Up to this point we have established six general principles to guide our practices within the assembly. We have defined our purpose, emphasized the need for commitment, examined the heart of worship, considered the outward aspects of our service, lifted up God’s word as our foundation, and opened our eyes to the needs of our visitors. Now it is time for us to narrow our focus and apply these principles to specific parts of our assembly.
The first area we want to examine is the sermon portion of our assembly. We are fairly accustomed to the idea of evaluating the preacher. While “regular” members are seldom expected to pass any serious assessment before they lead in the assembly, congregations think long and hard before allowing someone to stand in their pulpit week after week… and rightly so! Expounding upon the word of God and communicating its message to the hearts of people is not a task to be taken lightly. We must seek out “faithful men” (2 Tim 2:2) who will “accurately handle the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). Effective preaching is a must if we are to successfully honor God and edify one another in our assemblies.
But this article is not just for preachers. Every member of the body has a responsibility to participate when the message of God’s word is being delivered. Edification is a group activity and at no point in our service does it rest on the shoulders of one man. All of us must open our hearts to be built up and express our honor for God by actively listening to His word. In this article, we will examine practical ways that we can effectively engage in the sermon portion of our assembly, both from the "pulpit" and the "pews".
From the pulpit, we want to consider how a speaker can best communicate the message of God’s word. While there is certainly room for personal style and preference, there are some guidelines that remain constant. Preaching must be purposeful. Every sermon needs to have a clear goal in mind and not just be a compilation of random tidbits from the Scriptures. Paul reminded Timothy, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5). To reach that goal a preacher must not only focus on information, but application.
The preacher must also remember he is here to deliver God’s message, not his own. He is a herald announcing the proclamations of the King and he must not stray from it. God’s word alone has the power to convict, transform, and equip (2 Tim 3:16-17) and it must always be the focus of our preaching (2 Tim 4:2). “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God… so that in all things God may be glorified…” (1 Pet 4:11). The preacher must always reflect a deep reverence for God’s word, allowing it to take center stage in every message he presents.
Yet, preaching is more than public Scripture reading. Attention must be given to exhortation and teaching as well (1 Tim 4:13). The preacher must strive to communicate God’s word in a way that will be meaningful and moving. He must deliver the message with both clarity and passion. Considerable preparation is necessary to effectively present a sermon. The preacher must give serious thought and effort to communicating his message so that everyone from the 8-year-old to the 80-year-old, the elder to the first-time visitor, can be benefitted.
However, keeping the people in the pews engaged is not just the responsibility of the preacher. Each of us have a duty to prepare our hearts to effectively receive the message of God’s word. Even if the sermon is presented in the most unorganized and unenthusiastic way possible, we are still accountable for the way in which we listen. As long as God’s word is being presented, we can be benefitted if we are willing to actively consider the things we hear. We must have the humility to allow God’s word to penetrate our hearts and the diligence to intently examine what it reveals about our lives (Jas 1:21-25).
We are also responsible to remember the “goal of our instruction” (1 Tim 1:5) and not be a “forgetful hearer”, but an “effectual doer” (Jas 1:25). We aren’t sitting in the pews to get a weekly dose of Bible trivia, but to look into the Scriptures as a mirror of our hearts. The sermon portion of our assembly is an opportunity for each of us to evaluate our lives and take home some lesson that will change the way we think and act from day to day. When we forget our purpose and fail to apply the things we hear, we are no better than the dull-hearted Israelites (Is 6:9-10). We may shake the preachers hand and thank him for his message, but if we don’t take the lesson home with us, it won’t do us the least bit of good (Ezek 33:30-32).
In conclusion, everyone from the pulpit to the pews has a serious responsibility when God’s word is being proclaimed. The preacher has a duty to prepare his message in a way that is purposeful, reverent, and will touch the hearts of all who are listening. The rest of us have a duty to listen intently and actively, examining our hearts and making application in our lives. An effective sermon involves more than just the preacher, it is a collective effort of the entire assembly.