Is the big idea more helpful or hurtful to listeners? Matt Woodley explores this question with Abraham Kuruvilla, Senior Research Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. He said "The big idea is ultimately a creation of the preacher. It's not in the text. It's something the preacher creates." Abraham also argues that the text isn't a plain glass window to look through; but a stained glass window to look at.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

• Abraham Kuruvilla's article "Time to Kill the Big Idea? A Fresh Look at Preaching" found in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2018.
• Abraham Kuruvilla’s book "Privilege the Text!: A Theological Hermeneutic for Preaching." Moody Publishers, 2013.

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.