This is where you transition from the study to the message, from the past world of the biblical period to the present world of the here and now.  To ignore this dimension in the hermeneutical/homiletical process can be fatal to what happens when you stand up to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ.  Basically, you are to fulfill the assignment of a divinely called translator.  Your job is to translate the precious and eternal truth of Scripture so that a 21^st century audience can hear, understand and respond to the biblical truth that has been made plain to them.  Changing the truth is not an option and God forgive those who play the fool in this area.  Communicating the truth so that those who hear you speak “get it” and genuinely grasp the message conveyed by the biblical revelation is what we are after.

Considerations in accomplishing step #4

When you cross this bridge, you will have moved from studying the Scriptures—the hermeneutical exercise—towards teaching the Scriptures—the homiletical exercise.  You will now begin to consider several new issues that will lay the foundation for the full development of your message.

1)   Begin to focus on the introduction of the message, and the issue that has been raised in the text and will be raised in the message.

2)   Think about what must be included and/or excluded in the body of the teaching.

3)   Give thought to your conclusion – how you will wrap things up.

4)   Consider the illustrations’ that will help accomplish the purpose of the message.

5)   Most important, let the purpose of the teaching directly contribute to the form of the theme of the main idea of the message (MIM).

This now leads us to five crucial questions you should ask of every text.   This will solidify your purpose and guide you in sermon development. Hopefully, you will see that these five questions should follow the “Grand Redemptive Storyline” of Creation (God) → Fall → Redemption → Sanctification (leading to Consummation/Glorification).

Five Crucial Questions for Every Sermon to Raise and Answer

1)   What does this text teach about God and His character and ways?  This question is intentionally theological and God focused.  It is the first question you should always ask in sermon development.  This question looks for the “vision of God” in the text.

2)   What does this text teach about fallen humanity?  This question naturally follows number one, and it should always follow number one.  It will keep us from being man-centered or anthropocentric in our preaching.  Bryan Chappell speaks of the “Fallen Condition Focus” (FCF).

3)   How does this text point to Christ?  This is central in the sermon construction process and therefore we locate it “under the bridge” to support the entire structure. 

This is not a novel idea.  The church fathers were thoroughly Christocentric in their preaching.  After all, they got it from the apostles, and they got it from Jesus.  Jesus teaches us in Luke 24 that all of Scripture is about Him—all of it.  In John 5:39, He says the Scriptures testify of Himself.  Therefore, we dare not treat the Old Testament, like a Jewish rabbi. 

4)   What does God want my people to know?  Every exposition of Scripture will have a knowledge element.  There will be biblical and theological content.

5)   What does God want my people to do?  Doing follows knowing.  Having immersed my people in God’s word as to what says and means, I will now craft an action plan that paves a clearly marked road for obedience.  If we answer the knowledge question but fail to follow up with an outlet for concrete and specific action, our people will become confused and frustrated.  Our goal is to make disciples of Jesus who will think and act with a Christian worldview.  People who do not think like Jesus will not act like Jesus, and people who do not act like Jesus are not really thinking like Jesus.