Posted on 01/24/2010 1:12:23 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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.
having been a pastor - I wouldnt expect a sermon to do that.....thats the work of the HS IMO....Im just there to present the Gospel plainly
Indeed!! Instruction and change of heart, but the primary message is to the lost.
” having been a pastor - I wouldnt expect a sermon to do that.....thats the work of the HS IMO....Im just there to present the Gospel plainly.”
Well said and I applaud your attitude. The opposite attitude leads to elaborate multi-media sermons and all sorts of histrionics because the pastor feels he HAS to succeed.
I expect a sermon to remind me of what I already know, or to cast fresh light on the Bible readings of the day. Then it’s up to me to put into action what I already knew I should be doing.
For example, our Deacon preached about the massacre of the Holy Innocents on the Sunday after Christmas, and said that the spirit of Herod is the spirit of envy, so that if you have envy in your heart towards anyone, you’re more like Herod than like the Holy Family. I think that got some people’s attention - it certainly got mine!
Agree if the sermon is the Word of God, the HS moves in our hearts. It is the Word that changes us.
If both the priest/minister and the congregation are relatively orthodox in their beliefs (or at least moonbatty in the same direction) I wouldn't expect many changes in attitude or fresh looks.
Hey, guess what, the priest says the Church and the pope are still against abortion. Shocker!
“A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”
Good pastors deliver God’s message. Whether it is received appropriately is between the listener and the Almighty. People will rarely change based on one message, regardless of whether they agree with the message. Changing behavior require constant attention and diligence — and, we all fall short for various reasons. One sermon won’t change most ... but a lifetime of study and involvement will.
Here’s to Grace, for helping bridge the gap between my behavior and God’s will.
SnakeDoc
Way back in the 1920s and ‘30s, what defined quality in a preacher, especially a black preacher, was not just how he “magnified and glorified” God, but in how he could frighten, even terrify his parishioners about the perils of Hell.
Some preachers were so skillful at this, that people would faint, and others “could detect the smell of brimstone, and fire as it licked at the floorboards beneath their feet.” And while all in attendance sought heavenly grace, there was nothing like a hot and black hell to fill up collection plates.
For the people of the time, heaven and hell were not the vague abstract ideas they are thought of today, but very real and tangible places, a true dichotomy in which a person would either travel North, or South.
EXACTLY !
Those who are not inspired by their pastor are invited to come to my Catholic Church. Everyone at one time or another, feels like he is talking right to THEM!
If you want to listen — FReepmail me. I don’t want to crash our church site.
Instruction in the ways of Christ and moving from our present day situations into the way Christ would want us to believe and to act......isn’t that the focus of any sermon/homily?
Speaking purely practically, I have found my best pastors inspire me to look at my life in a biblical way.
Life becomes so much more clear once it’s reflected upon according to God’s word.
PS I got a new bumper sticker this week "Isnt God lucky you chose Him?" LOL
so whats changed in present day? - do we have new sins?
Glad to see you too ! Hope all is well
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