Simple Sermon Starters

Please check this post also in the future, as it will grow to include additional outlines.

Each year we host a four-day "TITUS" summer camp in Keller, Texas, to train boys to preach lessons from God's Word. These young men are going into 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th grade in the Fall. I teach five lessons in homiletics (sermon preparation and presentation) to all the campers. I want to give them a choice of basic outlines that they can use to help them get started.

For this purpose I have put together the following basic sermon outlines. Please use these in any way you find helpful, and please comment below to give me additional outlines that I may consider including in this list. Thanks!

Also comment if you want more information about how your boys might be part of our next TITUS Camp. 

Noah: a Titanic Success

Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Noah Heeded God’s Warning.

Noah Obeyed God’s Command (Prepared the Ark).

Noah Saved His Family.

Noah Received God’s Righteousness.

Abraham: Responding to God

When God calls, answer! Gen 12:1-4
When God sends, go! Gen 12:1-4
When God promises, believe! Gen 15:6
When God commands, surrender! Gen 22
Abraham: Answering God’s Call

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Listening   God called Abraham.

Leaving     Abraham obeyed.

Living        As an alien in a foreign land.

Looking     Anticipated.

Abraham: Passing God’s Test

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Abraham Waited for Isaac as God Promised.

Abraham Offered Up Isaac as God Commanded.

Abraham Received Isaac Back as God Provided.

Joseph: A Hero Like Christ

Ac 7:9 “The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household. 11 “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. 12 “But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 “On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. 14 “Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.

Joseph, Like Christ, Rejected by His Brothers

Joseph, Like Christ, Exalted to the Throne

Joseph, Like Christ, Eager to Save His Brothers

Joseph, Like Christ, Prepared to Receive His Brothers

David: the Giant Killer

1 Sam 17

His Courage

His Character

His Conviction

His Conquest

Three Great Truths: Ecclesiastes 12:13

Fear God

Keep His Commands

This is the Whole Duty of Man.

Ezra: a Man of God

Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Ezra Studied God’s Law

Ezra Practiced God’s Law

Ezra Taught God’s Law

The Nature of Sin

1 Jn 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Ge 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

The lust of the flesh

The lust of the eyes

The pride of life

The Sin Process (1)

Jos 7:20 So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was concealed in his tent with the silver underneath it.

I Saw.

I Coveted.

I Took.

I Hid.

The Sin Process (2)

Jas 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Desire – “Lust has conceived.”

Action – “It gives birth to sin.”

Destruction – “It brings forth death.”

The Wide and Narrow Gates

Mt 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The Wide Gate – Many enter it. It leads to death.

The Narrow Gate – Few find it. It leads to life.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Mt 7:24-27

The Wise Builder – Hears and practices the teachings of Jesus. Survives the storms.

The Foolish Builder – Hears but does not practice those teachings. House falls.

The Parable of the Sower

Matt 13:1-9, 18-23

Some Seed Fell Along the Path.

Some Seed Fell on Shallow, Rocky Soil.

Some Seed Fell Among Thorns and Weeds.

Some Seed Fell on Fertile Soil.

The Pearl of Great Value

Mt 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

A Merchant Shopped for Pearls.

He Found One Pearl of Great Value.

He Sold All He Had and Bought It.

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like That Pearl.

The Parable of the Net

Mt 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; 48 and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49 “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Net – The Gospel Going into the World

The Catch – Fish of Every Kind

The Separation – Judgment of the Wicked

The Prodigal Son – Who Are You Like?

Luke 15:11-32

The Younger Son – lost in sin, ready to repent and return to God.

The Older Brother – proud of yourself, resentful of sinners who want to follow God.

The Father – kind, forgiving, compassionate, eager to welcome lost sinners home.

Jesus the Light of the World (The Man Born Blind)

John 9

I was Blind.

I was Washed.

Now I See!

Jesus is the Answer

John 14:1-6

The Way – Without him there is no Going.

The Truth – Without him there is no Knowing.

The Life – Without him there is no Growing.

Because He Lives

Matt 28:1-8

Come and See.

Go and Tell.

Acts 2: The First Gospel Sermon

The Crowd (Pentecost)

The Christ (Peter’s Message)

The Conviction (Pierced to the Heart)

The Conversion (Repentance and Baptism)

The Church (Add Together)

The Conversion of Saul / Paul

Acts 9

Who He Was – Persecutor of Christians.

Who He Met – Jesus Christ in Glory.

Who He Became – Proclaimer of the Gospel.

Three Reasons for Joy

Rom 5:1-11

Past – We rejoice in Christ’s sacrifice, because he reconciled us to God.

Future – We rejoice in hope of the glory of God, because we are going to heaven.

Present – We rejoice in our troubles, because we grow through them.

We Do Not Lose Heart!

2 Cor 4

Because We Have a God-Centered Purpose (2 Cor 4:1-6)

Because We Have a God-Centered Treasure (2 Cor 4:7-12)

Because We Have a God-Centered Faith (2 Cor 4:13-18)

From my friend and colleague Dr. George Carman:

Timothy:  Never Too Soon!

Phil 2:19-20 – Timothy became such a great servant of God that Paul proclaimed there was no one like him. How did that happen?

It is never too early to begin our journey of faith, Prov 22:6.

Timothy had a mother and grand-mother that taught him from infancy, 2 Tim 1:3-5.

Timothy had a good reputation from his youth, Acts 16:1-2.

Timothy joined Paul as a traveling evangelist and became an example to all who knew him, 2 Tim 3:14-15.

Things Successful Christians Do

They say something to God every day (Pray), 1 Thes 5:17; Psm 107:2.

They let God say something to them every day, (Read and study the Bible) 2 Tim 2:15.

They do something for God every day, James 1:22; Gal 6:9-10.

Doing so will help them to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord,” 2 Pet 3:15.

Measuring Our Soul  2 Cor 13:5-6

From time-to-time we need to take a close look at our Christian life.  We need to learn how to measure our soul:

By our love for God and Jesus, John 14:21, 23.

By our love for each other, 1 Jn 4:20-21.

By our influence (What do others see in us?), Mt 4:13-16.

By our fruit, Gal 6:7-8; John 15:8

The Divine Visitor

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me”, Rev 3:20.

Jesus knocks as a physician to heal our sin-sick souls, Mt 9:12.

Jesus knocks as a teacher, Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col 2:3.

Jesus knocks as a bridegroom seeking a bride (the church), “Come, I will show you the Bride (the church), the wife of the Lamb (Jesus)”, Rev 21:15

When Jesus knocks on the door of our heart, we need to open the door that He might come in.

Three Great Words

Come: Mt 11:28

Become: John 1:11-12

Overcome: 1 John 5:4-5

We cannot overcome unless we become and we cannot become unless we come. Come to Jesus, He will save you.

From my friend and colleague Joe Slater:

Paul's Three "I Am's" Romans 1:14-16

I am a debtor (v. 14)

I am ready (v. 15)

I am not ashamed (v. 16)

Remember - give me additional outlines and ideas for these boys by posting a comment below! Thanks!