
In declaring that preaching a "good sermon" is a myth, we must remember that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways. Elevating one sermon above another is not only untrue, but it also reflects a misunderstanding of how God works. Just because you feel inspired by the delivery or receive congratulations from hearers does not mean the Holy Spirit moved!
If anyone needs proof of this, look no further than the ministries of T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, John Hagee, Creflo Dollar, and other false ministers who are often elevated to the status of God’s most favored (cough, cough!).
The more I study the Word of God and measure it against how far we fall as preachers, the clearer it becomes why the capitalist, American version of the church is in a backslidden state.
The idea that “good sermons” are a high-volume keyword search speaks loudly to many of Paul’s rebukes, such as:
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are nothing, they deceive themselves” (Galatians 6:3).
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (1 Corinthians 6:2).
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3).
Preachers, let’s be honest with ourselves in that instead of focusing on how we feel or the praise we receive, we tend to focus on the poison to holiness; positive feedback instead of what the Bible teaches.
Only God is Good
Jesus Himself addressed the notion of goodness during His earthly ministry when He said, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God” (Luke 18:19, Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18). Some theologians will argue about the hermeneutics of Jesus’s statement, but His words remain clear: only God is good.
Even the apostle Paul echoes this sentiment, saying, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). While the Spirit of God in us is good, the tendency of human pride to elevate our work—including sermons—above what it should be is a dangerous trap. Goodness, in the context of preaching, must be measured by eternal impact, something we are incapable of seeing due to our limited, horizontal biases.
Six Reasons Why the “Good Sermon” Myth is Ungodly
Here are six reasons why assigning one sermon as good and another as bad is both ungodly and something we must repent of:
1. It Assumes God is Pleased When People Are
Google identifies a preacher named Granger Smith as having presented “the most powerful word ever spoken.” But how can this be the greatest message ever when he, like all believers, follows the Word of God Himself—Jesus Christ—who preached during His ministry? Jesus suffered a level of persecution no disciple has ever equaled. If someone like Paul Washer, for example, preached the greatest sermon ever, it would imply that he is greater than the One who sent him.
This notion directly contradicts Jesus’s words:
“The servant is not greater than his lord” (John 13:16).
“It is enough for the disciple to be as his master” (Matthew 10:25).
2. Only God is Good
As mentioned earlier, Jesus said, “Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is, God” (Luke 18:19). While Jesus later refers to Himself as the “Good Shepherd,” His earlier statement emphasizes that only God defines goodness. The problem with the “good sermon” culture is that it measures goodness based on personal preferences rather than eternal truth.
3. Christological Faith Demands Suffering
The American church has largely abandoned the biblical concept of suffering. Pastors often lament mistreatment or criticism as persecution, yet these complaints pale in comparison to the suffering Jesus and the early church endured.
True suffering for the faith involves more than minor inconveniences. As believers, we are called to take up our cross and follow Christ, embracing the hardships that come with that calling. Anything less falls short of the biblical standard.
4. Sermons are to be Delivered, Not Measured
We cannot measure the eternal impact of a sermon. In fact, the very idea of benchmarking sermons as “good” or “bad” undermines their purpose. Many preachers misapply verses like Jeremiah 3:15 (“I will give you pastors according to mine heart”) to claim divine approval, forgetting that this passage was directed at physical Israel in the future.
The truth is, we cannot even fully understand why God calls us to preach, let alone judge the effectiveness of our sermons.
5. Feel-Good Sermons Rarely Convict
True edification often feels uncomfortable. The goal of preaching is not to make people feel good but to challenge and convict their hearts, drawing them closer to Christ. As Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,” demonstrated, true ministry often involves heartbreak and rebuke.
In contrast, feel-good sermons, such as those preached by T.D. Jakes and others, may appeal to emotions but often lack the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
6. Obedient Sermons Anger Hypocrites
If there is such a thing as a good sermon, it is one that convicts the heart and leads to repentance. However, sermons that challenge sin and hypocrisy often anger hearers, just as Jesus’s words provoked the Pharisees.
True preaching edifies by leading us closer to God, even when it offends or convicts us. As believers, we must embrace the rebuke of the Word and allow it to shape us into Christlikeness.
Finally, the majesty and mystery of God remain intact, and within that mystery lies the fruit of obedient preaching. As Isaiah reminds us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).
Before coming to Christ, many of us thought certain things were good that ultimately led to destruction. Can the same be said of so-called “good sermons”? The truth is, we must trust in the sovereignty of God and preach with obedience, leaving the results to Him.
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