My last Sunday preaching was June 5th of this past year. It has been enlightening to visit a number of churches to see how others do worship. A number of things have become evident, the biggest being we seem to have lost the art of hospitality (if we ever had it) but that is a topic for another day. One of the biggest realizations is that many pastors have no idea what the purpose of a sermon is.
I am sure I had this same problem, but somewhere along the line I decided I needed to ask myself a question each week as I prepared my sermon. “So What?” So what if I preach this message — or of course, another way to say that is, what is it I am trying to accomplish with this message. Yet I will be the first to admit, sometimes I forgot this important question.
Too often it feels like a pastor has an idea, but doesn’t know what to do with it; or maybe more importantly, what I (as listener) am to do with it. A sermon should do a couple of things. First it should inspire. Inspire awe in God, inspire awe in creation, inspire awe in humanity, inspire awe in possibilities. Most of the sermons I have heard do a decent job of doing that. Secondly, and relatedly, a sermon should teach. It should illuminate the text (inspire awe in the text) that makes me want to learn more about the situation in which they are placing the sermon. I want to feel like I learned something about the biblical story that is the core of the sermon. Again, at least with the majority of the sermons we have heard, the preacher has done a good job at that. As one woman said today, she really likes her pastor because he is such a good teacher.
It is the final part that often seems to be missing. WHAT IS THE POINT? What is the takeaway for me to chew on this afternoon and week? What is it that God is calling me to do? The SO WHAT question. How is this sermon causing me to grow, change, or at least challenge some of my encultured assumptions. Rare is the sermon that seems to do that. Often I leave feeling like the pastor was unsure, or timid to share what the message is calling me to do. Maybe they are hoping that I will get there on my own, but really??
This really hit me when a church we were visiting had a lay person preaching. He was very knowledgeable about the text, but seemed afraid to share what the text was inviting us to do. I don't think this was just his problem. Unfortunately, I have encountered some level of this many of the Sunday’s we have attended church.
Of course there is always the other extreme --- a sermon that is all about the how you are to live, but very little to do with the actual understanding of the biblical story. I am not sure that is helpful either because at least in my experience, the biblical exegesis that is done is rather shoddy and fixed to the point being made (proof texting anyone . . .). Somehow we need to develop balance. Quality scholarship, along with a message that has real and practical impact on my life and the betterment of society.
Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to be sitting on the sidelines. I am thankful for having had amazing mentors, teachers, and colleagues who helped me grow as a preacher/teacher. I hope and pray that I can do the same for others.
