Summary: 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.
