It's happened to many of us. We attend a church service, and afterward, we’re left with a gnawing sense that the sermon mentioned the Bible but never really explained or taught what the passage said.
Was there something wrong with the sermon, or is there something wrong with us? Everyone else seemed to enjoy it, but the uneasy feeling remains. What’s more, when we log on to social media or search for videos on YouTube, there are clips of pastors throughout the U.S. giving their hot takes on the latest political issues or candidates.
We are right to wonder, does it matter what my pastor preaches about?
Why It Matters
In Deuteronomy, God renews his covenant and his law with his people, whom he has rescued out of bondage in Egypt. As he does so, God is deeply concerned that his people understand his commandments and his word accurately. “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it” (Deut. 12:32). In essence, God was concerned about his people adding to his word by making Scripture say what it doesn't say. Likewise, he admonished his people to not censor his word, removing things which might be uncomfortable or not culturally acceptable.
This same care for accuracy is repeated in the New Testament. In the book of Revelation, after John receives his vision of Christ, Jesus warns that “if anyone adds to [these words], God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life” (Rev. 22:18–19).
In both the Old and New Testaments, God made abundantly clear that what a prophet teaches or preaches is very important.
So, what should a pastor preach about? Fortunately, the Book of Acts gives us some examples of what the earliest preaching of the church looked like, including many sermons preached by Peter, the apostle Paul, and others. These sermons have a similar shape and give us a clear picture of what should be included in a good sermon. They should be based in a biblical text, understood in context, about Christ and his good news, and applied to listeners.
Biblical Foundation
First, a sermon should be based on a biblical text. The apostle Peter based his first sermon on the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16–21). Peter was not merely speculating about what God was doing when the apostles received the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Peter instead referred to the prophecy of Joel, which made clear that in the last days, God’s people would receive the Holy Spirit in power.
One critique of many churches and pastors today is that they lack a biblical foundation. Many pastors base their sermons on new psychological research, recent polling data, or new sociological trends. There is nothing wrong with these sources of information in themselves, but true preaching, as demonstrated by the earliest followers of Jesus, should use Scripture as the ultimate authority and basis of teaching.
Context
Scripture must also be understood within its original context. The example of the Bereans in the Book of Acts highlights this truth. When Paul preached in Berea, his audience was “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They did not take Paul's interpretation at face value, but they checked Paul's teaching against the original context of the biblical texts he was explaining. Context is king. If we do not account for context, we run the risk of using Scripture to fit what we want to say.
When preaching, we must recognize that all biblical texts in context ultimately point to Jesus Christ and his gospel. Jesus himself taught this same principle. Having been resurrected from the dead, Jesus meets with two of his disciples who are traveling to Emmaus after his crucifixion. Then, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Jesus is the center of all of Scripture, and all of the Old Testament figures and themes ultimately point to him and his gospel.
Therefore, any passage of Scripture that is preached without mentioning Christ as the central and ultimate purpose of the sermon falls short of a truly biblical or Christian message.
Application
Lastly, all preaching and teaching of the Bible must be applied to listeners. When Peter preached his first sermon at Pentecost, it was not enough to tell his audience accurate information regarding Joel's prophecy, nor was it enough to point to Jesus as the ascended and resurrected King. Peter's message was not complete until it was applied. That is why he concludes by urging his listeners, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).
Information is good. Accurate information is better. Information in context is vital, and information about the Bible that points to Jesus and his gospel is essential to spiritual health. However, it falls short if there is no application to hearers.
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It matters deeply what a pastor preaches about, because it is through the power of preaching that people believe and are saved. For “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17), and “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:21).
