Proclaimer Blog
Lloyd-Jones on the main thing
Here's a little more from Lloyd-Jones on finding and keeping the main message (we would say, theme) of a passage:
The thing I am concerned about is that you make certain that you really are getting the main message, the main thrust and import of this particular text or statement. It is quite astonishing to note how good men can avoid doing this…nothing is more important than we should be sure that we have got at the main thrust of the text amd let that come out….let it lead you, let it teach you. Listen to is and then question it as to its meaning, and let that be the burden of your sermon.