CTS Evangelistic Preaching · Unit 6

Learning Goal

After studying this unit you will be able to use the Interview Method taught in WiseSpeak to plan a complete evangelistic sermon.

The Interview Method in WiseSpeak

WiseSpeak teaches that one of the most effective ways to plan an evangelistic sermon is the Interview Method. This method begins with real people and their stories. We imagine or recall an interview with someone who needs Christ. We listen to their questions, their struggles, and their needs. Then we let those real-life questions guide the sermon.

The Inductive Approach

The Interview Method follows the inductive approach from the first seven units of WiseSpeak. We start with the specific facts in the text and work backward to discover the keyword and subject. The Interview Method makes the sermon personal and relevant. It forces the preacher to speak directly to the listener's actual situation. When combined with the keyword approach, the result is a clear, unified evangelistic message that feels like it was written for the person sitting in front of you.

How the Interview Method Works

1. Read the chosen text carefully.
2. Imagine interviewing an unsaved person who needs the truth in this passage. What question would they ask?
3. Turn the main idea or answer into a plural noun keyword.
4. Form the subject around the keyword.
5. List the specific answers or truths in the text. Turn each truth into a short point (five words or less) that is a singular of the keyword.
6. Write a one-sentence evangelistic objective.
7. Add a clear invitation at the end.

The keyword is always a plural noun. Every point is a clean singular of that plural keyword. When a single verse does not contain every point needed, we add supporting texts from other passages while the keyword still holds the whole sermon together.

Example from John 4 — The Woman at the Well

Suppose we are preaching from the story of the woman at the well in John 4. We imagine interviewing a person who feels empty and thirsty for something more. Their question might be, "How can I find real satisfaction in life?" The keyword is "sources" (a plural noun). The subject is "Three Sources of Real Satisfaction."

Example from Luke 15 — The Prodigal Son

Text: Luke 15:11–32 (the prodigal son). We imagine interviewing a person who has wandered far from God and feels ashamed. Their question might be, "Can God still accept me after what I have done?" The keyword is "reasons" (a plural noun). The subject is "Three Reasons God Welcomes You Home."

Example from Romans 5:8

We imagine interviewing a person who feels unworthy of God's love. Their question might be, "Why would God care about someone like me?" The keyword is "proofs" (a plural noun). The subject is "Three Proofs of God's Love."

Why the Interview Method Is Powerful for Evangelistic Preaching

The Interview Method makes every sermon feel relevant. It answers the exact questions people are asking today. It keeps the message focused on one clear question and one clear answer. The one-sentence objective keeps the entire message aimed at conversion. This method works especially well when the text speaks to a universal human need.

Practical Steps to Use the Interview Method in Your Preaching

Choose a text that answers a real human struggle. Imagine interviewing an unsaved person who needs this truth, and write their question in one clear sentence. Then follow the seven steps above: form the subject by placing the keyword at the end, and prepare a clear invitation that calls for immediate response. This method, taught throughout WiseSpeak, turns the Bible into a personal conversation with the listener.