If early on in your sermon-preparation process you pick out a great Sunday sermon idea, figure out the subject, the desired response, the “how to” and the “how long,” and begin developing a solid sermon outline are you assured of having a good message?
Recently I heard a Sunday sermon with a clear subject, response, and “how to” that was poorly delivered and on a topic I would almost guarantee no one in attendance was interested in. Within the first five minutes it was made clear what was being talked about. It was a theological fine-point that, for all I could tell, had absolutely nothing to do with the lives of the people in attendance. It was a topical sermon with a sermon idea that almost no one would buy into.
If the preacher had asked, “How many of you are interested in what I have chosen to preach on?”, I’m positive it wouldn’t have taken him very long to have counted the hands.
Even though I had to work at it, I continued to listen. Sure enough, he had a desired response. He wanted people like me to agree with his doctrinal premise. The truth is, it really didn’t matter to me whether he was right or wrong. That’s how obscure the topic was.
To further bolster his argument, the speaker gave a list of related Scriptures we could study on our own. That was what I would call his “how to.” I didn’t notice anyone writing them down.
So the answer is “NO” as to whether my four questions ensure a terrific Sunday sermon. Nothing’s perfect!
But in most cases, I still believe they are a huge help to both the preacher and the listeners.
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