Our team has been doing some evaluation of my preaching. It is good to do so as I have found, over years, that there are certain subjects and “tones” to which I gravitate. Call them pet peeves or pet doctrines I think are important. We have come up with a simple question to evaluate any sermon in this post-resurrection era of history . . . .
That question is this: do people walk away from the sermon with faith in a glorious Savior?
I think, if you read the NT carefully, you will find that hope in Christ is the backdrop and mood of very letter. Even the most corrective letters end with hope in the Savior.
I also think, if you read your own heart carefully, you will find that hope in self-improvement is the backdrop of everything we do. I do not “get” the Gospel just because I can pass Grace Alone Test. My heart wars for self-salvation, self-beautification, self-commendation and against salvation is from the LORD.
That battle, I have found, shows up in my preaching. I am inclined to think that attention to moral definition and strong moral exhoration are what people need. The more closely I apply the standards of holiness to the heart and the more conviction I can bring the better – that may motivate people to holiness. The root of this is my belief in my own power to improve myself. The root of this is confidence in law-keeping and the power of the law to prevent sin.
But all of that is a denial of the Gospel. For a sinner outside of Christ conviction of sin must happen but it precedes a vision of the sufficiency of Jesus for me. Even secular people understand morality – what they do not understand is that Christianity is not morality. What they do not understand is the Savior’s sacrifice. What they need is reason to hope in a great Savior. Here is their hope: No matter what their past transgressions, he is able to forgive, justify, and adopt them.
What about the Christian? Do my people need extensive and detailed and hyper-precise defining of holiness? Or do they need endless reminders of the greatness of Jesus for them? And a call to respond to and apply his work in their lives? If I am a Christian, engaged in the war with sin I most often need a reminder of the grace that abounds through the Savior. I need to be built up in faith – in a look away from myself. Faith leads to godliness.
What about the rebel? Certainly the thunderings of the law have a place . . . but it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance and that kindness is most seen at the cross.
I had occasion to apply this this last week . . .
As one who is richly blessed each week by your teaching, I feel compelled to confirm that the Gospel is being clearly communicated and the Savior is magnified. Soon after you started preaching at Grace several of us agreed you were "in the (preaching) zone" from the pulpit, regularly delivering outstanding messages. Gospel truth was being extracted and applied in ways that we had not considered before. I didn't know how long it would last, but more than a year later, I still leave each meeting grateful for your gifting.
Posted by: Paul Kitabjian | January 29, 2007 at 02:48 PM
"I also think, if you read your own heart carefully, you will find that hope in self-improvement is the backdrop of everything we do. I do not “get” the Gospel just because I can pass Grace Alone Test. My heart wars for self-salvation, self-beautification, self-commendation and against salvation is from the LORD."
Excellent post, especially this paragraph.
Posted by: Ann | January 25, 2007 at 08:49 AM
The most important factor which determines the effectiveness of a sermon is not the excellence of the preacher but the prayers of the preacher and the congregation for the lost and for all the hearers of it.
GDL: While I appreciate this perspective, and agree with it, I would not say it is THE most important, but it is very significant as one who preaches without praying is presumptuous.
Posted by: Andrew Chapman | January 24, 2007 at 07:23 AM
I think your question really hits the mark in how it reflects the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." And I think when you ask whether or not your sermon "reflects faith in a glorious savior" you are saying exactly that.
In the place of "people" however, I would be more specific. I have also been doing some careful searching lately and have realized that "community" is really another central theme in the Bible. From the second greatest commandment, to the kingdom of God, to God's covenant - they don't just set demands upon generic "people" rather they set demands upon a people to become such a tight-knit community, that we become one just as the Godhead is one. (John 17:21) I think that community should receive an even greater emphasis in a culture like ours where we all think of each other as autonomous individuals and can't see the tie that binds us.
So as my humble recommendation to complete your question: Do people walk away from the sermon with community-forming faith in a glorious Savior?
Posted by: Robert Ivy | January 23, 2007 at 09:37 PM
Mark,
Is there any kind of message evaluation checklist that you use for your messages before you preach them? I have seen some that look good, but I would be interested in your perspective.
GDL: I have one that is going on in my head all the time:
1. Am I being faithful to the text and the larger NT context? (is the Gospel clear?)
2. Am I clear in my outline and logic? Is it well-illustrated?
3. is there application?
4. Are the illustrations humble and do they build faith?
5. Is the sermon context appropriate -- am I thinking out the people I am preaching to?
Posted by: Toby Kurth | January 23, 2007 at 02:31 PM