The Preacher’s Best Friend
Remember those mnemonic devices we used back in school? Roy G. Biv helped us remember the colors of the rainbow. Every Good Boy Does Fine got us through music class. And then there was Only Silly Asses In College Study Past Midnight . . . though I’ll be honest, I have no idea what that one was for. (Philosophy? Zoology? A cautionary tale?)
Turns out, preachers need a few memory tricks too—especially when we’re staring at a blank page or a blinking cursor, trying to shape a sermon. That’s where Paul Scott Wilson’s delightfully odd phrase comes in: The Tiny Dog Now Is Mine. Although it sounds like a lost children’s book title, it’s actually a sharp, reliable tool for crafting gospel-centered sermons.
In fact, I’ve previously written about Wilson’s Four Pages of the Sermon and how it offers a clear, gospel-centered outline for preaching. Alongside that framework, he introduces a handy mnemonic that can help you start your sermon and keep it on track. And, best of all, this one is really memorable!
The Tiny Dog Now Is Mine
At first glance, the phrase might conjure up a dainty dachshund gnawing your sermon notes into confetti—but fear not, this pup is here to help! In reality, each word in the sentence is a cue for a key step in sermon development, helping you clarify what your sermon is about and keep it focused from start to finish.
T is for Text
A clear starting point rooted in Scripture.
The first T stands for Text, and it’s where every sermon must begin. This isn’t just about selecting a passage—it’s about deciding how much of the passage to engage and how that will shape your message. Will you be preaching an entire chapter? A complete narrative? Or just a few tightly packed verses?
How Much Text is Too Much?
When choosing the scope of your text, first consider both the passage’s structure and your listeners’ capacity. Next, ask, “Does the passage unfold a single clear thought, or will it take more time to trace its movement?” Then, consider what your allotted time and your congregation’s attention span will allow. Ultimately, preaching isn’t just about what the text says—it’s also about how we make it heard.
Fred Craddock warned, “to ask how much Scripture can properly be dealt with in one sermon is to raise the wrong question. Rather, one should ask if the text selected is a unit having its own integrity, and therefore providing focus and restraint for the sermon.”
Otherwise, too much text brings fuzziness to the focus of the sermon. Keeping the text centered on the focus of your sermon will keep the focus of your sermon centered firmly in the text.
Guiding Question:
Is the text I’ve chosen small enough to stay focused, but big enough to carry the weight of the message?
Action Step:
First, decide where your passage begins and ends. Then, read it out loud. Ask yourself, “Does it sound like a unit with its own shape and movement?”
Practice Makes Preacher:
To begin, dedicate some of your regular Bible reading time to identifying where a preaching passage begins and ends. For added focus, consider purchasing a small paperback Bible just for this purpose. As you read, mark off passages that form a complete unit of thought—tight, focused, and preachable. Over time, you’ll build a go-to map of texts already shaped for proclamation.
T is for Theme
The sermon in a sentence.
The second T stands for Theme. You might know it by other names: Thesis, Big Idea, Golden Takeaway, or even the Eureka Point. Myself? I like to call it the “Sermonic Dominant Thought” (SDT for short). Regardless of the label, it’s that one guiding sentence—drawn from the focus of the text—that states, as clearly as possible, the message your sermon is built around.
Here’s How to Begin Forming It
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Identify the subject of the passage.Is it a command? A character undergoing a change? A surprising reversal or spiritual insight? What’s happening here?
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Watch for repetition.Are certain words or phrases repeated? Do they point toward the heartbeat of the passage?
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Call for real-life application.How will your hearers apply this one sentence in the week ahead?
Brevity is Key
For my own sermons, I aim to keep the dominant thought to 14 words or fewer. Why? Because if I can’t remember it, they won’t either!
Haddon Robinson put it well:
“The language used in the (Theme) should be both winsome and compelling without being sensational. Does it sparkle? Does it grab hold of the listener’s mind? Can I remember it easily? Is it worth remembering? Does the language communicate effectively to modern men and women?”
Guiding Question:
Can I say what this sermon is about in a single, clear sentence—and will people care?
Action Step:
Start by writing down your sermon’s big idea, then begin honing it until it’s 14 words or fewer (ok, fine—I’ll give you 15!). Next, say it out loud. Then, try saying it again without your notes. If it doesn’t stick, tweak it until it does.
Practice Makes Preacher:
Take a moment to look over your past sermons. Can you clearly identify a theme sentence? If not, how would you rewrite one to make the message clearer and more compelling?
D is for Doctrine
Ushering hearers into the presence of God.
Robert Smith Jr., the master of doctrinal preaching, defines doctrinal preaching as “the escorting of the hearers into the presence of God for the purpose of transformation.”
That’s the heart of this step. The preacher must carefully mine the chosen text for the theological conviction it reveals. This requires both care and attention. While a single passage may touch on several doctrines, in most cases, a focused sermon theme will bring one key doctrine to light.
Remember, this isn’t a lecture. It’s not about cramming in terms like “sanctification,” “incarnation,” or “eschatology” just to sound smart. Instead, doctrine in preaching should illuminate the theme, not bury it in technicality. Ultimately, the doctrine revealed in the text shapes the message and leads hearers closer to the living God.
Guiding Question:
What deeply held belief about God or the gospel is revealed in this text—and how can I help people experience its truth?
Action Step:
Practice Makes Preacher:
If you’re not already doing so, take time to review the core doctrines of the Christian faith. As you do, practice identifying what theological truth is on display in the Scripture you’re reading this week.
N is for Need
This is what we preachers often call the “So what?” of the sermon. You’ve chosen your text, you’ve named the theme, you’ve highlighted a core doctrine—but without connection to real life, it will fall flat. That’s why the “Need” helps you keep your message from drifting into abstraction or over-explaining.
Get Specific
Ask: What hurt, hunger, confusion, or longing does this passage speak to?
Your congregation may not walk in asking theological questions, but they are asking life questions:
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Can I be forgiven?
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Is God still with me?
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Why should I keep hoping?
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What do I do with this grief, doubt, anger, shame?
It’s essential that the need not be vague or merely sentimental. Preaching that says, “we all just need a little hope,” may sound pleasant, but ultimately, it won’t stir transformation. Instead, the language you use should be concrete enough that your hearers recognize the sound of their own questions echoing in your words.
Guiding Question:
What heart-need, fear, or question does this passage address in the life of your congregation?
Action Step:
As you prepare, read through your notes and ask, “So what?” What difference is this message making in the life of anyone who listens? If the answer isn’t obvious, try framing the message as a real-life question—something your listener might actually be asking at midnight, in traffic, or at a graveside.
Practice Makes Preacher:
Think back to a sermon you’ve preached that really seemed to land. What need was it speaking to? Next, review a recent sermon that didn’t connect—and ask yourself, “Was the need too vague, too hidden, or missing altogether?”
I is for Imagery
What picture will your sermon paint that people can carry home with them?
Your sermon text likely contains several vivid images—palm branches, water jars, nails, and wounds. From there, the preacher’s task is to choose one image from the text or message that will dominate and anchor the sermon.
Paint It With Words
Because preaching is oral, the image needs to be repeated, turned over, and held up to the light from different angles. So, explore it. Expand it. Let it shimmer in the minds of your hearers. As Mark Scott puts it, “Speak in such a way that people see what is being said.”
This is not about props or visual aids, it’s about verbal imagination. With the right words, you can paint a picture that stays with your hearers long after the PowerPoint has gone dark.
Guiding Question:
As you reflect on your text, what image from this passage (or your message) can capture the heart of the sermon in a way that lingers?
Action Step:
Practice Makes Preacher:
As you listen to other sermons this week, jot down the strongest image that stays with you. Afterward, ask, “Why did that one stick? How was it introduced, developed, and revisited?”
M is for Mission
Paul Scott Wilson wrote, “By mission, I mean primarily one act, one action of ministry that listeners may contemplate doing as a result of the sermon.” In a similar vein, in preaching class, Dr. Sackett used to ask us, “What was the purpose of that sermon?” And I learned quickly that the answer “To fill 20 minutes so I can go to lunch” was not the one he was looking for.
Finding Mission in Your Message and Text
Instead, the preacher should ask, “As a result of this message, my hearers will . . . ” To help shape your answer, think in terms of Head, Heart, and Hands:
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Head – What will they know?
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Heart – What will they feel?
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Hands – What will they do?
Look to your text: Does it include a clear call to action? A “go and do likewise”? A “therefore, in view of God’s mercy…”?
Preaching always points somewhere. Your job is to make sure it’s not just in circles.
Guiding Question:
Action Step:
Practice Makes Preacher:
Take time to review your last few sermons. Were you clear on what the listener was being invited to do in response? If not, consider how the message could be reshaped to send them out with purpose.
Good Doggie! Good Preacher!
You’ve walked the dog—guided by six simple cues—and now you know where you’re going. The parameters of your sermon text are set. You’ve clarified what you’re going to say and what you’re inviting your hearers to do. The theme is focused, the doctrine is clear, the need is real, the image is vivid, and the mission is ready to move.
Now comes the next step: organizing it all into a sermon. With The Tiny Dog Now Is Mine in hand, you’re not just staring at a blank page—you’re holding a leash and pointing toward purpose.
So what sermon structure will best serve the message you’ve uncovered? Whether you follow a classic outline, narrative flow, or Paul Scott Wilson’s Four Pages of the Sermon, your task is now clearer: take what the Tiny Dog revealed and shape it into a path your congregation can walk with you, straight to the gospel!
You’ve done the faithful work of discovery. Now, go get ’em!
