CTS Evangelistic Preaching · Unit 1

Learning Goal

After studying this unit you will understand the true heart and biblical purpose of evangelistic preaching, and you will be able to state clearly why every sermon you preach should have an evangelistic aim. You will also see how the keyword approach from the first seven units of WiseSpeak can be used in a combination of deductive topical, inductive textual, and expository outlines so that every evangelistic sermon stays unified, biblical, and pointed at a personal decision for Christ.

What Is Evangelistic Preaching?

Evangelistic preaching is preaching with the primary intent of bringing men and women to Christ. It is not merely teaching, and it is not merely encouraging the saints. It is a deliberate proclamation of the gospel that calls for a personal response of repentance and faith. The evangelistic sermon carries one central goal: to present Jesus Christ so clearly and so urgently that the listener is compelled to trust Him as Savior and Lord.

In the first seven units of WiseSpeak we learned the keyword method that gives every sermon a clear, unified structure. In Unit 8 of WiseSpeak we saw that evangelistic preaching is marked by a clear focus on the gospel message. It aims at conversion. The preacher's heart must burn with the same passion that drove the apostles:

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV)

Why Should We Preach Evangelistically?

First, because people are lost without Christ. The Bible teaches that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NKJV). Without a personal relationship with Jesus, men and women face eternal separation from God. Evangelistic preaching is therefore an act of urgent love and of plain obedience to the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19, NKJV).

Second, because the gospel is the power of God for salvation. Paul declared, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16, NKJV). Every time the gospel is clearly preached, the Holy Spirit can use it to open blind eyes and soften hard hearts. The preacher does not generate the power; he carries the message that already carries the power.

Third, because every sermon can and should have an evangelistic purpose. Even when preaching to believers, the message can be shaped so that any unsaved person present hears a clear presentation of the way of salvation. The best evangelistic sermons are so biblical and so passionate that both the saved and the lost are moved — the saved to fresh worship, the lost to fresh decision.

The Keyword Approach: A Quick Review

From the first seven units of WiseSpeak we remember the keyword method: begin with the text, discover the central idea, ask the probing question, select the keyword (always a plural noun), form the subject and objective, and build a clear outline. Every point in the outline is a singular of the plural noun keyword. Every point is short — five words or less. Every point is parallel in form so the listener can remember the sermon long after the closing prayer.

Three Outline Types in Evangelistic Preaching

In evangelistic preaching we use a combination of three outline types so the sermon stays fresh and faithful to the text:

• Deductive topical outlines — the main subject is stated first and supported by multiple texts drawn from across Scripture.
• Inductive textual outlines — we start with the specific facts in one verse and work backward to form the keyword and the points.
• Expository outlines — we move verse by verse through a short passage, drawing out the truths as we go.

All three types still obey the same rules: the keyword is always a plural noun, and each point is a short singular of that keyword, five words or less, parallel in form.

Example 1 — Deductive Topical Outline

Example 2 — Inductive Textual Outline

Example 3 — Expository Outline

How the Three Types Work Together

These three examples show how the same keyword method drives all three outline styles. The deductive topical approach lets us pull supporting texts from anywhere in Scripture and gather them around one truth. The inductive textual approach stays inside one verse and unfolds it like a slowly opening hand. The expository approach walks through a short passage verse by verse and lets the text itself dictate the structure. All three keep the sermon biblical, unified, and easy to follow — and all three keep the listener moving toward a clear decision for Christ.

The Preacher's Heart

Effective evangelistic preaching flows from a heart that is broken for the lost. The preacher must feel the weight of eternity. He must pray, study, and prepare as though the eternal destiny of every listener depends on the faithfulness of his message — because, in the providence of God, it often does. This is the heart that drove the great evangelists we will study later in this course, and this is the heart that the Lord still uses to shake cities and call sinners home.

The method matters; the structure matters; the keyword matters. But none of these will save a soul unless the man behind the pulpit has himself first knelt at the cross and remembered what he was rescued from. Hold the method tightly. Hold the heart more tightly still.