The Theme:  66 Examples of Creating a Book’s Main Message

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

The Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT)

A Word For Writers

A “theme” refers to different things in different areas of expertise.

In classical music, a theme is a tune on which an entire symphony is built.

Web designers create a site’s visually-recognizable “theme” or style by using a color scheme, layout, and fonts.

Event planners choose a theme to create a memorable ambiance for a wedding, convention, or annual meeting.

But in writing, a theme is a work’s underlying principle or message. 

Each book of the Bible, for instance, has a theme. In Exodus it is deliverance. The book of Ruth’s theme? Redemption. Philippians’ underlying message is joy while 1 Peter speaks to godly suffering. 

Yet God does not use a book of the Bible to merely discuss a topic in academic terms or even to wax eloquent about the subject. 

In each instance, a theme in a book of the Bible demonstrates life change. In Exodus, God delivered His people from slavery – a transformation in their position. In Ruth, God offered His redemption through a kinsman redeemer, rendering Ruth’s change in status. In Philippians, God reveals the root of true joy: the change from self-dependence to God-dependence. In 1 Peter, God explains how godly suffering transforms a person’s relationship with God to deeper intimacy.

The theme of your book, blog, or content is most powerful when it demonstrates transformation.

A Wise Word

A theme is most powerful when it demonstrates life change.

A Word To Pray

Loving Father,

Your desire is for me to grow. Give me the same desire for my readers. Show me how to choose a theme for my book that demonstrates life change.

In Jesus’s name, Amen. 

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