I wish it were possible to enumerate the hours I have spent in seminars, retreats, and conferences with other pastors quietly pursuing this angle of thought: the local church has become directionless, mired in purposelessness, and consequently ineffectual and limited-no longer in the forefront of establishing societal change.
As one example, I’ve made it a point to casually ask these men and women from fundamentalist and evangelical backgrounds if they still conduct a Sunday evening service and why they do so. If anyone should know, it would certainly be the clergy. I have never received an immediate answer that was satisfactory. And, the majority responded as if to ask the question were “to hit below the belt.” Sunday evening services are held because they have always been held, and they follow the same pattern because they have always followed the same pattern.
This lack of definition has resulted in the average church’s being trapped in an inflexible methodology. Does every service require music? Is a sermon the best way to fulfill the desired objective of all meetings? How can we encourage more participation on the part of the members?
In most cases, even these questions are premature—because no one has defined why we have churches to begin with. The resultant methodology of tradition stifles creativity. Boredom enters and flourishes among the congregation. Worst of all, the spontaneous, imaginative, inventive originality which characterizes inspiration of the Holy Spirit is quenched, stifled, garroted by inflexibility.
My background has been in evangelical, fundamental churches, but these later years have included a broad base of experience with clergy from all denominations. I have discovered a commonality of despair in the total church. Catholic priests, as well as their communicants, vocally denounce major difficulties. Dialogue with men and women from mainline denominations has convinced me that they are facing the same dilemma. There seems to be an agonizing search for renewal, a cry for primitive Christianity, an urgency to return to our true roots.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
