Ministry News

Not Every Sermon Ends With YOU

Details: Tuesday, 13 October 2009 13:34

QUOTE: "Whether it’s by training or instinct, most preachers think about concluding [their sermons] with application. It may be explicit application ("Here are three points of application from our text...") or implicit ("God doesn’t want us to be hearers of the word only, but doers, so in conclusion..."), but most sermons end with some thoughts on what to do as a result of what’s been heard. … Especially for conservatives, it just feels better to end a sermon with some strong exhortations. Maybe it’s laziness in preparation. Maybe it’s a dearth of creativity. Maybe it’s a fear of antinomianism. For whatever reason, so many of our sermons end with a stirring call to stop doing these bad things, try these good things, start feeling more joyful, etc. But many [Bible] texts are not about oughts. … Maybe we just aren’t as passionate about the person and work of Christ as we are about getting in people's faces (which, trust me, I also do). Or maybe we think people will be bored if they don’t get some good practical advice on their way out the door (and it’s possible they are more eager to hear three points of application than ponder the glory of Christ). Again, I’m not saying no text can end with imperatives. "Repent," "believe," "obey" are all biblical injunctions. But we must let the text determine the mood of the sermon and not tack on honey-do lists at the end of every message." —Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Mich. [christianpost.com, 9/29/09]

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Comments

0 #2 Ramona C 2009-10-15 04:09

Very Good comment. Are we pointing people with these do"s or don'ts to trusting the work of Christ in us or pointing them to te flesh and the law? We trust Christ to do in us what we can not do ourselves. Will power is over rated. Who has kept their New Years resolution. We look expectantly for God to teach us after we have asked for His help. Father still knows best and how.

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+1 #1 Dr. Lynn 2009-10-13 08:56

"If you hear these words of mine, you are blessed if you DO them." I get DeYoung's point...ponder and let them wrestle- without answering every inference. But true preaching is not waxing philosophically eloquent. It is a holy charge--to be conformed and transformed, not simply inspired.

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