There is no such thing as a one size fits all approach to creating your sermon. Preachers differ from one another in talent, style, and many other ways. So too, do the members of their congregations. And all come together to participate in the worship experience in their uniqueness. Different attitudes, different expectations, different degrees of interest, intensity, and enthusiasm. Different distractions. Moreover, these differences are subject to constant change — from moment to moment, from day to day, from week to week. Consequently, from Sunday to Sunday, there is in every church a new and different congregation, as well as a new and different preacher.
From week to week, for better or for worse, there is change. Nothing remains the same except the immutable Word of God, which comes into our midst. And from week to week, both the changing preacher and the changing congregation move in one of two directions — for better or for worse, depending on the state of their love affair with the Word that dwells among them.
“There is no changing the word of God,” wrote the apostle Paul. The Word of God is unchained: it issues commands; it predicts events; it consoles and reprimands; it stems off evil; it inspires; it blesses. In short, it makes things happen.
The Word of God is a creative force. It gives us life. And from moment to moment and week to week, it shows us the way to New Life.
From moment to moment and week to week, the question arises: are we ready to receive this message of new life that comes from God? Are we willing to position ourselves before God in a way that acknowledges our total dependence on Him — not only for life but for the way of life? Are we ready and willing to reverse our values and reorder our priorities to harmonize our life with the Will of God, who became one of us to show us how much he loves us?
God loves you. You have His Word for it. And he is waiting for you to respond lovingly to this healing message. That is the Word of God. You can proclaim it in a thousand different ways. But whether your sermon outlines evoke tears or generate laughter, the message remains the same. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word is immutable, and the Word is now, and the Word is Love.
