Ministry News

Are My Sermons Making a Difference?

Details: Published on Tuesday, 26 January 2010 15:30; Written by Marcus Yoars

Every pastor asks this question—most likely on a regular basis. But after a British survey of 300 hearers of the Word from various denominations, preachers worldwide now have some extra incentive to rely more on the Holy Spirit for their sermons.

Researchers at Durham University's College of Preachers found that a whopping 96.6 percent of the 3.6 million people who regularly attend a church in England look forward to hearing a sermon each week. That's great news, as is the fact that 62 percent say those sermons frequently provide them with a better sense of God's love and a better understanding of who Jesus is.

Unfortunately, there's bad news too. Only 17 percent of those responding said the sermons they hear on a regular basis cause them to change their attitudes about others or give them a fresh perspective on tough issues. Bottom line: Only a fraction of those listening to preachers are actually moved to make external or internal life changes.

"The digital age isn’t killing off preaching, but what the survey suggests is that too much preaching is doing too little to motivate people to look at the world differently and therefore live in it differently," said Paul Johns, a director at the College of Preachers. "If that’s so, we have to question what we preachers are actually saying about the Bible and about contemporary issues, and how well we’re engaging with our congregations."

Though the survey wasn't large enough to allow researchers to make sweeping conclusions—nor does it reflect percentages within the American church—it does reveal a cultural dilemma that's relevant for preachers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Said research director Kate Bruce: "The people we surveyed said they wanted sermons which are biblical, but also relevant to contemporary life and issues, and in a culture which values entertainment and likes standup, over a quarter of them said they want preaching to be entertaining too." [timesonline.co.uk, 1/19/10; christiantoday.com, 1/25/10]

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Comments

0 #7 Carol Castillo 2010-01-31 06:43

The Word is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. Scripture does not change, circumstances do not change, technology does. But applying the Word of God on a daily basis applies every time. The 10 Commandments apply today more then ever. Thank you Lord for the men of God who grieve over their saints and preach the message of salvation.

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0 #6 Pastor Doug 2010-01-27 11:18

Proverbs 29:19 says "A slave will not be instructed by words alone;For though he understands, there will be no response."

and Proverbs 27:23 says "Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds..."

Anyone who would ignore this information in the survey does so to the peril of ministering effectively to your people... it doesn't make the crowd "right" it simply tells what they are experiencing and thinking and everybody knows that "perception is reality"!

The reason that people are not changing ONLY from Sunday messages (sermons, preaching) is because they are NOT being DISCIPLED!

One on one discipleship is the model that we see over and over again in Scriptures, yet the modern church ignores this and our sheep are ignorant, in bondage and unchanged... they look exactly like the world.

And we think that a good message on Sunday morning should do the trick? or even worse: we blame it on the SHEEP?

Read Jeremiah 23 people... wow

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0 #5 Mark 1736372847 2010-01-27 02:47

There was a time in the bible when 99% of Israelis surveyed expressed a desire to have a king like all the other nations. Guess how that turned out? These so called surveys are often designed to get a predetermined response. People want to be entertained too eh? Did they just volunteer that tidbit or was that a specific question? If college students were asked "would you like your chemistry professor to be more entertaining" do you think youd get a lot of yes's? But then what does entertainment have to do with majoring in chemistry. This all more propaganda.

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+1 #4 Pastor Pfeiffer 2010-01-26 12:26

I believe that preaching with a joyous attitude, and preaching on realistic current events in this world makes for a sermon that will bring more people to Christ. Many people that I deal with in my Internet Ministry have a lot of questions, and some have a lot of doubt, heartache, etc., even though they may consider themselves to be Christian. God is love, and compassion, and the more we preach on those two, the more we will touch the lost in this world As the Lord said; Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul. That is the Greatest Commandment. And the second Commandment as the first. People of this world need to hear how their lives will change when they give their heart to the Lord. They also need to understand that just because they go through trials and tribulations, God is still with them, he carries them through. Whatever else we preach about, these must be included.

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+3 #3 Pastor Leigh R 2010-01-26 11:58

Though we are commanded to preach the word of God, let us not forget that the word itself is not meant to be understood by everybody. The same word of God that may produce change in a particular heart may also harden another. The apostle Paul says in the Book of Romans that 'faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God' but he also says in the preceeding verse that 'but they have not all obeyed the gospel' There is therefore something deeper in the understanding of the word of God. There is a disposition that all must posses to understand the things of God and it is from the Holy Ghost. The words of the Prophet Isaiah and quoted by the apostle Paul supports this 'Lord, who has believed our report?'. Preachers are not required to be sucessful in the eyes of the world, but are called to be faithful to Him who sent them.

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+1 #2 Silvia Leigh 2010-01-26 10:55

To preach the Word of God is a great priviledge. Faith comes by hearing (preaching) the Word of God. It is also a great burden of responsibility to 'feed' the flock of Jesus. Preaching the Word of God is rejected by most people (see the parable of the Sower in Lk 8). But there is always a remnant that will hear, receive, desire to understand the mystery of Christ and thru loving perseverance, produces fruits. The preaching of the Word of God will always produce results eventually. The changing of the congregation may be slow, but it will eventually happen; they will then encourage their pastor.

In the last days people will attend to their itching years and desire more entertaiment than anointing. The combination of the Holy Spirit manifested and the Word is the method aproved by heaven to do ministry. The Spirit softens the heart and truth is planted.

Faithful preachers, be encouraged, your labor of love shall surely be reawarded, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

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+2 #1 Pastor Doug 2010-01-26 10:35

God didn't call us to just preach "good sermons", He called us to make disciples! If we are relying on our once a week messages to bring change into the lives of our congregation, then we are really missing the mark here...

One-on-One personal discipleship is what is needed for that job!

No, a Pastor can't do it alone, which is why we must raise up leaders using this model and teach them to do the same...

Everybody loves Matthew 28:19! We should start loving verse 20!

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