This document provides guidance on writing effective theological summaries. It explains that a theological summary aims to inform, describe, and explain a biblical source in a concise synopsis. Main traits of a good theological summary include being thesis-driven, opinion-free, and concise while explaining and describing key points and synthesizing information. The summary should launch with a clear thesis, elaborate on supporting points with concise wording, and maintain a third-person perspective and present tense. To write a strong summary, one should organize details around key trends, remove non-essential information, and ensure the content is focused, connected, and transitions logically from point to point without straying from the topic or becoming muddy.

1. Theological This is how you write a summary! All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 PresenterMedia, 2011, Business Binder 1

2. Definition A theological summary is as an exposition. Its function is to inform, describe and explain. The summary can be defined as a synopsis of a written or verbal biblical source -- Scripture, ancient documents, commentaries, research, writings, videos, podcasts, interviews, etc. All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 2

3. What are the main traits of a theological summary? All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 3

4. Attributes Thesis driven Opinion free Concise Explains Describes Synthesizes PresenterMedia, 2011, Stick Figure Profit Building Blocks All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 4

5. Overview Launches with a strong thesis Elaborates with supporting points Has concise & condensed wording Informs, describes & explains Is free of opinion, analysis, interpretation or evaluation Shows third-person point of view and present tense All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 5

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7. “Real”Time Advice on Writing a Theological Summary… Organize according to trends, then cluster details around them. Don’t list. Extend topic sentences with support. Read deep. Annotate with post-its. Write tight. Remove nonessen-tials. Review required length beforehand. All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 7

8. What makes for an effective theological summary? All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 8

9. Relevant Content A summary with relevant content encompasses connected key elements and maintains focus on them. Not Disjointed Focused Connected Little Black Duck Blog, 2008; Pencil Pattern iPod Touch Wallpaper, 2011; apenchantforpaper.blogspot, 2010. All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 9

11. Sustain main idea, showing high relevancy and meaning to topic content (no extraneous details)

12. Launch, by explaining the main idea and key points, and close by revisiting the thesis and bringing everything together.T N A E L R E V All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 10

13. Clear Content Content shows clarity & transitions Content is not disorderly or muddy L-R: iittala.com, 2011; Allthingscrystal.com, 2011; Eyes4Art.net, 2011,; cheap-drinking-glassesblogspot.com, 2009 All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 11

15. Vary sentence structure to produce cohesion

16. Incorporate transitions to create coherenceA E C L R All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 12

17. Proper Summary Elaboration Even development Opinion & idea free Third person POV Minimally, 2nd order support Informs, describes & explains All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 13

19. Show extended support for each point

20. Exposition by informing, describing and explaining,

21. Incorporate short quotes from Scripture and other resources as part of support

22. Write in third-person point of viewR P O P R E All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 14

23. Content doesn’t stray – Isn’t muddy Got it! PresenterMedia, 2011, Business Binder All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 15

24. All Nations Leadership Institute Content doesn’t stray – Isn’t muddy Would you like to learn more about biblical research and writing? Visit the All Nations Leadership Institute website. The institute offers courses that will suit your interests. It specializes in preparation for urban, multi-ethnic ministry. See: http://allnationsleadershipinstitute.org Contact Pastor Deb Strlek: 708.385.6020 Location: 4501 West 127th Street Alsip, IL 60803 All Nations Leadership Institute 2011 16