Is big idea preaching a good idea? Maybe this question is plaguing you, or your colleagues in ministry. In this episode, Matt Woodley asks Russell St. John, senior pastor at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in Missouri to weigh in. Haddon Robinson popularized the big idea, as he aided in the revival of expository preaching in the late twentieth century. Russell emphasized the importance of knowing your own inadequacy as a preacher, and relying on the Holy Spirit.

He defined the big idea as “a succinct statement of the teaching and the application of the text together.” You can achieve this by asking two questions in sermon prep: What is the author talking about? What is the author saying about what’s he’s talking about? The big idea should be biblical and faithful to the text, but catchy enough to grab people’s attention. Listen to this episode to find out if big idea preaching is right for you.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

Mark 4:34 (ESV)
“He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.”

John 20:30-31 (ESV)
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."