And yet they are all part of the form of a newspaper. Forms are the vehicles that carry our messages to each other. The messages of the Bible are also in forms. Each form has a particular purpose and function in the hearts of its original audience. The task of biblical preaching is to prepare the sermon to accomplish a similar purpose in the hearts of the contemporary audience.
Content has to do with the meaning of words, symbols, and grammar within the text.
Once questions of context, form, and content have been answered, the preacher will move to theological reflection on the text. This refers to the basic human problem or question that a passage of scripture is addressing. These human needs can be explicit in the words of the text, or implicit through the theme or mood of the text. Need can be as general as the problem of sin, or as specific as how a Christian deals with the loss of a loved one. The task of the preacher is to locate the problem in the text so that resolution can begin to take place through the sermon.