How Sermons are Classified

Synopsis

Sermons are most commonly classified as topical, textual, or expository, based on the use made of the text in construction. The topical sermon takes only a topic or subject from the text; its divisions are invented by the preacher according to the subject's rhetorical possibilities. It allows full liberty of composition but tends to be coloured by the preacher's personal views, too general, and prone to arbitrary, chain-like divisions; it is best used when a subject is not treated by any one passage, when introducing an unfamiliar doctrine, or when addressing evangelistic or social themes not covered directly in Scripture. The textual sermon draws its subject and main divisions from the text itself, though subdivisions are invented as in the topical method; it is more scriptural, memorable, and satisfying, though it can be objected that it restricts originality or invites forced texts. The expository sermon takes subject, main divisions, and subdivisions all from the text, usually a longer passage such as a paragraph, chapter, or book; it most resembles apostolic preaching, deepens biblical knowledge, restrains loose interpretation and hobby-horse preaching, and is recommended for series, narrative or parable texts, and treatments longer than a verse or two.