I tell a story from time to time of a man who approached me with unsolicited feedback after I had first begun to preach some years ago.  This man was a long-time member of the church, and faithfully brought his wife and children almost every.  He had even taught various Bible studies and classes over the years.  I suppose these are the things which made him feel qualified to critique my sermon on this particular Sunday.

“Bruce?” he said (30 seconds after the close of the worship service), “I think the challenge with your preaching is that it doesn’t make me feel good about myself when I leave church.  People want the Sunday sermon to make them feel better about themselves.”  My response was blunt.  “It’s not my job to make you feel good.” 

This man then offered a suggestion.  He recommended that I listen to a particular preacher that he was fond of – a pastor of a megachurch in a different state.  “He makes me feel good every time I listen to him.  You should pay attention to how he preaches.”  This pastor has since preached borderline false doctrine, regularly shares the stage with flat out heretics, and recently led his church to leave the SBC entirely.  Anyone can build a large organization by making people feel good about themselves.  That’s easy. It’s just therapy, and everyone likes to hear it.  But that’s not the call of the Bible.

In his book “The Triumph of the Therapeutic” (1966) noted American sociologist and cultural critic Philip Rieff makes the following comment, “Formerly, if men were miserable, they went to church, so as to find the rationale of their misery; they did not expect to be happy, this idea is Greek, not Christian or Jewish.”

I want to bold, highlight, underline, and scream out every portion of this quote.  The weight of the Bible and the right preaching of it, reveals the identity of the one true living God, properly communicates His requirements for mankind, demonstrates to men that they are sinners in need of a Savior, and then directs them to the cross of Christ as their only hope.  You see, the everlasting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that you desire cannot be found directly.  It is a by-product from learning the truth about your sin, and then submitting to Christ for salvation, to the glory of God.  Hearing the devastating reality of sin preached should cause Christians to understand their utter depravity and then leap in rejoicing at the fact that the Messiah has paid their debt to God.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Blessings, 

Pastor Bruce