Want to know the cure for insomnia? A boring sermon! It’s guaranteed to put people to sleep with their eyes wide open. They only wake up when the preacher says, “As I close.”
Every Sunday morning, the pews are filled with people who walk through the sanctuary doors hurting from a recent loss, discouraged by a broken system, confused, or quietly angry. Despite their varied circumstances, they all arrive with one unspoken, unifying question: “Is there a word from the Lord?”
If there is no word from the Lord, they sleep, daydream, or otherwise pass the time!
To preach with true relevance, a pastor must keep a finger on the pulse of the community, actively listening to its shifting moods and deep-seated issues.
If crime is growing, if evil takes root in government, or if shifting politics threatens family security, is there a word from the Lord?
When life seems to be a sinking ship, the relevant sermon points them to the lifeboat and to the Man who can still the waters.
This applies equally to moments of celebration, such as marriages, family reunions, and community milestones. A relevant pastor shows that faith is not merely a shelter for the broken, but the foundation for our highest achievements. There is a time to mourn, but within the context of faith, there is also a profound time to celebrate.
If a sermon is boring, the pew tends to cheer the preacher with fake “amens” just so he will hurry up and sit down. But if he speaks directly to their soul’s need, they give him real “amens” that signal they want more!
The wise pastor knows the difference.
