NAMING THE TEXT IDEA Biblical Teaching & Preaching Johnson University Florida 2015 Adapted from notes by Dr. Daniel Overdorf
HOW MANY TOPICS ARE INTRODUCED BELOW? Jesus Christ changes lives. I had a neighbor once who was Buddhist she was a good neighbor, but I never did quite understand what she believed. The same is true for Islam. Though Muslims do pray a lot. I enjoy praying in the mornings everyone should dedicate at least five minutes at the beginning of every day to prayer. And, Bible reading is helpful too. We need to read our Bibles more. You might try a through the Bible in a year kind of plan. I have a hard time understanding Revelation. I do believe it s true, though. Truth is debated by postmoderns. What exactly is truth? Love is.
EFFECTIVE SERMONS AND LESSONS DEVELOP AROUND A SINGLE CONCEPT. Jesus Christ changes lives. You can read throughout Scripture and find examples Abraham s life was changed. Moses life was changed. Joseph s was changed. And who could forget the Apostle Paul? A murderer and persecutor of the church became the greatest missionary the world has ever known. The Bible is clear no one can truly encounter God and leave unchanged. I can attest He s changed my life. I used to live only for myself. My heart was hardened toward God and toward others. Today my heart is softened, I long to enjoy fellowship with God and with His other children. The Bible teaches it, and I can testify personally Jesus Christ changes lives.
EFFECTIVE SERMON OUTLINES Discussions of outlining usually emphasize the place of Roman and Arabic numerals along with proper indentation, but these factors (important as they are) may ignore the obvious an outline is the shape of the sermon idea, and the parts must all be related to the whole. Three or four ideas not related to a more inclusive idea do not make a message; they make three or four sermonettes all preached at one time A sermon should be a bullet, not a buckshot. -Haddon Robinson
THE ESSENTIAL SERMON SENTENCE I have a conviction that no sermon is ready for preaching, not ready for writing out, until we can express its theme in a short, pregnant sentence as clear as crystal. I find getting that sentence is the hardest, the most exacting, and the most fruitful labor in my study. To compel oneself to fashion that sentence, to dismiss every word that is vague, ragged, ambiguous, to think oneself through to a form of words which defines the theme with scrupulous exactness this is one of the most essential factors in the making of a sermon. -John Henry Jowett
CLARITY OF THOUGHT YIELDS CLARITY OF EXPRESSION The great failure of much preaching is fuzzy thinking. When the preacher is not clear in his own mind, the sermon will not be clear. The root of this problem for preaching is a failure to clearly understand and state the text s central idea. The sharp focus of precise thought is lost in the flow of slogans, platitudes, and other preacher talk that seems designed to sound good rather than to communicate clearly. -Wayne McDill A mist in the pulpit is a fog in the pew (Haddon Robinson).
WHAT DID HE SAY? Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -Bilbo Baggins I wish I knew many of you better, but I must admit that I there are some of you that a like less than I should. -Joe s Paraphrase
THE BIG IDEAS (MCDILL 88) TEXT IDEA The core idea of the text worded as subject/modifier and stated as a complete, past-tense sentence. It contains reference to certain historical elements associated with the text writer or speaker, secondary persons or readers, the tone or purpose of the passage, circumstances of the writing, and special literary features. SERMON IDEA The same subject/modifier as the core of the text idea, worded as a present-tense, universal statement, without the historical elements of the text idea.
WORDING THE TEXT IDEA Subject In one word, what is the text about? Modifier How does the writer limit the scope of what he s talking about? Text Idea A complete, past-tense sentence that includes the subject and modifier with the historical context of the text.
WORDING THE TEXT IDEA To arrive at the text idea: consider theological themes in the text, examine the context of the passage, look for any expression of intention by the writer, translate figurative language, look for the plain and obvious meaning, look at the rhetorical functions and grammar of phrases. Choosing the right words: choose the words that have theological roots throughout the Bible, that best communicate to your audience, that are neither too broad nor narrow, that best apply to the audience s experience.
WORDING THE TEXT IDEA (1 CORINTHIANS 13) Subject: Love Modifier: Excellence Text Idea: Paul inspired the Corinthians to love in the most excellent way.
WORDING THE TEXT IDEA (JAMES 1:2-4) Subject: Trials Modifier: Response Text Idea: James equipped his readers to respond to trials in a wise way.
WORDING THE TEXT IDEA (LUKE 18:1-8) Subject: Prayer Modifier: Persistence Text Idea: Jesus told a parable of a widow and a judge to encourage His disciples to persist in prayer.
WORDING THE TEXT IDEA (MATTHEW 5:13-16) Subject: Influence Modifier: World Text Idea: Jesus used metaphors of salt and light to teach those who would follow Him that the righteous have a positive influence on the world.
WORDING THE TEXT IDEA (HEBREWS 12:1-3) Subject: Faith Modifier: Enduring Text Idea: The writer of Hebrews described the characteristics of faith that endures difficult times.
ACTIVITY In groups of 3, define the subject, modifier, and text idea for each of these passages: Ephesians 2:1-9 Matthew 6:25-34 Genesis 22:1-18