Here is my thesis: Listeners remember ideas, not outline points. It's true that listeners can refer back to outline points if they write them down during a sermon. I did this for years because I was (and still am!) a chronic note-taker! But well-polished outlines can actually obscure the flow of a passage and the aesthetics of a text–particularly in biblical narrative and poetry.

Outlines work best when they provide direction to preachers and help them organize their thoughts. But neither the Bible nor our culture rely heavily on outlines as a communication vehicle. In our culture, outlining is usually reserved for academic treatises. As far as preaching, making an outline prominent may work best in the epistles, since the style of the epistles is to build arguments. But even in the epistles, I prefer to walk through a passage and point out the structure and the images rather than presenting the passage through a prominent outline.

When I find a list, I’m happy to follow it. This will give my sermon a more ‘outline flavor.’ For example, I preached last Sunday on “God’s Great Expectations for Church Leaders" from 1 Peter 5:1-4. I pointed out three expectations for the way that elders shepherd God’s flock. These expectations were easy to spot because each one consists of a pair of statements marked by a “not ... but” pattern. I made these points prominent, although I did not make my statements parallel or alliterated–practices which can make sermon points seem artificial.

I don't dispute that some listeners find filling in sermon outline blanks to be satisfying and helpful. But I wonder how many people do not connect to this kind of approach?! It's not where communication is going in our culture. That’s why I’m always surprised when pastors who preach in postmodern settings and serve in contemporary churches make their outline points prominent. Since the biblical writers didn't go there either, I do not feel compelled to leave my sermon outline with people.

What’s your ‘take’ on this? Wherever you land on this issue, your practice (and mine) must be based on serious reflection about the nature of Scripture and the nature of communication.