This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:1
The Big Idea
Outlining the Bible is the primary means to prepare one to teach the precepts of Scripture in a clear and logical way. This is designed for the pastor, Bible study leader, or curriculum writer to learn how to examine the text and then draw out what is there in a logical and systematic way. In this way, we can develop well crafted sermons and studies that are personally edifying and impacting to our congregation. This form of study can even be used by a mature Christian wanting more out of the Word for personal edification. Outlining will enable one to “exegete” and then write out what the Bible is saying.
“Exegesis” is digging out from the passage the principles and ideas that are represented there. This helps prevents someone from adding his own thinking, prejudices, and ideas into the mix that would take away from what God is actually saying. Our responsibility is to ponder upon, examine, and expound on God’s Word, not add in what is not there. Nor, are we to leave out what we do not want and thus miss what He clearly has for us. Exegesis is a tool to help you stay focused and centered upon Him and His precepts and then be edified so you can edify others.
“Outlining” is taking what we have learned and then laying it out in an orderly and efficient way so we can understand it better. Doing this will enable the teacher to impart it to others in a more profound and impacting way. Keep in mind that Scripture is the source of biblical teaching; all we do is tap into it and pour out His most precious precepts for all to drink.
Why Should We Make an Outline?
An outline is an essential tool. It can be used for any form of text, whether it is a Bible passage or any other form of literature—from Shakespeare to a textbook to a magazine article. This is the way any good writer or researcher goes about preparing and organizing his materials.
I developed this curriculum for you to use from over twenty years of research. I sought out the principles and resources that a good “sermonizer” uses to teach. Why is one preacher bad and another good when they come from the same seminary and denomination? From my original mentorship under Francis Schaeffer, study under Ray Stedman, and interviewing hundreds of excellent Bible teachers including Charles Swindoll and R.C. Sproul for my book, Into Thy Word, it has been my quest to see what “secrets” and means can best be utilized to learn and then teach His Word. I discovered that an outline is essential, after a good inductive and or exegetical study, to lay out what we are to learn and then to teach. By the way, every good preacher is first a learner before they become a teacher! Being a learner, doing an inductive approach, and then outlining are the common denominators of what a good Bible-centered pastor does to prepare. There are no shortcuts to good Biblical messaging. We need, your congregation needs the right essential elements and tools to produce sermons. Outlining is essential for a Bible teacher use to prepare their lesson. Outlining will be your primary means of producing quality, Bible-centered lessons, talks, sermons, or even research papers.
The Basic Idea of an Outline
Outlining the Bible is not very different from outlining any other form of writing. Thus, there are many ways in which you can do it. I will give you several ways to do this; you may come up with some of your own. The main purpose is to break down and isolate from the text the various ideas or categories it is representing. Consequently, each paragraph may have several ideas that relate or add to the main theme of the paragraph. The task of outlining is to isolate and then lay out these ideas in a systematic and logical manner. The goal is to represent and teach the passage in the way it is intended, in its context and power. (If this is for a class project or assignment, first find out from your professor/teacher the form he wants, and use it; follow the assignment and class guidelines, even if you know a better or easier way).
Where to Begin
To start out, just recall what you may have learned in those grammar lessons in school, which is to simply go through the passage and pull out the themes, concepts, illustrations, and ideas presented. First, look for a general theme, then sub-themes and ideas, such as where each idea begins and ends, and how it is sustained. Search for the principal themes and the logical order of each subjunctive idea; then, when you see another principal/primary theme, you can place it in the next category or section.
An outline is basically an aid to help lay out the precepts and reasons of your sermon, study, or paper in a systematic, easy to use and easy to read structure. It helps you as the writer and another person as the reader to identify the general ideas and key thoughts of your line of reasoning. The basic consideration is for you to define the main idea and then the subordinate ideas.
© 1996, revised 2000, 2007 R.J. Krejcir Ph.D. Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.com
