| After uploading some sermons to
Holy Trinity's website one evening, I decided to read some sermons posted
on other local church websites. I was surprised and disappointed
at what many pastors were feeding their flock.
I would like to encourage all concerned
believers to consider the following points of what makes a good sermon,
compare it to what is being preached, and hold their pastor accountable
to his responsibility to prepare his members spiritually for their eternity. |
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A good sermon MUST, in some way, teach
a spiritual truth ("These are written that you
may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing
you may have life in His name". John 20:31).
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A good sermon MUST, in some way, remind
the listeners that they are sinners deserving nothing from the Lord --
for only this realization makes them realize what a great gift we have
in the salvation our Lord has won for us ("For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus".
Romans 3:23).
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A good sermon MUST, in some way, include
the gospel - the good news of Jesus sacrificing himself for sinners ("For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God
to
salvation for everyone who believes" Romans 1:16).
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A good sermon MUST NOT weaken the message
of the Bible (e.g. for the sake of maintaining membership levels), nor
should it require things which our Lord does not command us ("All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the
man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work," I
Timothy 3:16).
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| Those churches and pastors who no
longer teach the two main doctrines of the Bible - LAW and GOSPEL - in
every sermon are doing their listeners a great dis-service and not preparing
members and guests for the eternal life for which our Lord sacrificed Himself. |
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Glenn A. Oster, webmaster
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