In their excellent new book Communicating for a Change (Multnomah), Andy Stanley and Lane Jones make the case for one-point preaching in a contemporary setting. They offer an outlining method “built around the communicator’s relationship with the audience rather than content…The outline revolves around five words, each of which represents a section of the message. They are:
ME, WE, GOD, YOU, WE
“With this approach the communicator introduces a dilemma he or she has faced or is currently facing (ME). From there you find common ground with your audience around the same or a similar dilemma (WE). Then you transition to the text to discover what God says about the tension or question you have introduced (GOD). Then you challenge your audience to act on what they have just heard (YOU). Finally, you close with several statements about what could happen in your community, your church or the world if everybody embraced that particular truth (WE).
“Each of the five components plays a specific and important role in facilitating the communication journey. ME orients the audience to the topic. It answers the question, ‘What is he/she talking about?’ WE assures the audience that this is a relevant topic for them. It allows the communicator to identify with the audience. The GOD section serves as illumination. Here is where we bring a new perspective to or shine fresh light on a specific tension. YOU is simply application. WE is the placeholder for inspiration.” (Click here to learn more about the book Communicating for a Change.)