Sermons - What is Truly Being Said

The other day I received a flier in the mail from one of the newer churches that has been planted in our community. The flier was attractively done and showed a young family having fun, headlining the series of topics for the month on the family. But here is what attracted me even more. One of the bullet points for the church was this: we have short sermons that will not bore you.

Is boredom created on Sunday morning because of long sermons? Are shorter sermons less boring than longer ones? In fact, does length of time have anything to do with the matter at all? Let's see, Jesus preached some long sermons - the Sermon on the Mount being among His longest. But there was also His long sermon about the Kingdom (Matthew 13) and His long lecture about the End Times (Matthew 24 and 25). But Jesus also was the master at shorter sermons and dialogues, using picture stories to draw attention to strong biblical truths. His parables are classic examples.

The Apostle Paul also knew the value of using both shorter discourses as well as longer ones. Perhaps his longest sermon resulted in the death of one of those listening. We read these words in Acts 20:7-11 - "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. 'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'He's alive!' Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left." Now that was one long sermon - and at least one person thought it boring enough to fall asleep. Probably Eutychus did not consider the rest of the sermon boring after being brought back to life. In fact, I doubt whether he ever went to sleep in church again...at least he did not sit in a window seat.

Friends, the length of the service is not where our focus should be. The focus is on what is being taught. In many churches today, the message is being distorted and watered down so as to be more attractive to people. After all, we certainly don't want to drive people away. What is it that people are really searching for today? Some are longing for acceptance and approval of the lifestyle they have already adopted. Others are looking for some type of reassurance that they are okay - they want to feel that slap on the back and the words, "Charlie, you are a good man!" One way the Church has responded to these people is to create a message that states: "God loves you just the way you are!" Friends, I think if this is the only message we proclaim, then it is a message of deception. It results in people feeling good about who they are in their sin. It results in people feeling that God's love just accepts everyone no matter what.

I know some of you will say, "Max, but isn't it true that God loves each of us just the way we are?" And my response is "Yes, He certainly does. But, when I encounter God's love I am forever changed. I am not the same person as I was previously." I remind my congregation that God accepts us as we are, but He does not leave us that way. He truly changes us. And it is this message of change that is missing today. "Come, hear a short message and you will leave feeling good about who you are." Is that truly what the Gospel message is all about? No! It is about changed lives with changed purposes and with changed attitudes.

As you listen to the sermon this week, whether it is 15 minutes or 45 minutes, ask yourself this question: "Is this message merely telling me that I am a good person?" or "Is this message asking me to change to become the person God wants me to be?"