The personality of the preacher, the circumstances of the congregation, and the emphases of a particular sermon can cause the statement of the FCF to vary greatly. A passage whose central focus is learning to trust in God's providence may equally well address the need to lean on God in hard times, the responsibility to teach others about God's abiding care, or the sin of doubting God's provision. There is more than one proper way of wording a passage's FCF for statement in a sermon. This is why preachers can preach remarkably different sermons on the same passage that are all faithful to the text. A preacher must be able to demonstrate that the text addresses the FCF as it is formulated for this particular sermon, not that this sermon's phrasing of the FCF is the only way of reflecting on this text. The truth of the text does not vary, but the significance of that truth can vary greatly and be stated in many different ways that are appropriate for difficult situations.

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Since the FCF can vary greatly from text to text and from sermon to sermon preached on the same text, a preacher needs to make sure the purpose of a sermon remains evident in the passage. An FCF will remain faithful to a text and identify powerful purposes in a sermon if a preacher uses these three successive questions to develop the FCF:

1. What does the text say?

2. What concern(s) did the text address (in its context)?

3. What do listeners spiritually share in common with those for (or about) whom it was written or the one by whom it was written?

By identifying listeners' mutual condition with the biblical writer, subject, and/or audience, we determine why the text was written, not just for biblical times but also for our time. We should realize, however, that the Holy Spirit does not introduce an FCF simply to inform us of a problem. Paul told Timothy that God inspires all Scripture to equip us for his work (see 2 Tim. 3:16-17). God expects us to act on the problems his Spirit reveals.

Application

Key concept: Without the "so what?" we preach to a "who cares?"

No passage relates neutral commentary on our fallenness. No text communicates facts for information alone. The Bible itself tells us that its message is intended to instruct, reprove, and correct (see 2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2). God expects scriptural truths to transform his people. Faithful preaching does the same. The preacher who identifies a passage's FCF for a congregation automatically moves the people to consider the Bible's solutions and instructions for contemporary life. Therefore, biblical preaching that brings an FCF to the surface also recognizes the need for application.

Memorable in my own homiletics training was the Air Force colonel turned seminary professor who challenged students, no matter where they preached in future years, to imagine him sitting at the back of the sanctuary. With a benign scowl the professor growled, "In your mind's eye look at me whenever you have said your concluding word. My arms are folded, my face holds a frown, and this question hangs on my lips: 'So what? What do you want me to do or believe?' If you cannot answer, you have not preached."