What Is A Good Sermon?

Paul Thomas

Sermons are preached, not to be liked, but to be accepted as truth and lived by. The crucial question is not, “Did you like it?” but, “what did you come away with?” The value of a sermon may be measured, not by enthusiasm or in the delight of the congregation, but by the response in action and obedience to God.

Paul told Timothy to: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2). For a preacher, the reproving and rebuking part is not going to be a pleasant experience, but needs to be done occasionally. Take the example in Matthew 15. Jesus tells the Pharisees and Scribes that their worship is in vain, because they teach “as doctrines the precepts of men” (v9). Following that statement, Jesus said that what “comes out of the mouth defiles a man (v11).” These words had offended the Pharisees (v12).

Sometimes preaching can offend us. The message hits home and makes us feel uncomfortable. The three thousand at Pentecost were feeling quite distressed at Peter’s sermon (Acts 2:37). Felix trembled at the things Paul had to say as he preached to him (Acts 24:25). Usually these feelings do not come about through superiority of speech or persuasive words of the preacher (1 Corinthians 2:1,4), but rather it is the Word of God that is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Some may ask, “Why is it that sermons don’t usually affect me?” One reason may be a lack of preparation on the preacher’s part—hopefully not. Another reason could be that you’re too tired to listen to the sermon. If this is the case, consider the fact that you’re insulting the preacher who has put a lot of work into the lesson, as well as insulting God, whose revelation was given so that we might better equip ourselves to go to heaven (2 Timothy 3:17). A third reason could be that the sermon reinforces the knowledge that you already have. Reminders are always good for strengthening your faith (2 Peter 1:12). One final reason could be that perhaps you have become callous to the sins in your life (Ephesians 4:17-18), and are unwilling to take the necessary steps towards obedience.

Hopefully these points will give some insight into what could be considered a good sermon.