Sermon Feedback is Dangerous and Should Be Avoided

Preachers and pastors who seek sermon feedback are in more danger than can be imagined. In an earlier article on The Myth of Preaching a Good Sermon, we revealed that one should aim to deliver an obedient sermon rather than a "good" one.

Furthermore, as pointed out, fallen beings don’t even know how to measure what is good because someone once called Jesus “Good Master,” to which He replied, “Why call me good? Only God is” (Mark 10:18).

Before proceeding—and in a moment of transparency—I must confess I’ve been guilty of seeking feedback, too, which means I have disobeyed the Lord God myself! However, there are two types of feedback of note: the in-the-moment collaborative model often seen in the traditional African American church, and the survey model, which absolutely blows my mind. To be clear, I’m not saying one is better than the other.

Preaching sermons biblically, is described as an anointing because it is a divine calling empowered by the Holy Spirit—not merely a profession like being a mechanic or a CEO (Isaiah 61:1). Anyone who works hard enough and gains favor with the world’s power structures can achieve the latter.

Preaching, however, is solely given by the Lord God, and the Bible makes it clear that it cannot be earned by works (John 15:16, Romans 9:15, Titus 3:5).

It requires God’s authority to proclaim His Word effectively, as seen in Jesus’s own ministry when He declared He was anointed to preach the good news, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18-19).

Unlike a job, which can be pursued for personal ambition, true preaching originates from the throne of God—not from polished resumes, clever interviews, or brown-nosing decision-makers.

God calls those whom the world deems most unworthy, unaccomplished, and from questionable backgrounds. People like Rahab (the harlot), Jephthah (the son of a prostitute), Naomi (a poor widow), Manasseh (a repentant, wicked king), and the Demoniac demonstrate that God chooses those who could never earn their place on their own (Joshua 2:1-21, Judges 11:1-21, Ruth 1-4, 2 Chronicles 33:1-17, Mark 5:1-20).

When pastors seek feedback, they are asking people who have not received the anointing to preach what they think about something that only God can ordain. Worse, they are asking people what they “feel” about it or, even more dangerously, what they would “like” to hear. The Lord chooses whom He will, for His own reasons (Exodus 33:19, John 15:16, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

He knows all the quirks and weaknesses we have, and it is often because of these weaknesses that His power is made perfect. Those providing feedback may tolerate your quirks, but that doesn’t mean they accept them—or that they are spiritually equipped to discern the Holy Spirit at work despite them.

Here are some of the most dangerous questions feedback seekers ask:

1. “As a church, what would you like to hear more of, or less of?”

2. “What changes have resulted in your life since you have been with us?”

3. “Are my sermons too long or too short?”

4. “Are you and your family happy at this church?”

5. “Can you help me understand why people are leaving this church?”

6. “Do you feel as if you are getting something from this church?”

Some churches even send out surveys to find out if people are happy! If the Holy Spirit is guiding a leader, what people think is irrelevant because, as seen with Israel, people are hard-headed and often reject real preaching in favor of positive messaging that aligns with a feedback-driven culture (Isaiah 6:1-10, Ezekiel 2:1-7, 2 Timothy 4:3-4). The problem is that what people want to hear is rarely what they need to hear.

When I was a pre-teen, I wanted a moped badly. I built custom bicycles (and still do), but my foster mother wouldn’t let me save for one or ride someone else’s. I was angry, but one day, a neighborhood friend (now a pastor) ignored his parents’ warnings and rode his moped, even though its brakes didn’t work.

He ended up getting hit by a car a few blocks away. I never asked for a moped again and was content with my bicycles! The point is, people often don’t understand the full impact of their requests, but leaders must resist the urge to cave to those desires.

Sermon preaching is about blessing not pleasing people or seeking validation—it’s about obedience to God. Asking for feedback on something that originates from the throne of God invites human interference into a divine process. The anointing to preach is not given by man and cannot be evaluated by man’s standards.

A preacher’s job is to deliver the message God has commanded, regardless of whether it’s well-received.

Seeking feedback from the congregation risks diluting God’s Word to satisfy human preferences. Instead, pastors must remember that true preaching reflects God’s authority, not public opinion. In the end, it’s better to be obedient to God and rejected by man than to be praised by man and disobedient to God.