How to Arrange Your Sermon in the Most Persuasive Way Possible

Logical Progression Ancient experts on persuasion, such as Quintilian, spent considerable time training up-and-coming speakers. In particular, Quintilian explained the persuasive roles that confirmation, concession, and refutation play. Confirmation refers to the logical arguments that support a claim. Concession refers to the need to point out opposing views. And refutation refers to making counterarguments to persuade listeners to reject those views.1 The preacher who aims at persuasion would do well to employ similar strategies. These are not simply three tasks we do in order but three kinds of tasks we engage in as we move through the text in proclamation. Think of your task in the body of your sermon as riffing on these ancient tactics. To be persuasive, the body of your sermon must involve logical progression, naming obstacles, and well-reasoned counterarguments. The work of confirming the main point of your sermon isn’t easy. It takes logic that arranges a series of smaller, progressively unfolding arguments. So what will help? Lined-up and well-spaced points. First, let’s return to the analogy of stepping stones. It is far easier to convince your listeners of your main poin...