CTS Evangelistic Preaching · Unit 4

Learning Goal

After studying this unit you will be able to use the Word Method from Unit 8 of WiseSpeak to plan a complete evangelistic sermon. You will select a plural noun keyword from the text, form a clear subject, build three short parallel points (each five words or less), and write a one-sentence evangelistic objective that leads listeners to Christ.

The Word Method in WiseSpeak

In Unit 8 of WiseSpeak we learned four practical planning methods for evangelistic sermons. One of the simplest and most powerful is the Word Method. This method starts with the biblical text itself. We read the passage, look for a key word or idea that stands out, and let that word become the plural noun keyword for the entire sermon. The keyword holds the sermon together. Every point in the outline is a singular of that plural keyword. The result is a unified, easy-to-follow message that stays anchored in Scripture.

The Inductive Approach

The Word Method follows the inductive approach taught in the first seven units of WiseSpeak. We begin with the specific facts in the text and work backward to discover the keyword and subject. We do not invent points. We let the text speak. When the text gives us three clear facts, we turn those facts into three short, parallel points. Each point is five words or less. The points are parallel in structure so the listener can remember them easily.

Example from John 1:1

The text says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1, NKJV). We see three specific facts about the Word:

• The Word was in the beginning.
• The Word was with God.
• The Word was God.

The keyword is "facts" (a plural noun). The subject is "Three Facts about the Word." The three points become:

Each point is a singular of the keyword "facts." Each point is short and parallel. The sermon stays inductive because it begins with the text and lets the text form the outline.

Example from Acts 16 — The Philippian Jailer

Unit 8 of WiseSpeak gives us the story of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16. The text asks the question, "What must I do to be saved?" and answers, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31, NKJV). We read the specific facts in the passage. The keyword is "steps" (a plural noun). The subject is "Three Steps to Salvation."

Again the points are short, parallel, and each one is a singular of the keyword "steps." The sermon is built directly from the text using the inductive method.

Why the Word Method Is Powerful for Evangelistic Preaching

The Word Method keeps the sermon biblical. It forces us to stay in the text instead of adding our own ideas. Because the points come from the text, the listener sees that the message is from God, not from the preacher. The short parallel points make the sermon easy to remember. The plural noun keyword gives the whole sermon unity. The one-sentence objective keeps the focus on leading people to Christ.

This method also works when a single verse does not contain every point. We simply use additional supporting texts from other passages, but the keyword still controls the entire outline. The points remain clean singulars of the plural keyword.

Seven Practical Steps to Use the Word Method

1. Read the chosen text carefully.
2. Ask the probing question the text answers.
3. Look for the key word or idea that stands out. Turn it into a plural noun keyword.
4. Form the subject around the keyword.
5. List the specific facts or truths in the text. Turn each fact into a short point (five words or less) that is a singular of the keyword.
6. Write a one-sentence evangelistic objective that calls for a decision.
7. Add a clear invitation at the end.

Worked Outline — Romans 10:9–10

Each point is a singular of the keyword "conditions." Each point is five words or less. The points are parallel. The sermon is inductive because it begins with the text and lets the text form the outline.

Worked Outline — Acts 2:38

The points are short, parallel, and each one is a singular of the keyword "commands." The Word Method gives the preacher a method that is at once disciplined and warmly biblical — nothing fancy, but everything needed.