What is the “Big Idea?”
I’m not sure if you have noticed or not but recently in my sermons, I have said, “The Big Idea is___” or “The Big Idea today is___.” This refers to the key phrase for the sermon that I’m hoping people are going to remember first and will be the main takeaway from the message.
This “Big Idea” preaching comes from Haddon Robinson (no relation), a great preacher and retired professor at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. His concept is that each sermon needs one central idea and that is the “Big Idea.” Haddon Robinson also says that the “Big Idea” comes from the scripture and that each passage of scripture has a “Big Idea.” My job as pastor is to study God’s Word to find the “Big Idea” from each scripture, and then I am supposed to take that “Big Idea” and teach it to the congregation. Of course, each sermon and every sermon’s goal according to Haddon Robinson is to be transformational for the listener.
So, what’s the “Big Idea?” I’m hoping to be teaching this through my sermons. Pay attention, listen up, and see if you can hear the “Big Idea” from my sermons. It’s not the illustration, its not just one point, but it’s the “Big Idea” of the entire sermon. Since this is a new idea and concept, I’m hoping that people are going to start hearing that phrase, remembering the key idea, and maybe even writing it down. I encourage notes. Remember, transformation into becoming more like Christ is the goal. How cool would it be if we ALL are constantly being transformed by the Word of God?
