that masquerades as Christian.
Second link ? become a disciple of orthodox teaching: This takes a lifetime. Spiritual maturity begins when we are fed healthy Christian teaching. Find a teacher who really knows his Bible, who has been taught at a well-recognized and well-qualified church institution how to rightly divide the word of truth.
Third link ? reject or unlearn bad ideas (heterodoxy): This takes a lifetime. Spiritually mature Christians who have long studied right Christianity and long practiced right Christian living can spot heresy and deception much easier than new converts. This is why new converts need to be taught by spiritually mature, orthodox Christians, not the latest dubious Christian fad.
Fourth link ? orthodox practice (orthopraxy): Spiritual maturity can only follow after being taught right doctrine and then putting it into practice. It will involve such things as fundamentals as loving God and neighbor, forgiveness and doing good works.
3. A Pyramid of Supporting Ideas
Similarly, many ideas are dependent upon the establishment of previous ideas which form a base for each other. These may be foundational ideas which must be established first before others can be built upon upon them. It could include sermon outlines such as building faith, building a reputation, building a fabulous marriage, etc.
Peter describes several things as building one upon the other in 2 Peter 1:5-6.
Example Sermon
Title: "God's Invitation to You"
Goal
Learn how to respond to God's calling.
Intro
What is God doing with you and your life right now? Does it seem like he is opening up doors of opportunity and inviting you to go through those doors? He may be calling you to a particular ministry of service to others.
Plan
We will first of all look at what ministry is and that all God's people are ministers. Then we will examine the sequence of events described in Revelation 17:14, that we are called, chosen and faithful.
Body
What is Ministry?
The word ministry simply means service, and the word minister simply means servant. When some churches speak about their minister, I often wonder if that person is the only one in the church serving. In some cases it may be that the pastor or priest is the only one visiting the sick, or those in prison, or taking time for the widows and shut-ins, but it ought not to be that way. According to Matthew 25, it is the responsibility of every Christian to minister to the needy. The call to ministry follows a logical sequence as follows:
1. An Invitation from God
A call to a vocation is an invitation. Our most important and primary invitation is to be the saints of God (Romans 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:2). A calling from God to minister is not just something that pastors and missionaries receive. God invites us all Christians to minister all the time. He provides special doors for an incredible variety of ministry opportunities. Your job or career is an opportunity to minister. Your talents and special abilities are an opportunity to serve others. Your family life, social life, sports club, school, university, church and community all provide a myriad of opportunities for ministry. Some people are proud of the fact that they have never set foot in a pub or saloon. Others do so regularly and see it as an opportunity for ministry. It all depends on your abilities and the freedom you allow yourself in Christ.
All opportunities for Christians to serve are a special calling from God to ministry. When we think of missionaries, we often think of sending people to a third world country to spread the Gospel, but the local mission field is the most neglected mission field. Being a light, doing good works, is ministry. We need to pray that God would open our eyes to opportunities to serve in the extremely important mission field that he has placed right before us every day.
2. Our Response
God chooses those who respond to the call. Many are invited but few are chosen (Romans 22:14). God does not force us to respond to every invitation to serve, that is our decision. I certainly hope that all of us choose to respond to the general call to be saints. Those who do God chooses to be part of his servant team. That's right, being among the chosen is not a great mystery. In Matthew 22 we read the parable of those invited to the wedding. Who was chosen? Those who responded to the invitation were chosen.
3. Our Faithfulness
We must remain faithful to the call. A ministry goes through several stages. Initially we have (1) the tourist phase, this is the first love that the Ephesians lost. It is exciting to be in a new church, or have a new service opportunity in a local church. But then the second stage sets in. We begin to realize how much work this really is, or how large some of the problems really are, and how much we are sacrificing to do this service. We become discouraged, perhaps even depressed. This is (2) the reality phase, when reality hits us right between the eyes, and it can last for quite some time. Eventually, we must get to (3) the coping phase. We realize this opportunity to play bass in the worship band is hard work, that we must be at rehearsals every time, and that the music director has some really annoying personality traits, but we must be faithful. We realize that being a pastor in the new church is not that much different than the old church. People have different names and different faces, but the same pushy personalities types are in key places, the same heretics are passing their tapes and videos around, the same people are calling on the phone at inappropriate times and you need the help of the same God to be faithful.
Outro
What is God doing with you and your life right now? Does it seem like he is opening up doors of opportunity and inviting you to go through those doors? He may be calling you to a particular ministry of service to others. We have seen that ministry is service and that all God's people are ministers. And we have examined the sequence of events described in Revelation 17:14, that we are called, chosen and faithful. What about you? What is God calling you to do? Will you respond to the invitation, and will you be faithful?
Suggested Assignment
Build an argument from some connected ideas either as a chain, ladder or pyramid. Give it as a sermon.
Lesson Outro
We have discussed techniques on how to build an argument in a sermon from connected ideas as a chain, ladder or pyramid sermons. This kind of sermon helps make the points easier to follow and to remember.
