Sermons: Spoken Bible Message

A church service typically includes worship (praising God and giving ourselves to Him), prayer (asking God to guide and minister into specific situations), and receiving from God (instruction from the Scriptures with a call to action). The message or sermon seeks to explain, interpret, and apply biblical texts to contemporary life. The most famous example is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), which contains foundational teachings on Christian ethics and discipleship.

which He can bless – rather than just to impart knowledge. All spiritual instruction should bring the hearers face-to-face with the Saviour and have a practical application or challenge to address the ungodliness of sin in our lives and encourage righteous living. James advises his readers not only to hear but to respond to Biblical instruction, for it is only by doing and applying the truth that we will be blessed (Jas 1:22-25). The ‘medicine’ of God’s Word is only of benefit when taken. After church ask your friends what they gleaned from the message, and how they plan to implement the truths.

Sermons throughout Scripture demonstrate various forms and purposes. Moses delivered extensive sermons in Deuteronomy, reviewing God's laws and covenant with Israel. The prophets preached sermons calling people to repentance and faithfulness to God's covenant. Jesus' teaching ministry consisted largely of sermons in synagogues and open-air settings (Mark 1:39). The apostles continued this tradition in the early church, with Peter's Pentecost sermon (Act 2:14-41) being a powerful example of proclamation that led to mass conversions.

Personal Engagement with Scripture

Pray the Lord will open your spiritual eyes to see ‘glorious truths’ in His word which will set you free as you apply its message; however, do not just rely on preachers to feed your spirit – their insights should just supplement your own daily time with God in the Scriptures (Ps 119:18; Jn 6:63, 8:32,36). Do not blindly accept all that is spoken in ‘Christ’s name’; check it out from the Bible to ensure what has been said is truly from God (Act 17:11). The taking of notes is beneficial to retain thoughts and refresh the memory besides keeping the mind focused on what is being said – it may even prevent sleep overcoming the hearers (Act 20:7-11)!

The lives of Christians are the only ‘sermons’ some non-believers will come into contact with. What is the message they receive from you? Paul wrote that a time is coming when people will not accept sound doctrine that requires a heart response, but instead turn to myths that only tickle their ears (2 Tim 4:3,4). Those who God has called to share the Word of God are to do so with conviction, faithfully and clearly.

(relevant to the audience), and practical (calling for response and application). Whether expository (working through a passage verse by verse), topical (addressing a specific theme), or textual (focusing on a particular passage to explore a topic), all faithful sermons point listeners to Christ and call them to deeper discipleship. 
             
See also: application, instruction, journaling, preach/preaching, Sermon on the Mount, teach/teaching, time with God.