James Henley

Why I still believe in the sermon

I still believe in the sermon. I know it isn’t necessarily cool or clever these days to think that. In an age when young people and young adults are leaving the church in huge numbers, a lot of people, especially youth workers, have suggested that the old method of preaching is outdated and needs replacing. But I still believe that preaching, when it’s done well, is an art form.

Last week I posted 5 ideas to make your talk stand out, but what I didn’t acknowledge when I wrote it is that there are of course other methods of communicating the bible and discipling people than just the talk or sermon. When I was studying at CYM, this was a regular point of discussion for some of us - is the sermon still a valid and useful form of communication? Or should it be replaced with discussion, group reflection or some other more participative method?

Over those three years, I struggled with whether or not the sermon was really an effective form of communication and at different points swung wildly between the two sides of the discussion. Today, I still believe in the sermon as a way of discipling and sharing God’s story with the church community - here’s why:

1. I believe in the power of one person sharing their heart with others.

There is something about one person, particularly someone who has a heart for the church community, sharing what they believe God is saying. The beauty of the sermon, when it is done well, is that it can shape a community beyond each individual sharing their own ideas and opinion. As opposed to a discussion, the person preaching has taken time and effort to prayerfully bring their ideas together and to research the passage they are speaking on. The result should be something much more meaningful and deeper than a group of people discussing something with little or no individual preparation.

2. I believe sermons can still be experiential and interactive.

When done well, the sermon can still be both a shared, collective experience and can allow space for interaction between the speaker and the community. As I shared last week, there are plenty of ways to draw your listeners into your sermon, making it a shared, communal experience.

3. I believe that living out God’s story requires understanding the context of God’s story.

For a community to live out God’s story together they need to be learning its original context. A good storyteller can bring the story to life, sharing the context of the passage, and working to bring something together which has real theological depth.

4. I believe that sermons aren’t just about an outdated idea that people learn by ‘banking’ information.

A really good sermon isn’t just about trying to fill people up with information. It’s about providing an opportunity to reflect on life, to ask important questions and to leave people walking away with questions and ideas buzzing in their minds. It is about moving people to act, to love and to change the world. It’s about the heart as much as the head.

Do you still believe in the sermon? Why?

Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts on the sermon?