Question:  What’s the deal with sermons?  Even though pastors have been preaching for 2,000 years, we need a better reason for our weekly routine than mere tradition.  So, consider:

God commands church leaders to preach.  Your elders and pastors are under orders from On High to provide faithful, practical, biblical preaching.  To Pastor Tim­othy at Ephesus, “I charge you…: preach the word!” (2 Tim 4:1-2).  And don’t just pick and choose:  pro­claim the whole coun­sel of God (Acts 20:27).  After all, God’s truth is soul-food:  “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4).  Our faith is born and grows as we digest God’s Word: “faith comes by hear­ing and hear­ing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17).

God requires preaching for the good of us all—so we can get our bearings in this world:  who are we, why are we here, where are we heading, what should we do? Preaching is dropping anchor—so churches don’t drift.  Preach­ing is stopping to look at the compass—so we don’t stray and get lost.  Preaching is herald­ing (and not merely describing); preaching proclaims the wonder of the Gospel!  Of course, there’s also a time for Bible discussion—we love inter­active groups and Bible studies and classes here at Goshen.  But preaching is foundational.

Here are three steps you can take to benefit from sermons:

1. Bring your Bible and follow along closely (if you don’t have a Bible, please take one from the pew).  Be a “Berean” (Acts 17), examine Scripture to make sure the sermon’s on track.
2. Eliminate distrac­tions (give God your full attention; don’t multi-task; power off your phone).  A ser­mon takes up just one third of one percent of your week:  seize the moment for your soul!
3. Connect the sermon with life (read the text and pray before­hand; discuss the passage and key points after­ward).