In our class, The Preacher and His Work, brother Winkler emphasized that no preacher can afford to be careless about this part of the sermon.  Truly, we want the conclusion to unify the theme of the sermon in the hearts and minds of the hearers. We want to summarize as well as appeal and persuade.  We do not want them simply to know, but we also want to encourage them to do and enact.  Otherwise, we have merely engaged in a sterile dispensing of facts.

The conclusion of a sermon needs to have the following characteristics:

  • It concludes.  If we are not careful, we breach ethics by making a broken promise. Do not repeatedly tell people you are concluding, then continue to preach.  It not only breaks the listeners’ trust, it reflects on your character and trustworthiness. The oft-used analogy is of the pilot who gives indication of landing only to lift up again and again.  Maintain brevity, keeping the conclusion at no more than about 10% of the entire sermon’s length.
  • It is concise. This means it has purpose, being meaningful and demonstrating a predetermined design. It is not haphazard or “off-the-cuff.” A conclusion done as an after-thought rather than with forethought is given no thought by the listener.
  • It is a crescendo. The conclusion should bring the sermon to a rousing end.  It should be vigorous, with a sense of urgency.  This does not mean melodramatic or contrived emotion.  It is an impassioned plea for the hearer to respond to the appeal of the sermon.
  • It is constructive. There should be a positive, hopeful tone to even the most grim, sobering sermon.  Even the minor prophets with dire, doom-filled teaching extended a ray of hope.  A conclusion, even when raising a problem, will offer a solution.
  • It is clear-cut.  The conclusion should leave the hearer with the understanding that this sermon is for him or her; it is relevant, and it is important for them to consider.  Hopefully, the content of the sermon has raised this awareness, but the conclusion reinforces it.
  • It is neither cliche nor conventional.  As with the introduction, the conclusion needs to be varied.  If every sermon ends with “in conclusion” or a similar, predictable sentence, people know you are done and will tune you out. A trite, telegraphed conclusion falls on deaf ears and undermines your effectiveness.

Perhaps there are other characteristics we could add, but there is a need to give thought to how to end the sermon.  Bob Turner, who teaches Homiletics I at Bear Valley Bible International, says, “Make up your conclusion first. Why? Because that is what you want them to know. This is the destination. In reality it may not be the entire conclusion, but the conclusion to the point needs to be first.” Leave time for it. Try to make each person feel that the message has been addressed to him or her and no one else. Seek to reach the heart.  Do all of this with brevity and concision.  Being attentive to just these few particulars can propel you across the finish line of your sermon.

(some thoughts via the Homiletics notebooks of Wendell Winkler and Bob Turner)