Bulletins - Faith Baptist Church (Oconomowoc, WI)

Naming the Textual Idea

The first primary goal we want to address is the idea of naming the textual idea.
The central proposition statement of your sermon. Sermon in a tweet.

Naming the textual idea means discovering the writer’s idea in the text and designating it with precise terminology

Why should you name the textual idea?

It helps you define the major idea of your text precisely in your own mind

It makes sure the major idea of your text reflects what the biblical writer is saying

It helps you significantly in developing your sermon propositional statement

Wording the Textual Idea

The textual idea is a concept derived from the words of the biblical writer that the preacher/teacher takes to be the writer’s intended message to his original readers.

This idea is discovered in a careful study of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and theological context.

The textual idea is designated by two words carefully selected as subject and complement.

The one-word SUBJECT answers the question, “What is the writer talking about?” It is the dominate theme of the text.

The one-word COMPLEMENT is a second theme from the text which focuses and defines the subject. It answers the question, “How does the writer limit the scope of what he is talking about.”

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 ESV
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

What is the dominate theme of the text? Love. So “Love” would be our subject.

1 Corinthians 12:31 ESV
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

From this statement we might conclude that the writer seems to limit his comments by the theme of “excellence.” So “excellence” would be our compliment.

Our subject/compliment would be love/excellence. Our textual idea might be entitled “The Excellence of Love.”

Guidelines for the Exercise

Carefully identify all the theological themes in the text for insight into its central idea.

Consider the plain and obvious meaning of the text for indications of the textual idea.

Carefully examine the apparent intention of the writer for an insight into his central idea.

Examining the context of the text may help identify the writer’s central idea.

Discern the meaning of figurative language for insights into the writer’s subject.

Look for a pivotal verse in the text which may contain the main theme.

Completing the Exercise

Step 1: Write down all the one-word possibilities the text seems to suggest which might serve as subjects or compliments.

Step 2: Take the most likely word from your list and ask of the entire text, verse by verse, “Does this word identify what the writer is talking about?”

Step 3: Once you have settled on a subject word, now choose another word for your compliment.

Step 4: Turn your subject/complement into a working title for the sermon.
- - 1 Corinthians 13:4–5KJV1900
- - 1 Corinthians 12:31KJV1900

Naming the Textual Idea

Why should you name the textual idea?

It helps you define the major idea of your text precisely in your own mind

It makes sure the major idea of your text reflects what the biblical writer is saying

It helps you significantly in developing your sermon propositional statement

Wording the Textual Idea

Guidelines for the Exercise

Carefully identify all the theological themes in the text for insight into its central idea.

Consider the plain and obvious meaning of the text for indications of the textual idea.

Carefully examine the apparent intention of the writer for an insight into his central idea.

Examining the context of the text may help identify the writer’s central idea.

Discern the meaning of figurative language for insights into the writer’s subject.

Look for a pivotal verse in the text which may contain the main theme.

Completing the Exercise

Step 1: Write down all the one-word possibilities the text seems to suggest which might serve as subjects or compliments.

Step 2: Take the most likely word from your list and ask of the entire text, verse by verse, “Does this word identify what the writer is talking about?”

Step 3: Once you have settled on a subject word, now choose another word for your compliment.

Step 4: Turn your subject/complement into a working title for the sermon.

1 Corinthians 13:4–5KJV1900

1 Corinthians 12:31KJV1900