A guide for preachers
How to prepare a sermon: step by step
A good sermon grows out of the biblical text and reaches the life of the church. This guide follows the path that homiletics teaches — from studying the passage to a message ready for the pulpit — with real sermon outlines as examples and what the Antioquia editor does at each stage.
The eight steps
Step 1 · Choose the text
Start with the passage, not the topic. Pray, consider where your church is and what the calendar holds, and choose a section that forms one unit of thought: a paragraph, a parable, a whole psalm.
A single verse can be your text, as long as you read it within the passage it belongs to. The context is what tells you what it means.
Example: Ezekiel 37:1-14 is one complete unit — the vision of the valley, God’s question and the explanation he gives himself.
Ezekiel 37: dry bones explained and a sermon outline →In the editor: Open a new sermon, enter the passage in its properties and use “Bring the text” to insert the verses.
Step 2 · Study the context
Read the whole chapter, more than once. Ask who is writing, to whom, in what situation, and what comes before and after. Notice repeated words, the verbs and the connectors — “therefore”, “but”, “for”.
Look up the key words in the original and the cross references before the commentaries: the text first, then what others have said about it.
Example: The Psalm 23 study starts with the context: who the psalm’s shepherd is, and what the text does not claim.
Psalm 23: study and sermon outline →In the editor: In Tools: the whole chapter, the original word with Strong’s, commentaries and cross references, each ready to insert into your sermon.
Step 3 · Find the big idea
Sum up in one sentence what the text claims — what homiletics professor Haddon Robinson called “the big idea”. It must come from the text, not only from the topic, and be short enough for your listeners to remember.
If you cannot yet say your message in one sentence, you have not finished studying.
Example: The big idea of the outline on faith, from Hebrews 11:
Biblical faith is not a vague feeling: it is trusting God enough to act on what he has said, before we see it.Sermon outline on faith (Hebrews 11:1-6) →
In the editor: The Big idea callout opens the templates and stands out in the text and in pulpit mode.
Step 4 · Build the outline
Divide the message into two to four points that come out of the text. Each point needs a sentence that sums it up, the verse that supports it, an explanation and an application.
Then write the introduction — a real question or situation the text answers — and the conclusion, which restates the big idea and calls for a response. Do not preach a second sermon in your conclusion.
Example: The points of the outline on gratitude follow the story in Luke 17 itself:
- All of them cried out
- All of them were healed
- One came back
In the editor: The templates already carry this structure, and the points number themselves (I, II, III).
Step 5 · Apply it to the life of the church
For each point, ask: what will the church do with this on Monday? A good application is concrete, grows out of the text and speaks to real people — young people, families, those who are suffering.
Avoid the generic application (“be more faithful”) and the one that promises what the text does not promise.
Example: An application from the outline on anxiety, based on Philippians 4:6:
Turn each of today’s worries into a short prayer.Sermon outline on anxiety (Philippians 4:4-9) →
In the editor: The Application callout sets apart what is meant for life — and it prints that way in pulpit mode and the PDF.
Step 6 · Illustrate
An illustration makes a point visible: a story, an image, a fact. Choose a few, keep them short and true, and prefer those that come from Scripture itself and from the life of your community.
The illustration serves the text. If it is the most remembered part of the message and the text is not, it has stolen the show.
Example: Jesus himself taught grace by telling a story:
Sermon outline on the prodigal son (Luke 15:20) →In the editor: Use the Illustration block; photos can go right into the sermon.
Step 7 · Review and rehearse
Read the message out loud. Cut what does not serve the big idea, check every reference and make sure the transitions carry you from one point to the next.
Time it: knowing how long your message takes helps you respect the service and your listeners. As you review, also check that the conclusion returns to the big idea without opening a new subject.
Example: The conclusion of the outline on hope returns to the big idea in a few lines:
Jerusalem was still in ruins when the prophet wrote these words. Hope does not depend on the scenery changing first: it depends on God still being who he is. And he is.Sermon outline on hope (Lamentations 3:19-26) →
In the editor: Pulpit mode has a timer that compares your time with the length you planned; “Save the time” records how long the sermon took.
Step 8 · Prepare the slides and handouts
Slides help the church follow the text and the points — they do not replace the sermon. Put the verse, the big idea and the points on screen, with little text.
An outline with blanks for the congregation to fill in, or questions for small groups, keeps the message going through the week.
Example: The outlines give you the text and the points — exactly what goes on screen. See the outline on prayer:
Sermon outline on prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) →In the editor: In More options › Make in the chat: Slides for the service, Small group study, Discussion questions or Outline for the church.
Types of sermon: expository, textual and topical
Classic homiletics — James Braga’s How to Prepare Bible Messages, for instance — distinguishes three forms. The difference lies in where the divisions of the message come from.
Expository sermon
The structure comes from a longer passage: the points follow the passage itself. It is the form that best lets the text speak, which makes it the safest choice when you are starting out.
Textual sermon
It starts from a short text, one to three verses, and the divisions come from its words. A question helps you find them: “What are the promises of this text?”.
In the editor, the Textual sermon template carries the interrogative sentence and the key word that tie the idea to the divisions.
Topical sermon
It starts from a theme and gathers texts from different parts of the Bible, each topic with its supporting text. It calls for extra care with the context of every verse you quote.
Common mistakes
- Starting from the topic and using the verse as a pretext.
- Reading a verse outside the passage it belongs to.
- Packing in too many ideas: three points do not need to be three sermons.
- Making a generic application that does not say what to do this week.
- Promising what the text does not promise.
- Letting the illustration become the message.
- Starting a new sermon in the conclusion.
- Using a ready-made outline or AI without studying the passage and checking the references.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a sermon outline?
Choose the text, write the big idea in one sentence and divide the message into two to four points that come out of the text — each with a verse, an explanation and an application. Add the introduction and the conclusion. Antioquia’s sermon outlines follow this format and can be copied into the editor.
How many points should a sermon have?
There is no required number. Three points are common because they are easy to remember, but the text decides: one passage calls for two, another for four. What matters is that they all serve the same big idea.
What is the difference between an expository, a textual and a topical sermon?
In an expository sermon, the structure comes from a passage and the points follow it. In a textual sermon, the divisions come from the words of a short text. In a topical sermon, a theme gathers texts from different parts of the Bible.
How long does it take to prepare a sermon?
It depends on your experience, the text and the week. Many preachers spread the work out: they study the passage early in the week, write in the middle and review and rehearse close to the service. Starting early gives the text time to settle — and time to pray over it.
Can I use a ready-made outline?
Yes, as a starting point. Study the passage yourself, check every reference and adapt the introduction and applications to your church: the outline organises, but the message has to pass through your own study and prayer.
Can I use artificial intelligence to prepare a sermon?
As a study aid, yes: to raise questions about the text, connect passages, compare translations and organise ideas. Always check the references in the Bible, and do not outsource what is yours — the study, the discernment and the voice of the message.