A Sermon Is Not Supposed To Be A TED Talk

“The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying not, ‘What a lovely sermon,’ but, ‘I will do something!'” — Francis de Sales

Let’s face it, if you live in the United States, or I would even say in many parts of the world, it seems like we are at a tipping point. I know I’ve mentioned these words before in varying degrees, but seriously, I feel there is a threshing floor moment happening on a daily basis. Why is that? Well, there are the obvious culprits such as the news that spreads a narrative that just seems ridiculous at times, and there is also social media which brings instant clips that can frame any story in a way that fits your world view. Gone are the days of objective truth, now it is “my truth” sort of world. What do I mean by objective truth? It means that reality exists outside of our feelings, emotions and interpretations. After all, the scripture tells us that our hearts can and will deceive us. Truth is measurable, it holds up despite our feelings on the matter; and dear ones, sometimes the truth is painful to hear. Yet we have abandoned feeling uncomfortable with facts and fully embraced comfortable and assuring feelings in our bubbles of influence. Tribalism is the name of the game. 

Why do I mention this?

Our sermons have become a reflection of the world. We get a sophisticated coffee bar with each and every kind of creamer, 20 minutes of songs in a room that mimics a club, complete with darkness, strobe lights and beats for days. After that, we are given a 20-25 minute TED talk that is meant to make you feel good about your bubble. When your roughly 1 hour time is complete, you have done your duty of going to church and meeting God for the week. No wonder everyone is running around living their truth rather than looking to the way, the truth and the life. 

Today’s modern day TED talk sermons are like the Church in Laodicea

In the book of Revelation, there were seven letters written to the churches to convince, exhort and rebuke them for their works towards the Kingdom of God. Laodicea did not receive any commendation, but rather they were given an immediate rebuke. They were neither hot nor cold, they were lukewarm and made Jesus want to spew them out of His mouth. The Laodiceans immediately understood the metaphor because their water that traveled through many underground aqueducts arrived to them lukewarm and bitter to the taste. Jesus would rather a believer be cold with little to no affection for Him or be unbelievably hot for the Gospel and good news of Jesus!  

Why was the church lukewarm?

The church had become indifferent in their love for Jesus Christ. They put their trust in riches rather than God. They were living the social gospel rather than the living and active Gospel of Jesus Christ. In my mind, I compare it to the myriad of programs that are offered to reel people in, along with the varying types of coffee, pastries and social gospel that is offered in the church of today. The one step to make it complete is to check in on your socials so that the world can see you are at church! On the outside this looks like a well-oil spiritual machine, but on the inside? There is nothing but barrenness and rot that only feeds from the sermon that is a glorified TED talk. 

Why are you being so harsh? After all, people are going to church!

Right now in the United States there is lawlessness that abounds, hatred is disguised as varying shades of truth, and the church is filled with self-deceived hypocrites. Recently, I sat in a Bible study about the meaning of truth. As the discussion began, the speaker asked different group members what they believed truth meant in a Biblical sense. One person spoke up and said, “Well, it’s whatever is real to you. I don’t think we know what truth is in this life, I think it is prideful to think otherwise that our God has all the answers.” After this well meaning answer, the room sat in stunned silence. When the teacher recovered his wits he said, “Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.” After the answer, the class participant asked us where our teacher had read this phrase, the teacher’s answer? The Bible. The well meaning class participant had attended church for quite some time and sat through many sermons, yet never heard these words of Jesus. The modern church has become Laodicea.

So what can we do?

Honestly, I have taken no pleasure in writing this, God has put this subject on my heart for quite some time. He started with me, a seasoned church goer who was whole-heartedly participating in Laodicean life. I was afraid of offending people or hurting someone’s feelings, I stuffed this subject in my notebook to forget it, yet God kept laying this on my heart. What can we do? Here are a few prayerful suggestions to consider:

• God’s mercies are new every morning. Thank goodness for grace, even if we have strayed, God will bring us joyfully back into the fold. Much like the prodigal son, He will bring out all the finery of his matchless love to commune with us. What a mighty God we serve! Come back to Him, dear ones. When you do, start to live your life as a reflection of Him. God’s grace is there, through His precious son’s blood. 
• Spend time with God. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Get to know God. Don’t be a Christian in name only, but be familiar with His Word and what it means. In this day and time, we don’t have the luxury of checking-in and checking-out of our walk with God. We need to know Him and depend on Him daily. 
• Preach the Word! I’m not talking about standing in a pulpit (though some are called to do so), I am talking about learning to walk with God in your life and letting His Word mold and make you in His image. Let your life be a living example of Jesus in word and deed. 
• Put God’s Word in your mind and heart. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. When you are inundated with the world’s truth, seek God’s way through His Word. Let it be your guide. God has not changed and He never lies. 
• Preach the Word! (Again)  “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” If we look closely at this verse in 2 Timothy, we don’t see the phrase, “Preach a TED talk! Tell everyone they are perfect just as they are! You are good, amazing and right and everyone else is wrong!” Find a church that preaches the whole counsel of God’s Word. A sermon is not just a feel good moment, it is a place to spur you on to love and the work of God. What is the function of a spur? It is not an instrument of torture or hurt, it is an instrument of communication that sharpens your movement in the right direction. Sometimes that direction is not what our heart (or feelings) tells us, but what God sees as best for us. 
• Pray! Pray each day, several times a day. The scripture tells us: Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

The world is a savage place, they need Jesus right now. It is easy to say, “I can’t deal with this right now, there is too much going on in the world.” This is an answer that I have given many, many times. A dear one in the faith reminded me of the words of Jesus, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

Finally, find a place of sound Biblical teaching, and pray your sermons will be more than TED talks, let them be a launching pad to bring others into God’s love and peace that passes all understanding.