sermon Hear it!

sermon Definition

ser·mon (sʉrmən)

noun

  1. a speech given as instruction in religion or morals, esp. by a priest, minister, or rabbi during services, using a text from Scripture
  2. any serious talk on behavior, responsibility, etc., esp. a long, tedious one

Etymology: OFr < LL(Ec) sermo < L, a talk, discourse < IE base *swer-, to speak > swear

sermon Related Forms

ser·monic (-mänik) adjective

sermon Synonyms

sermon

n.

discourse, address, exhortation, lesson, doctrine, lecture; see also speech 3. See syn. study at speech.

sermon Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • preach: He preached several sermons at court, which are still extent.
  • hear: I heard a curious sermon, of which I was the unworthy subject.
  • deliver: The text of the sermon delivered by the Revd David Jenkins at Sunday morning's communion service.
  • prepare: I understand that your silence is because you are preparing the sermon for tomorrow.
  • publish: In a later edition of the sermons published in 1812, the title was changed to Sermons attributed to Samuel Johnson 2.

Preposition: on

mount: I am speaking particularly of the Beatitudes, sermon on the mount / plain, and the parables.

Adjective modifier

  • expository: I have been preaching expository sermons for 32 years.
  • funeral: Whitehead also preached John Wesley's funeral sermon in City Road Chapel.
  • evangelistic: An evangelistic sermon delivered within the context of Sunday morning worship is very different from an evangelistic sermon delivered on a street corner.
  • fiery: His fiery sermons had the opposite effect to that he intended.
  • evangelical: Too many Evangelical sermons are laced with exhortation at the expense of grace.

Modifies a noun

  • outline: You will find them on the sermon outline at the back of the service sheet.
  • illustration: That's the start of a very, very old sermon illustration.
  • transcript: Their ' Sermons From Ulster ' page contains a selection of sermon transcripts from various Baptist Pastors.
  • preparation: We hope these transcripts will inspire you and ease your own sermon preparation this Christmas season!
  • series: Well tonight we continue our sermon series in the Psalms.

Noun used with modifier

  • Pentecost: There is no reason to assume that women and children were not present for Peter's Pentecost sermon.
  • gospel: At the first gospel sermon preached after the pouring forth of the Spirit, Acts ii.
  • morning: Rev Bryan Rippin, who is now retired, gave the Sunday morning sermon.