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What is the purpose of a Sermon? Part 2

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Purpose of a Sermon

What is the Purpose of a Sermon part 2

By Pastor David Cox

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 (posts 5/1/20)

Reviews of related posts from other people on this topic. See “What is the purpose of a Sermon“. The author presents several points of view about what is a “good sermon”. I believe the group is Catholic or Anglican by the way, so they are going to be different from our view as Baptist. Not that the criteria of this piece is from a man’s perspective. What do we care if men think a sermon is good or not? Shouldn’t we care more what God thinks about our sermons? I will comment on this as first, second etc.

The first comment basically says that the sermon is boring. A boring sermon comes from a preacher that is boring and has selected a boring topic (boring to him). The second comment basically see sermon as an informational instrument. Although God would present sermons as teaching us, this should not be elevated above the spiritual change element which is the most important. The third comment reflects spiritual growth which is part of or the same thing as moral change. The fourth comment comes from a man who is looking for a sermonette. Hors d’oeuvres and snacks are fine, but not a substitute for a real meal. A 10 minute sermon isn’t a sermon, but a Bible reading at best, a farse at worse.

The fifth comment reflects preaching typical among Baptist churches. Note that the commentators object to a “prepared speech” is justified in that he dislikes a sermon that focuses more on talking at people than to people. It is good to use a loud voice on occasion, and to have a three point outline, and to use illustrations and alliteration. But when these things are the best things in a sermon, it is very poor at best. These should be vehicles to getting the message across, and they should not be the primary emphasis, but rather the message. See also What is the Purpose of a Sermon? The central purpose of a sermon HAS TO DO with the utility of Scripture to affect us spiritual in all ways and forms (2Tim 3:16). This is true, but it is not the purpose of a sermon, but rather a foundational premise.

THE PURPOSE OF A SERMON

“to explain and apply Scripture. It’s purpose is to bring the Word of God to the congregation; to faithfully explain what it says, and make clear its meaning. This is preaching God’s Word.”

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Church Advertisement that Works

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By Pastor-Missionary David Cox

I would like to just put out there my own experiences about promoting a local church and church growth. I am not trying to sell you any plan or advertising thing where you pay money for it, just reasoning some with you so that you consider what God has said about promoting the church.

I am a Fundamental Baptist Missionary serving our Lord in Mexico City Mexico. I have been working here since 1986, and I have a local church, and we go out every Saturday giving out literature and witnessing in the street.

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Things that ruin a Church: Qualities that Destroy

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By David Cox

I read a post at http://joshhevans.com/2014/08/29/5-things-that-can-ruin-a-church/ and that got me thinking. There are a lot of things that can “ruin a church”. This post is the first of three, and here I look at qualities, then events, and then people. First of all, by way of introduction, let’s consider what is “being ruined” really mean? I mean, what is a “non-ruined church” and what would ruin it? We cannot consider the factors that cause the “ruin of a church” without considering these two points first. Let’s do this with your church. What is “church” supposed to be? When a church is fully pleasing God, doing what God has ordained it’s purpose to be, what is that? Write that down on a piece of paper, now consider when you have seen or conceive of a church being “ruined”. What would that be like?




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