Meanwhile, there are common mistakes that quickly lead to \u201cboring\u201d sermons. After decades of advising preachers, in person and in his writings, McKeever warned pastors against:<\/p>\n
♦ Assuming that anecdotes about their own lives and faith journeys are appropriate. \u201cIt\u2019s important to tell stories when preaching,\u201d he told me. \u201cPersonal details can be interesting and relevant. But a steady stream of that kind of content week after week can turn into an ego thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
♦ Preparing sermons that would impress seminary professors \u2014 but are likely to fail with people who are struggling with issues at work, home, school and in the rest of their daily lives. \u201cIf you spend lots and lots of time describing why a specific Greek word is so important, three people in the pews may think that\u2019s wonderful, while everyone else is rolling their eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
♦ Forgetting to clearly state, at least once, a sermon\u2019s big idea. \u201cIt\u2019s like reading a newspaper column and thinking, \u2018When are you going to say what you\u2019re trying to say,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cNot all the extras. Not all the mind-numbing details. Not the stuff the writer thought was interesting, without thinking about the readers. What\u2019s your point?\u201d<\/p>\n
♦ Failing to deliver a message that is inspiring. McKeever noted that when Abraham Lincoln was asked if he liked a popular preacher\u2019s sermon, he was said to have replied: \u201cNot very much. … He did not ask me to do anything great.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nTERRY MATTINGLY: Boring sermons happen; preachers need to spot them https:\/\/t.co\/CPADJ9K0NR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YkGXHgNuyD<\/a><\/p>\n
— The Albany Herald (@Albany_Herald) October 1, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n