Christ First Forum

by **Remnant** » 25 Jan 2010, 19:51

Survey: Sermons Fail to Inspire Change in Believers
By Charles Boyd|Christian Today Reporter

Congregations may look forward to the pastor’s sermon, but when it comes to bringing about a change in their attitudes or lifestyle, preaching appears to have little impact.

That is the finding of a new study by the CODEC research center at St. John’s College in Durham, U.K., commissioned by the College of Preachers to mark its 50th anniversary this year.

Of the 193 Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists and Baptists surveyed, only 17 percent said sermons frequently changed their attitudes towards others or helped them look afresh at controversial or topical issues.

Sixty-two percent of those questioned said sermons frequently gave them a sense of God’s love and helped them to understand Jesus; two thirds said they “frequently” looked forward to the sermon; and 84 percent said the sermons should be rooted in the Bible.

The results have prompted the College of Preachers to conclude that sermons are better at helping people to reflect than challenging them to act.

"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 College Director Paul Johns.

“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."

Johns said he hoped the findings would trigger debate in the church about effective preaching.

The research team was led by the Rev. Kate Bruce, fellow in Preaching and Communication, who added, "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 stand up, over a quarter of them said they want preaching to be entertaining too."

Other events to mark the college’s 50th anniversary include the Young Preacher of the Year competition and two Festivals of Preaching.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20 ... index.html

by **Jeani** » 26 Jan 2010, 00:19

If the 'truth' of the Word' is not entertaining enough, then why bother to come?

Maybe the preachers should preach on HELL more often to catch their congregation's attention...

by **Carmela** » 26 Jan 2010, 07:35

AMEN, jeani!!

by **open door** » 27 Jan 2010, 22:13

Jeani wrote:If the 'truth' of the Word' is not entertaining enough, then why bother to come?

Maybe the preachers should preach on HELL more often to catch their congregation's attention...

I agree, Jeani. Much of this "preaching" is mere ear tickling, according to Timothy. The congregation does not get the message that this is the Word of God, that it is truth, and that the decision they make from hearing same will determine where they spend eternity. They're too caught up in this world, money/material things is their god, and they are just going thru the motions, being somewhat ritualistic, if you will. We need to pray for them

by **Carmela** » 28 Jan 2010, 10:31

Unfortunately there are too many preachers today who are not saved or they have backslidden into this hodpodge church we have today. They preach a watery Gospel that soothes rather than convicts or challenges. My pastor preaches from what seems to be a sermon streamed down from the Methodist leaders. Good man, but just not on fire. Nothing to take home. . .dead sermon. When I visit my daughter, I go to an Assembly of God and her pastor preaches from his heart and digs deep into Scripture and challenges and I always leave with so much to think about and pray about and research into. The church is in serious trouble today because the people, like Troy said, are too caught up in their daily activities to be inspired by a wishy washy preacher.

by **WKUHilltopper** » 11 Feb 2010, 06:59

People have no idea what sin is any more. They don't see themselves as a sinner--(sin as separating themselves from God's love, rebellion and subjecting them to God's judgment). Thus, they don't understand the real reason Jesus had to die as a sacrifice--it doesn't make sense to them because "they are not sinners" and they think they're pretty "good" folks to meet God's standards. They don't understand we can never be good enough to meet God's righteousness or standards--and some believe God is just a "celestial butler" just waiting around to serve them---hanging about for the "butler's bell" to dingle.

They believe they can be fornicators, drunkards, etc, and still be "pretty good" and that God "would never be so mean" to judge them--because, after all, they're "not so bad" It's not like they are Hitler or something--they convince themselves. They don't understand we can never be perfect, even those saved, but that Jesus is the good news. Jesus paid the "judge's fine and jail sentence" for us, so we wouldn't have to. Jesus paid the torture, humiliation and took the wrath of God for us--the wrath all of us deserve.

They don't understand, that without Jesus, we would be facing God's mighty wrath and anger. They've been indoctrinated at school and in churches, an abstract idea that truth is some moving target--changes constantly--and what's true for one person, maybe not be true for the other. Schools have taught the false reality of "if you really, really believe in yourself, you can do anything" (a subtle "you can be like God). They've endorsed a false sense of pride--that if "just getting out of bed is the best you can do, then good for you"! I actually had a discussion with a teacher once and said, "If you really believed in that 'if you believe hard enough, you can do anything' nonsense, then I'd like to see you really, really believe you can fly and fly off the roof of this building". I got a sorta "shocked to reality" kinda look.

Much of it is reinforced in Churches...because they have pastors who are clueless. And if they're clueless they don't have and can't use the authority of the Word. They can't emphasize the Word of God, because they'd don't know what they're talking about. So then it becomes more of a "I want to make people happy and be their friends" so I won't tell them they might go to Hell. I don't want to upset them. Imagine how upset they'll be the last day of their lives! They don't have a clue how this angers God--because they don't know God.

I also blame myself--I have people all around me. And what have I done? Nothing. Certainly not done enough.

by **Carmela** » 11 Feb 2010, 08:35

They believe they can be fornicators, drunkards, etc, and still be "pretty good" and that God "would never be so mean" to judge them--because, after all, they're "not so bad"

You are right about that, Eric! Some are so deceived in their "eternal security" that they feel they can just go on sinning and God will cover them with His grace and look the other way. Pastors need to be preaching the truth of the Word and, yes, hell!

by **open door** » 11 Feb 2010, 09:09

WKUHilltopper wrote:People have no idea what sin is any more. They don't see themselves as a sinner--(sin as separating themselves from God's love, rebellion and subjecting them to God's judgment). Thus, they don't understand the real reason Jesus had to die as a sacrifice--it doesn't make sense to them because "they are not sinners" and they think they're pretty "good" folks to meet God's standards. They don't understand we can never be good enough to meet God's righteousness or standards--and some believe God is just a "celestial butler" just waiting around to serve them---hanging about for the "butler's bell" to dingle.

They believe they can be fornicators, drunkards, etc, and still be "pretty good" and that God "would never be so mean" to judge them--because, after all, they're "not so bad" It's not like they are Hitler or something--they convince themselves. They don't understand we can never be perfect, even those saved, but that Jesus is the good news. Jesus paid the "judge's fine and jail sentence" for us, so we wouldn't have to. Jesus paid the torture, humiliation and took the wrath of God for us--the wrath all of us deserve.

They don't understand, that without Jesus, we would be facing God's mighty wrath and anger. They've been indoctrinated at school and in churches, an abstract idea that truth is some moving target--changes constantly--and what's true for one person, maybe not be true for the other. Schools have taught the false reality of "if you really, really believe in yourself, you can do anything" (a subtle "you can be like God). They've endorsed a false sense of pride--that if "just getting out of bed is the best you can do, then good for you"! I actually had a discussion with a teacher once and said, "If you really believed in that 'if you believe hard enough, you can do anything' nonsense, then I'd like to see you really, really believe you can fly and fly off the roof of this building". I got a sorta "shocked to reality" kinda look.

Much of it is reinforced in Churches...because they have pastors who are clueless. And if they're clueless they don't have and can't use the authority of the Word. They can't emphasize the Word of God, because they'd don't know what they're talking about. So then it becomes more of a "I want to make people happy and be their friends" so I won't tell them they might go to Hell. I don't want to upset them. Imagine how upset they'll be the last day of their lives! They don't have a clue how this angers God--because they don't know God.

I also blame myself--I have people all around me. And what have I done? Nothing. Certainly not done enough.

Excellent post, Eric!!!

by **Carmela** » 11 Feb 2010, 09:14

Last week my pastor said that some Christians in Europe pray for the nail marks on their hands like Jesus had. He then said that it's called "stigmata". My brain shut down about then and, once again, I just quietly shook my head. Stigmata is Catholic and demonic. . .I can't believe he doesn't know the difference.

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