Preaching Guidance

Preparation (study)—
The following are the steps to take in developing a lesson:
Read the passage and surrounding context in your favorite translation
If it is a letter, read the whole letter in one sitting because that is how letters are read
Read the passage and context in other good translations (NIV, HCSB, NASB, NRSV). Sometimes reading it only in one translation causes the reader to have a “unique” but not good interpretation that is cleared up by reading a couple of translations.
Make personal notes (as you read) where you see the author's themes and divisions of logic. This will help you get at the literary context.
After you do this consult outside sources (Bible dictionary, Greek Lexicon, good commentary) to get cultural, historical context. If you go straight to sources, it can be a form of laziness, not thinking for yourself, and it can hurt you when you don't really understand the passage well.
After all this write a paragraph that puts the principles into your own words.
All this work should take you a couple of hours, but it is necessary to interpret the Bible well, and it will actually save you time and make your preaching better in the long run

Developing an Introduction—
Catch the attention of the audience and draw them into the subject
The intro should also let the audience know why the subject is important
Clearly introduce the subject, which is where your title is introduced
This should be no more than 5 minutes, preferably less

Main Points—
This will be your longest section
The whole speech will go too long if your intro is more than 5 minutes because that will already put you in a rush to make the point clear
From your study of the subject, form logical divisions of the subject, which become your main points
You can use the divisions of the passage if it is a contextual sermon (For example, 1Corinthians 3 uses the divisions: plant, water, and God makes it grow).
Use an illustration at each main point to help the listener connect to each point
An illustration is not limited to one type: story personal experience, humorous story, analogy, poem, quote, parable, etc.
Give practicals at each main point
Some practicals to the Word Study, for example, are to read the Bible every day, make it your standard, start putting it into practice, use it to deal with sin, and tradition needs to be challenged with God's Word.
Use a few select questions throughout to help people think for themselves and relate it to their own lives

Conclusion—
Sum up your main points
Make the connection with the title in a succinct statement
Leave them on a good note