Defining the purpose of a message is not an easy task. It is important, but generally neglected. Let me share three steps that may be helpful, followed by a quote from someone in the know.

1 – Study the text. Seems obvious, but it cannot be omitted.

2 – Determine original author’s purpose. What did he intend to be the effect in the lives of the original recipients? We often study content, but not intent. We study the meaning of the author, but not his motivation. It is important to determine both as well as possible. There will be clues in the text, in the historical context, and in the tone of writing (contrast Galatians with Ephesians, for example).

3 – Determine your sermon’s purpose. This may be the same, or similar to that of the original author. For me this is the default position that I move away from by choice rather than by accident. The choice to move is influenced by prayerful consideration of my listeners. Perhaps they don’t need the same effect in their lives. I would not want to automatically rebuke every church to whom I preach Galatians. The developmental questions can help in this. The author may have focused on explanation, proof or application, but my people may need a different balance of these three approaches to the main idea. Application, if specific to our listeners, will certainly feel different to that in the original context.

Haddon Robinson said the “ultimate test of purpose is why are you preaching this sermon? How would you know if people in the congregation embraced the truth of this? What would you expect to see in their lives? What would this mean if they took this seriously? Most expository preachers don’t ask that question . . . without a purpose the sermon just lies there. Progress is lost without purpose.”

In reference to being specific, he asks, “Suppose someone took you seriously. What would they be able to do . . . ?”