These structural components are the working tools of experienced preachers. My goal in presenting them is to outfit the tool bag of starting preachers. In later examples we will alter the use of these tools and explore new techniques, but for now the goal is to create familiarity with the “hammer and nails” of traditional sermon construction. The reason for starting with the basics is simple: it is very unusual to find a skilled preacher who does not have a working knowledge of standard sermon components