week2

Work from your structural diagram and observations

· Aim to define the idea precisely in your own mind.

· Make sure the idea reflects what the writer said.

· Use wording for text and sermon ideas.

· Word text idea as a subject plus modifier.

· Avoid nontheological wording.

List all theological themes from the text:

Spread of the gospel (v12)

Being in chains for Christ (v13)

Confidence in the Lord (v14)

Proclaiming the gospel without fear (v14)

Defense of the gospel (16)

Examine the context and the writer’s progression of thought and list possible subject themes:

Brothers and sisters (fellowship)

Advancing the gospel

Bondage

The cause of Christ

Defending the gospel

Purity of preaching

Power of the gospel

Analyze the expressions of the writer’s intention and list possibilities here:

Be encouraged in every situation

No matter what, preach the gospel

Always have confidence in the message

Christ and his gospel are what’s most important

List possible themes indicated by figurative language in the text:

Advancing the gospel

Being in chains for Christ

Confidence in the Lord

Preaching with boldness

Defending the gospel

Preaching Christ

True/false motives

Look for the “plain and obvious” meaning and list those themes:

Christ is glorified in our suffering.

Being bound, whether physically or spiritually, should not hinder us from the cause of Christ.

False motives or wrong intentions don’t detract from the power of the message.

The important thing is Christ is preached.

Look at the rhetorical functions and grammar of phrases in the text for dominant themes:

Being in chains (serving while suffering).

Advancing the gospel.

Preaching Christ

The message is powerful on its own.

From the possibilities above, choose your subject and modifier for the text idea:

Subject: Preach Christ in every situation

Modifier: reasons/motives have little effect on the results

Title: The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing