What are the merits of a three point sermon? In this episode, Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller explore that question. Matt argues for the three point sermon, while Kevin believes the one point sermon is more expedient, to deliver the gospel message to a congregation.

Matt said “It’s underrated. Don’t cast it out. I think it still works. Keep it in your repertoire.”

When he references three points, in a sermon – he’s showing listeners the movement of a passage in the Biblical text.

It’s a simple way to organize your information – you’re breaking it up into bite sized chunks: it gave give your listeners three scenes about the text; it can have movement. For example, in journalistic writing, they talking about writing in scenes, a discreet movement of action, something that you can see.

He also talks about a sermon he gave on Hebrews 10 that focused on “Christ and His atoning sacrific e.” His three points were:

• The need for forgiveness
• The price of forgiveness
• The offer of forgiveness

Matt said “It’s not a disaster if they only remember one of the points, and they don’t remember the outline. The outline isn’t really the point. Transformational truth from the text — that’s really important.”

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.