Applying the Text

Part of the preacher’s job is to apply the truth of the passage to the lives of those listening. Application can be a list at the end of the sermon or spread out throughout. It can include an illustration of someone who has applied the truth to themselves or a series of questions. Questions are vital in application because they force the listener to respond personally. The greatest application is not a series of how-to steps, but encouragement to pursue Christlikeness. 

 

One way to think through application is by using an application grid. Since the Gospel applies to all of life, application in preaching should hit a broad variety of people and life situations. A grid takes into account the many different types of people that may attend: ages, marital status, gender, and occupations. Using the grid helps the preacher apply the truth to a wider swath of the congregation and protects against the natural tendency to focus on a select few. The grid also encourages corporate application as well as individual application.

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Application should go three levels deep. The first level is the action itself. In this level the preacher answers the question "What should I be doing?" The second level is the occasion. Here the preacher answers the question, "When and where should I be doing this action?" The final level is most important and that is motivation. This is where the preacher helps the listener answer "Why do I do the things I do? Why should I stop doing certain things and start doing others?"

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The application grid is a tool that helps preachers and teachers develop thoughtful application that covers many different occasions in life and ensures that the listener understands the heart truths that motivate obedience to Christ.