Generating Sermon Outlines with Serman Assistant in Sermon Builder - Feedback and Concerns

Kevin A. Purcell

I just tried out the new Sermon Builder feature that generates sermon outlines. Open Sermon Building and choose the last tab to the right of the section on the right side of the window. You can enter a passage or theme and child on Generate, and it will give you some interesting info, including a sermon outline.

First, my feedback. I've only generated 2 sermon outlines from a passage. I used the same passage and generated two. Both were aliterated. I don't care for alliteration because usually, it makes communication less clear. No matter how hard you try 99/100 times, one of the 3 P words or 4 F words will be mangled to make it fit and less precise. I know many disagree, but you'll have to work hard to prove that alliteration really helps. I've done it, but I usually feel like I worked too hard to shoehorn when I could have created better sermon division statements if I focused more on application-based statements instead of alliterated statements.

I'd like to see a way to turn it off or say, "Regenerate the same outline without the worry of alliteration."

On a positive note, I like the parts at the top (Summary, Application, Teaching, How it points to Christ, Big Idea, Recommended study".

to make it easier, I post the example of one outline in a reply below.

Now, my concern. I say this to ask you preachers -- PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BECOME YOUR FIRST STEP OR WORSE YOUR PRIMARY TOOL OF sermon prep. Use it to help you understand a passage or, in a pinch, rarely as your primary outline to preach. However, sermon prep is important to the result.

I"ll get out from behind my pulpit now. 

Kevin A. Purcell

The Call to Discipleship

1 Kings 19:19–21

Summary: In 1 Kings 19:19–21, Elisha receives the call to follow Elijah and become his disciple, leaving everything behind.

Application: This passage teaches us about the cost and commitment of discipleship. It challenges Christians to be willing to leave behind comforts and distractions to fully follow Christ.

Teaching: The passage teaches us the importance of obedience, faithfulness, and surrender in response to God's call in our lives.

How this passage could point to Christ: Elijah and Elisha's relationship foreshadows the mentor-disciple relationship that Jesus establishes with His own disciples. Jesus calls us to follow Him, just as Elisha followed Elijah.

Big Idea: The call to discipleship requires total commitment, obedience, and surrender to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

Recommended Study: To dive deeper into the themes of discipleship and surrender, consider exploring the concept of mentorship in the New Testament, especially focusing on Jesus' relationship with His disciples. Use your Logos library to study the cultural context of mentorship in ancient Jewish culture and how it relates to modern Christian discipleship. Reflect on the challenges and rewards of following Christ wholeheartedly in today's context.

1. Call Comes Suddenly

1 Kings 19:19

Perhaps you could start by discussing how Elisha's initial encounter with Elijah symbolizes the unexpected and sovereign nature of God's call to each of us. This point can emphasize the principle of readiness and openness to God's call in our lives, reflecting the big idea of total commitment and surrender to follow Christ.

2. Cost Bears Significance

1 Kings 19:20

You might explore Elisha's request to kiss his parents goodbye as illustrating the cost of discipleship, which involves prioritizing God's call over personal relationships and comforts. This can serve as a practical application in understanding the sacrifices involved in following Jesus wholeheartedly, aligning with the big idea of obedience and surrender.

3. Commitment Shows Depth

1 Kings 19:21

Maybe consider how Elisha's actions of slaughtering his oxen and using the plowing equipment for fuel symbolizes a total break from his past life, demonstrating an irreversible commitment to follow Elijah. This could illustrate the idea of leaving behind anything that holds us back from full discipleship, supporting the sermon's big idea of total dedication to Christ.

xnman

Now, my concern. I say this to ask you preachers -- PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BECOME YOUR FIRST STEP OR WORSE YOUR PRIMARY TOOL OF sermon prep. Use it to help you understand a passage or, in a pinch, rarely as your primary outline to preach. However, sermon prep is important to the result.

Amen and Amen! If preachers are not willing to learn the word.... their preaching will show it. And maybe they were meant to do something else besides preaching.?? 

John Fugh, Jr.

I'd like to see a way to turn it off or say, "Regenerate the same outline without the worry of alliteration."

Maybe a solution could be a way for user to make follow up suggestions to the outline to help narrow the scope.  For instance, a followup suggestion could be not to use alliteration.