Steps to the Sermon

In the last couple of weeks someone asked me how I prepare my messages for Sunday mornings. I actually do have a system that I follow pretty "religiously." I hope this demonstrates for the person who asked me about this and for anybody else that might be curious. Thanks for asking!

I usually start on Monday morning around 8:30 or 9:00 AM and work this system until around 3:00 PM. I then work on it Tuesday also. Wednesday I am interrupted with other "responsibilities" so I usually only get about 2 hours if I am fortunate. On Thursdays I like to take from around 9:00 AM until 3:00 or 3:30 PM to write my message in a full manuscript form.

If need be I allow some of the final writing to spill over to Friday, but I like to meditate on and digest the message. I also like to save Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John Calvin's commentaries to Friday and drink deeply from their insights.

Saturdays, from the time I get up until around 8:00 or 9:00 PM I don't give the message another thought. But I do like to go into my study around 9:00ish on Saturday night and read the passage several times and read through my manuscript underlining important sentences.

Since today is Tuesday, here is my system and here is what I have so far. The rest of today will be filling out the skeleton outline of the message according to step 12.

Step 1 - Translation

Romans 4:9-12 - ο μακαρισμος ουν ουτος επι την περιτομην η και επι την ακροβυστιαν λεγομεν γας οτι ελογισθη τω αβρααμ η πιστις εις δικαιοσυνην [10] πως ουν ελογισθη εν περιτομη οντι η εν ακροβυστια ουκ εν περιτομη αλλ εν ακροβυστια [11] και σημειον ελαβεν περιτομης σφραγιδα της δικαιοσυνης της πιστεως της εν τη ακροβυστια εις το ειναι αυτον πατερα παντων των πιστευοντων δι ακροβυστιας εις το λογισθηναι και αυτοις την δικαιοσυνην [12] και πατερα περιτομης τοις ουκ εκ περιτομης μονον αλλα και τοις στοιχουσιν τοις ιχνεσιν της πιστεως της εν τη ακροβυστια του πατρος ημων αβρααμ (Byzantine/Majority Text)

 Is this blessing then on the circumcision, or also on the uncircumcision? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it counted? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision. And he received (a) sign, circumcision, (a) seal of the righteousness of faith in uncircumcision, for him being (the) Father (of) all the believing through uncircumcision, for to be counted and them righteous. And a Father of circumcision to those not only of the circumcision but also to those following in the steps of the faith where our father Abraham had while in uncircumcision.  (GDM)

Step 2 - Key Word Study

4061	Circumcised - to cut around, circumcision, cutting off of the foreskin
203	Uncircumcised - foreskin, not being a Jew, implication: outside of the promise/covenant, Gentile pagan
3049	Accounted - reason, account, to impute, to number, reckon, to count, to think, to put to his account - technical term of God's action or activity
4592	Sign - a mark, token, a sign which something is designated, distinguished, known
1343	Righteousness - the essence, that which is just - fulfils the claims which are Gods - conformity to the claims of God, stands juxtaposed to lawlessness, standing the test of God, conforming to all that God commands

Step 3 - The Central Proposition of the Text

The Righteousness of God is granted to all who believe in Jesus Christ apart from works as well as apart from the law, which ratifies the promise made by God resulting in definite benefits for the believer.

Step 4 - Synthesis

Paul proves from the account of Abraham's exercise of faith which resulted in his justification occurred while he was uncircumcised establishing the fact that justification is by faith alone and not by virtue of being circumcised.

Step 5 - Exegetical Sentence Outline

2A	Paul uses Abraham as an illustration to prove that Abraham was justified by faith alone

1B	In order to support his point, Paul contrasts justification between faith and chores (works)
2B	In order to support his point, Paul contrasts justification between faith and circumcision

1C	Abraham was declared to be righteous prior to his being circumcised (9-10)
2C	Abraham received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness he  already possessed (11a)
3C	Abraham became the Father of all who believe (11b-12)
	1D  Abraham became the Father of the Gentiles who believe
	2D  Abraham became the Father of the Jews who believe

Step 6 - Exposition Proper

4:9-10

Some might attempt to argue that v. 9 begins a new paragraph. This seems to be unlikely since the themes of "blessing," "accounting," and "faith" are continued and actually expanded by Paul.

A Jew might respond to Paul's proposition that justification by faith is possible, but only for the Jews. Paul had just used to Jewish Icons (Abraham and David) in establishing his point.

The Argument of vss. 9-10 is that Abraham was justified before he had been circumcised by some 14-29 years. Therefore being a biological descended of Abraham was not necessary to be accepted by God.

4:11a

Abraham did not earn the sign of circumcision. Even though this is what the Jews believed, Paul argues that circumcision served as a sign which pointed to the reality of having been made righteous by God through the instrumentality of faith. Abraham was declared to be righteous by his faith before he was circumcised. Therefore, anyone, Jew or Gentile can become a child of Abraham or of God by faith not by being circumcised.

4:11b-12

Abraham is the spiritual father and example of all who believe. He is the spiritual father of the Gentiles  as well as the spiritual father of the Jews. Paul makes a distinct point, he is not the father of every Gentile or of every Jew. Abraham is the spiritual father of all who believe or have faith.

Step 7 - Homiletical Idea and Outline

Thesis:  Abraham was righteous before he was circumcised

1B	Contrast between Faith and Circumcision (9-12)
	1C  Justified before circumcision
	2C  Received sign to seal his justification
	3C  Father of all who believe

Step 8 - Organization of all my textual work

Title: 

How to Be Right With God (Part 8)

Text: 

Romans 4:9-12

Translation:

Is this blessing then on the circumcision, or also on the uncircumcision? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it counted? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision. And he received (a) sign, circumcision, (a) seal of the righteousness of faith in uncircumcision, for him being (the) Father (of) all the believing through uncircumcision, for to be counted and them righteous. And a Father of circumcision to those not only of the circumcision but also to those following in the steps of the faith where our father Abraham had while in uncircumcision. (GDM)

Truth:

The Righteousness of God is granted to all who believe in Jesus Christ apart from works as well as apart from the law, which ratifies the promise made by God resulting in definite benefits for the believer.

Thumbnail:

1B	Contrast between Faith and Circumcision (9-12)
	1C  Justified before circumcision - Period
	2C  Received sign to seal his justification - Proof
	3C  Father of all who believe - Purpose

Step 9 - The Purpose Bridge

To prove that Abraham was justified before he was circumcised thereby rendering circumcision unnecessary.

Step 10 - The Central Proposition of the Text (CPT)

Theme:  What am I talking about?

I am talking about the fact that Abraham was justified prior to circumcision

Thrust:  What am I saying about the that fact that Abraham was justified prior to circumcision?

I am saying that having been justified by his faith prior to circumcision, it makes circumcision unnecessary in order to belong to God.

Circumcision is not necessary in order to be justified. (CPT)

Step 11 - The Purpose of the Passage - What does this passage teach us?

• Justification is apart from the ceremonial law - a sinner, Jew or Gentile does not have to become circumcised to be justified

• The use of the "sign" or "seal" indicates that justification is available to those who are not Jews by race and ritual - non Jews are able to become participants in the Abrahamic covenant by virtue of faith sans circumcision

• The use of Psalms 32 demonstrates that justification includes the forgiveness of sins

(Not yet completed)

Step 12 - Develop the Message - writing out the message in manuscript form

Introduction to Message

Pre-introduction

Main introduction

Sub-introduction

Body of Message

State each point

Anchor each point

Validate each point

Explain each point

Illustrate each point

Apply each point

Conclusion to Message