Skip to content

Soul Preaching

Menu
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Popular Updates
    • Preaching Methods
    • Homiletic Theory
    • Sermon Construction
    • Exegesis
    • Feature Articles
  • SUBSCRIBE
Menu

A Basic Sermon Model – Three Points and a Poem

Posted on February 8, 2008

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

One of the most persistent models of preaching has been termed “Three points and a Poem.” What it means is that the preacher makes three points and then ends with a poem. Some preachers have termed the same sermon method as “Three points and a celebration.”

I have been listening to the sermons of a few preachers and have found that this format is still being used even by some well regarded preachers. Just like any art form, there are variants, but here is one description of the parts of such a sermon.

  1. Text Description – Here the preacher looks at the text. The preacher tells the story of the text. If it is a narrative portion of scripture, the preacher tells that story making use of as many vivid details as is necessary for the purposes of the sermon. If it is a different form of text, the preacher may tell the story behind the creation of the text or any other thing that would help hearers understand the text. The preacher makes sure to give background details that can help the hearer understand what is going on.

    The main point here is that the preacher is attempting to help the people understand the text. That is the emphasis. Now as the preacher describes the text, often applications will spring forth in the minds of the congregation, that is fine and needed, but that is not the emphasis at this point

  2. Three Points of the Sermon – After telling the story of the text in such a way to help the people experience it, the preacher then moves to the three points of the sermon. These points are carefully worded expressions that are derived from the text. Here are a few questions that one can ask to derive these from the text. One might ask: “How can we experience what the text tells us?” Or “How does what the text describe become operative in our lives?”

    So let us assume that your text is Ephesians 6:12-18. You need a basic statement that will be answered by the points. In this case your question may be “How To Defeat the Powers.” The points might be, You gotta 1) Stand, 2)Put on your uniform, and 3)Pray. Your title might be something like, I’m About Business. For further help on sermon titles, you might purchase our ebook on the subject that providing a method of sermon title generation.

    The preacher should attempt to make the points of the sermon progressively intense. So the second point is more emotionally intensive than the first and the third is more than the second.

    Finally, each point of the sermon should have a few parts. First the preacher should show how the point is derived from the text. Answer the question of where this point is in the text. Second the preacher should illustrate the point with some sort of story or example. Third, the preacher should define the point clearly. Fourth, you should tell the people how to accomplish the point, or make it real in their lives. These four aspects can be mixed up in any order, but should be connected to every point.

  3. The Celebration – After you give the three points, the preacher should move towards the celebration. Here you should look for another story or illustration that summarizes the whole sermon. Then you celebrate the gospel in that story which is also celebrating the good news in all the sermon.

    If you can’t find such a summary story, then simply go on and celebrate the good news presented in the sermon. In our example, you might celebrate that you are about business. You have done all three things, and you are ready to battle the forces. You also might celebrate that God wages war for you when you enlist in God’s army.

In Conclusion, three points and a poem is still a very vibrant sermonic form that is used by many and can be a vehicle for faithful proclamation of the Good News. Some homiletics professors look down on the form, but it will probably outlast us all.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

Related posts:

7 Steps to a Good Sermon or How To Create and Preach a Sermon Default ThumbnailPreaching Patterns – Moves and Structures Default ThumbnailThree Layers of Justice Preaching Default ThumbnailPreaching from First Naivete to Second Naivete

9 thoughts on “A Basic Sermon Model – Three Points and a Poem”

  1. Minister Clark says:
    January 10, 2011 at 11:11 am

    Soul Preaching .Com has really been a blessing in my life. Keep up the good work.

  2. James Tompkins says:
    April 12, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    I will be 73 years old in less than a month, and I am studing to preach the first message I have preach in years. God has been dealing with me for a while, and I am getting prepared. I believe I will have the chance to preach real soon. Please pray for me.

    James Tompkins

  3. Cliff says:
    April 15, 2011 at 6:28 am

    Outstanding article. I really like the clarity on what exactly the celabration is. It seems to me that many may think the celebration is “just” presenting the His death, burial and ressurection, while neglecting to summerize. Thanks a lot for your insiteful articles on various topic. Your ministry is a true asset to preachers and laity WORLDWIDE.

  4. Vernetia Miller says:
    April 15, 2011 at 11:21 am

    As I was walking this morning, getting in my esxercise, I listened to a sermon by one of my mentors, Ivan Douglas Hicks, and by the end of the sermon I realized that Dr. Hicks had used the “Three Points and a Poem” format to bring his message. I smiled and thought of you, Elder Cox, and said to myself, “There is nothing outdated about three points and a celebration.” I intend to use the format often, to build up my skills.

  5. Marilynn Turner says:
    March 16, 2013 at 2:15 am

    How important is the music during the build up of the message. I say build up because I have always thought the celebration was the peak of the sermon and just before that the music would assist the pastor. Is this true in traditional sermon delivery? Thanks for yoru response.

  6. minister Hiland says:
    March 19, 2013 at 5:01 pm

    hey,thanks,preacher.this is very unfull information.I apperciate this!!!!

  7. minister Hiland says:
    March 19, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    sorrry,that was suppose to say useful,Lol

  8. John Divine says:
    April 3, 2013 at 2:29 am

    This is awesomely Great! It’s awe-inspiring and cuts like a surgeon’s scalpel for good.

  9. Pingback: For Some Pastors, Preaching to Younger Congregations Means Changing Their Sermon Delivery - Urban Christian News

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
  • Thou Shalt Have Good News
  • The Answer Is In The Records
  • Just Keep the Ball In Play
  • The Importance of Good News
  • Preaching Advent With Imagination
  • Why The Thorn

Free Email Training

Sign up for the New Preaching TIPS Email Newsletter. You will recieve 5-7 emails a week.

Click Here

Revised Common Lectionary

    Instagram

    shermancox

    Instagram post 18041906996079829 Instagram post 18041906996079829
    Instagram post 17910296783919000 Instagram post 17910296783919000
    Instagram post 18035493148903548 Instagram post 18035493148903548
    Instagram post 17887097775081541 Instagram post 17887097775081541
    #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning
    I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal
    Instagram post 18087447073438590 Instagram post 18087447073438590
    Instagram post 17851233018147535 Instagram post 17851233018147535
    Instagram post 17907649217946063 Instagram post 17907649217946063
    Intro to prayer Intro to prayer
    Instagram post 17982108473571505 Instagram post 17982108473571505
    Instagram post 18030258256647195 Instagram post 18030258256647195
    Instagram post 18128574130309862 Instagram post 18128574130309862
    Instagram post 18388873843007811 Instagram post 18388873843007811
    What’s on the wall when I’m singing? What’s on the wall when I’m singing?
    How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist. How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist.
    Goodness of God cover. Goodness of God cover.
    Instagram post 18229306630087412 Instagram post 18229306630087412
    Instagram post 17972316937910455 Instagram post 17972316937910455
    Logged into lose it and it said Logged into lose it and it said
    Load More Follow on Instagram

    Recent Posts

    • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
    • Thou Shalt Have Good News
    • The Answer Is In The Records
    • Just Keep the Ball In Play
    • The Importance of Good News

    Archives

    • September 2024
    • March 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • March 2019
    • August 2018
    • June 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • January 2015
    • November 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • December 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • September 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • February 2007
    • January 2007
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • October 2006
    • September 2006

    Categories

    • 11Cartoons
    • 11Fiction
    • 11Instruction
    • Associate Ministry
    • Audio
    • Basic Preaching
    • Bible Study
    • Black Church
    • Black Preaching Style
    • blog
    • Book of the Month
    • Book Reviews
    • Devotional
    • Exegesis
    • Feature Articles
    • feedburner
    • Fixing the Sermon
    • Funeral
    • General
    • Gospel Music
    • Headline
    • History
    • Homiletic Theory
    • Issues
    • MiniBlog
    • Ministry
    • Negro Spirituals
    • Planning
    • Podcast
    • Practice
    • Prayer
    • Preaching
    • Preaching Methods
    • Preaching Style
    • Premium
    • Questions and Answers
    • racism
    • Scripture Selection
    • Sermon Analysis
    • Sermon Construction
    • Sermon Craft
    • Sermon Editing
    • Sermon Outline
    • Sermons
    • Software
    • Theology
    • Titles
    • Uncategorized
    • Video
    • Web Ministry
    • WebSeminar
    • Whooping
    • Without Notes
    ©2025 Soul Preaching | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme