Preaching Guidelines

Each school is allowed to enter 4 students, male only, per Division.

Please refer to the Platform Guidelines for more information regarding this entry.

Students must create their own sermon. Each sermon must have Bible content. Some assistance is allowed from their Pastor only. A statement declaring how much assistance was given must accompany the Judging Form.

The time limit will be 8 minutes. This will be strictly adhered to. If a student goes over the set time, he will be instructed to take his seat. There will be no preaching after time has been called. To do so will require immediate disqualification.

See the Dress Guidelines for appropriate dress.

Please be sure to fill in the sermon title on the Judging Form.

One copy of the outline must be submitted with the Judge’s Form at Convention. This copy may not be returned. Please be sure to retain a copy for yourself.

Please bring 2 copies of the Judge’s Form for Preaching with you to Convention. Please be sure to fill them out in their entirety. If the Judging Form is not filled out, you may not be judged.

Hints from Preaching Judges:

Your first task in preparing to preach is to develop a good outline. This will be the heart of your sermon. Since you must adhere to your outline carefully, you will want to make it do its best work for you.

Your outline should flow naturally from the Scripture text and should be detailed and clearly organized with an introduction and conclusion. Be sure to include fitting illustrations and supporting Scripture that lead logically to your conclusion. While notes are permissible, it should not be obvious that you are using them. Have someone evaluate your delivery to be sure it includes variety in gesture, voice inflection, and volume. Variety is important as it attracts your listener’s attention more than sheer volume or speed can; loud and fast are not always best!

Above all, be sure your message is Scriptural, is theologically correct, and leads the listener to an appropriate decision about his Christian life.

PREACHING JUDGING CRITERIA (Download PDF)