The Sermon Was No Good

From time to time I hear Christian preachers mention some disappointment in a sermon they preached. Maybe they had studied long and hard, and maybe they were really dedicated to sharing an important word from the Lord, but something wasn't just right and  in their eyes, the sermon bombed.  

Has there ever been a sermon that failed? While it may have been delivered expertly and eloquently, it just didn't measure up to the expectations and bring about any results.  That brings us to question "Exactly what are the standards by which a good sermon is measured?"  We might measure it by the number of the hearers assembled to listen.  Another measure could be the number of responses to an altar call or an invitation song.  Perhaps the preacher was right all along, his sermon just bombed.

Hebrews 3 tells us the story of such a sermon. We will understand better if we set the picture given us in verses 12-14, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."  All seems well so far, but continue reading with verse 15. " As has just been said: 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'  Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?  And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert?  And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?  So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. "

We have to continue into chapter 4 for the ending. Hebrews 4:2 " For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith."

Did you catch that?  The message they heard was of no value to them.  The hearers did not mix the message with their faith.  In essence, the no good sermon was no good because those who heard it didn't really believe God. 

True, every minister carries the responsibility to learn his message, seeking God's guidance toward speaking the truth, and be devoted to adequately delivering that message to the people. Your preacher carries that responsibility with every sermon he preaches. 

The writer of Hebrews lets us know, however, that some messages are no good, not because of the fault of the preacher, but because of the fault of the hearers.  Hearing God's Word is a great responsibility, too. It must be met with faith or it has no value.

 Devote yourself today to a close association with the Word of God.  Receive it with faith and a commitment to follow its teaching. 

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