Our task is NOT to create a central theme; it is rather to 1. find the author’s central theme 2. build a message around that theme, and 3. make that theme the central part of all we have to say.29 Consequently, you need a one-sentence statement that summarizes the central idea of the Scripture passage you’re planning to preach. Understanding the nature of the CIT will help you with its development. The central idea of the text is defined as follows: Def’ə-nish’ən Central idea of the text (CIT) n.