Homiletics Training: Applications

We are back!  Today’s topic is Applications.  They are open-ended (not “yes” or “no”) questions. You must have one Application for each Division.  They should do one of four things: convict, encourage trust in God, cause evaluation of thinking or create change.  We are after thinking and heart change, here.  Behavior will follow, but shouldn’t be the focus.  Your Applications should also relate to each Division’s text.  Here are my Applications for this exercise:

1.How have you guarded your heart to continue sharing your faith from painful experiences of rejection because of your faith in Jesus?

2.How have you kept your heart from becoming prideful over mission success?

3.How does God minister to you when you get alone with Him that keeps you motivated to seek Him daily?

 

You will hear “homiletics people” talk about “root versus fruit”.  A change to the root will affect the fruit.  Doing something to the fruit doesn’t alter the root.  We are targeting the root with our Application questions.

What do your Application questions look like?


Here's a suggestion: answer your Application Questions.  It may surprise you what you learn when you do this.

I don’t always do these steps in order.  Content is always first.  Divisions will present themselves as I read, so I may note Divisions before I finish my Content.  But I will always polish my Divisions after I finish my Content.  Sometimes an Application question will pop out while I’m reading and I will note it.  But I always polish the Applications after I’ve crafted my Subject Sentence and identified my Aim so I know my Applications support those pieces.  Sometimes an amazing Application question will drive my Aim.  When the order is disrupted, I pray because I want to be led by God, not my worldly mind in this process.

Homiletics is a worthwhile way to spend time with God where He reveals beautiful truth from Scripture I don’t see just by reading the text.  Yes, it can be a lot of work, but it is always worth the time spent.  And when I’ve done a thorough job of homiletics, I find I can better answer questions about the text.

Remember this: homiletics is primarily for YOU!  This is time you spend with God to hear from Him.  Out of the overflow He gives you, you will give to others.  Be blessed as you do your homiletics.