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OUTLINE FORMAT & SAMPLE OUTLINE

 

       A format for an outline is given first and then a sample outline is given below it. Use the sample outline only as a pattern for your own outline. Your outline can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make it but you must follow the pattern given. You will be required to turn in your outline.

OUTLINE FORMAT:

SUBJECT or TITLE

INTRODUCTION:  This would be your opening remarks.

I. POINT ONE  (If there is a Roman Numeral "I." then there must be at least a "II.")
    A. If there is an "A." then there must be at least a "B."
     B.

II. POINT TWO
    A.
         1. If there is a "1." then there must be at least a "2."
         2.
    B.

III. POINT THREE
    A.
    B.
        1.
             a. If there is an "a." then there must be at least a "b."
             b.
        2.
            a.
                i. If there is a "i" then there must be at least a "ii."
                 ii.
            b.

(More main points (i.e., "IV." "V." etc.) can be added if necessary following the rules set out in this sample. CAUTION: Don't make your outline any more complicated than necessary.)

THE CLOSE OR CONCLUSION (In a sermon this would be the INVITATION.)

 
 

 

SAMPLE OUTLINE:
This is only a sample.  Your outline may be more involved or it may be less involved than this one.
Make your outline only as complicated as necessary for it to be a help to you- not a hindrance.
This sample is only a somewhat involved outline for a sermon/lesson preached on 11/16/08.
It is only given here only as a sample to show you how involved an outline can be if the occasion calls for it.
Some outlines will be even more detailed than this one.  Most, probably, will be less involved.
The complexity of your outline should be a matter of personal preference and necessity.  However, for purposes of our
courses, please follow the general format, which does not include complexity and content, of this sample outline.
If the outline is for a research paper, then it will vary quite a bit from this sample but the general format is still to be followed.
   Dr. VBK


GIVING

Intro: People, by and large, do not understand giving.
1. "Oh No! He’s gonna preach on tithing again!"
    NO! Tithing is only one form of giving. This is NOT just about tithing but about GIVING!
2. Giving is going down drastically. To Churches, to charities- all are having a drastic drop.
    Why! Because people only understand the fact of giving but do not understand the mechanism of giving.

I. The Fact or, If You Will, the Act of Giving.
    Several different kinds of giving.
A. Giving the tithe- but really it is giving back the tithe.
    1. (Lev ch. 27) The tithe is "Holy unto the Lord." It’s Holy- it belongs to God.
    2. OT and NT (Mal 3:8-11) (Mt 23:23)
    3. To take care of the House of God and the priests.
        Num 18:12 "... the best..." went to the priests because they were given no inheritance of the land
               on which to make their living. They were to live off of what the other tribes gave.
B. Giving of offerings.
    1. Mission offerings- home & foreign.. (I Cor 16:1-3)
    2. Offerings to help other Christians & Churches in need.
        (II Cor 8:1-14) READ II Cor 8:13-14
    3. Helping the poor in your own Church.
        i. READ Acts 4:31-35
        ii. What about con men?    (Acts 5:1-10) Ananias & Sapphira
C. Giving of Alms. READ Mt 6:1-4
D. But these all concern the fact or, if you will, the act of giving.

II. The Mechanism of Giving. HOW DOES IT WORK?
A. How much? That’s up to you- your giving provokes a response from God!
    That’s how God set it up! What He does depends on what you do.
    In essence, God does not decide how He will bless you in this matter- YOU DO!
    READ from sheet: II Cor 9:7-8; Phil 4:19
B. When you let go of what’s in your hand- God lets go of what’s in HIS HAND!
        And what is in God’s hand?
    1. Everything you have on earth- II Cor 9:9-10
   2. Everything in Heaven- Mal 3:10-11
C. QUESTION- How can you not lose it if you give your money away?
    1. God’s law of sowing and reaping. Plant a little in the ground and much comes up!
        Plant more in the ground and much more comes up!
   2. What you sow is exactly what you reap! Gal 6:7
        And God promises the devourer will not get the rest. Mal 3:11 "... rebuke the devourer..."
    3. Giving is planting seed for future harvest.
        - WHEN THE MONEY LEAVES MY HAND IT DOES NOT LEAVE MY LIFE!
           IT GOES INTO MY FUTURE!
        - WHEN IT LEAVES MY HAND - IT GOES INTO GOD’S HAND!
             And it is safer in God’s hand than it is in mine!
            I could lose it - GOD CANNOT!

INVITATION (Conclusion)
A. FOUR (4) BIBLICAL RULES OF THE MECHANISM OF GIVING
    1. ONE: YOUR GIVING PROVOKES A RESPONSE FROM GOD
        When you let go of what’s in your hand- God lets go of what’s in His hand.
    2. TWO: THE MORE YOU SOW, THE MORE YOU REAP,
            AND YOU REAP EXACTLY WHAT YOU SOW
    3. THREE: WHEN WHATEVER YOU GIVE LEAVES YOUR HAND,
        IT DOES NOT LEAVE YOUR LIFE- IT GOES INTO YOUR FUTURE
    4. FOUR: WHEN IT LEAVES YOUR HAND, IT GOES INTO GOD’S HAND
          And it is much safer in His hand than it is in your hand.

B. SOME WILL SAY, "THAT’S JUST A PROSPERITY GOSPEL-
        You know, the "IF YOU’RE SAVED GOD WILL BLESS YOU FINANCIALLY?" kind of thing.
     1. NO! IT IS BIBLE TEACHING ON THE MECHANISM OF GIVING!
    2. ALL FOUR OF THESE PRINICIPLES ARE BIBLE PRINCIPLES!

C. Now the question is: HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD!
    1. For the lost: SOW FAITH IN CHRIST AND REAP ETERNAL SALVATION!
    2. And for the saved: HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD!
        - SOWING AND REAPING -
           DO WE TRUST GOD TO MULTIPLY WHAT WE SOW?
            (Money - food - clothes - and anything else you can think of.)
       - DO WE BELIEVE GOD ENOUGH TO ACT UPON WHAT HE SAYS?
         The next time there is a need, will we step up and give to that need?
         That’s where God will separate the talkers from the doers.
         Tithing - missions - faith promise - special offerings - food - clothes - ANYTHING!

D. HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD?
    IF THIS NATION TRUSTED GOD- THERE WOULDN’T BE A DROP IN GIVING
   BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS - THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE!

           II Cor 9:8
          And God is able to make all grace abound toward you;
          that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,
          may abound to every good work:

 

HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD?

NOTE:  The last statement above, "HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD?" is the end of the outline.
    You do not have to include the following in your outline.  However, I sometimes include a page of
printed out scriptures as a time-saving device when the outline is for a sermon I plan to preach.  -  Dr. VBK

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE PAGE

II. A. References

II Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having
all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

II. B. References

Everything you have on earth- II Cor 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to
the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your
seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Everything in Heaven- Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in
mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the
windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your
ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

II. C. 2. References

Gal 6:7 "... whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

 

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