51 Questions to Ask in Observations
On Preaching with H.B. Charles Jr.
H.B. Charles, Jr.
4.9 • 578 Ratings
🗓️ 26 May 2026
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better.
In this episode, H.B. discusses fifty-one questions you should ask in the observations phase of your sermon preparation. The questions are as follow:
1. Who wrote this passage?
2. Who is the intended audience?
3. What is the book about?
4. What style of writing is this text?
5. What is the immediate context of this passage?
6. How does this text fit into the Bible’s storyline?
7. Are there any words in the text I don’t understand?
8. What is the historical background of the text?
9. What happens in this text?
10. Should I diagram this passage?
11. What is the author saying and doing?
12. What are the key terms in the text?
13. Who are the key people in the text?
14. What are the key places in the text?
15. What is (are) the main verb(s)?
16. What are the time references in this text?
17. Are there idioms or figures of speech?
18. Are there cultural assumptions in the text?
19. Is there a cause and effect in the text?
20. What is the structure of the text?
21. What are the logical connections of the text?
22. What is the order or progression of the text?
23. What relationships are mentioned in the text?
24. Is the reason for anything explained?
25. Does the passage draw any conclusions?
26. Is there a purpose statement in the text?
27. What is the dominant theme of the text?
28. What is the means by which things happen?
29. How does this text point to Jesus Christ?
30. What does God the Father do in this text?
31. How is God’s character revealed in this text?
32. Are any consequences of the Fall mentioned?
33. What are the gospel implications of the text?
34. What does this text command?
35. Are any other Bible passages quoted?
36. Does the text use any hyperbole or exaggeration?
37. How does the text affect your senses?
38. Are there any questions or answers?
39. Are there any promises in this passage?
40. Are there any technical terms in the text?
41. Are there any emotional terms in the text?
42. Does the text compare or contrast anything?
43. Are there any lists given?
44. What words are repeated in this text?
45. Are there any parallel terms or phrases?
46. Are there any reasons or purpose statements?
47. What is the tone or mood of the text?
48. What do related texts teach about this subject?
49. What pushback would an unbeliever give this text?
50. What error does this text confront or refute?
51. What is the theological message of the text?
For contact, resources, or information, visit hbcharlesjr.com.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. |
| 0:10.7 | My name is H.B. Charles Jr. and in this episode of the podcast, I'm going to give you 51 questions that you can ask in the observation phase of your word work as you do sermon preparation. |
| 0:26.6 | Before we get there, let me take a moment to extend two invitations to you. First, let me invite |
| 0:33.4 | you to the upcoming cutting a straight intensive. It will take place on June 25th and 26th here in Jacksonville, Florida, |
| 0:45.0 | at the Shiloh, Metropolitan Baptist Church, where I'm privileged to serve as pastor, teacher. |
| 0:49.8 | This will be basically two full days where I will be sharing with those present in that small group on matters of sermon preparation and delivery and pastoral leadership and a biblical philosophy of ministry. |
| 1:10.5 | We designed this not as a big conference event, |
| 1:15.0 | but as a smaller, intimate gathering where we can dialogue with one another. You can ask questions. |
| 1:23.3 | You can fellowship with other like-minded pastors. We are grateful and thankful for now scores of brothers who have joined us for these intensives, |
| 1:34.4 | and you have an opportunity to be with us for the upcoming intensive on June 25th and 26 of 2026. |
| 1:43.8 | You can register at cut straight.org. |
| 1:47.2 | Let me also invite you to our larger conference, the Cutting and Straight conference |
| 1:52.6 | that will take place, God willing, September 22nd through the 24th, again here in |
| 1:58.5 | Jacksonville at the Shiloh Church. |
| 2:00.6 | The goal of this conference, first and foremost, is to train, model, and promote faithful Bible, |
| 2:09.7 | teaching, and preaching. |
| 2:11.4 | But we will be expanding our conversation this year, deliberately and strategically, to be talking |
| 2:16.4 | about on preaching, on pastoring, |
| 2:19.1 | and on worship. |
| 2:20.6 | We have faithful Bible preachers and teachers who will be with us, preaching the word, |
| 2:29.0 | giving lectures, and leading practical workshops so that you can sharpen your tools for your own pastoral ministry back home. |
| 2:40.1 | Bring your team with you. |
... |
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