How to Evaluate a Sermon (Acts 2:14-41)

This week we looked at Peter's Pentecost sermon in Acts to learn about how we should evaluate sermons. Here were the main points.

1. The Bible is the basis and proof of every assertion.

Peter is constantly referencing the Scriptures to substantiate every point he makes about Jesus. He doesn't ask blind faith in mysteries from his listeners, but engages their logic in light of the Word of God.

2. The sermon uses the entire testimony of Scripture, not just a proof-text here and there.

Peter uses all of the Joel passage as his text, not merely the parts that most easily fit his need. Many Pentecost lectionaries omit Joel's references to apocalyptic symbols of the moon turning to blood, fire and billows of smoke. Why? Maybe it raises questions church authorities don't want us to think about.

The same is true about baptism. Peter's call to repentance and baptism are hold-overs from John the Baptist. The Apostle Paul unpacks the deeper meaning of baptism as immersion into the death and resurrection of Jesus and as the sign of the covenant of grace. One must take the whole witness of Scripture and not just a favorite proof-text.

3. Godly sermons intersect the listener's experience.

Peter is talking about events his hearers had experienced, not only the mysterious sound of rushing wind and tongues of fire, but the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Pastor's job is to help the congregation know what time it is; to help the congregation understand what God is doing in their lives, whether that means talking about a conflict in the church or the passing of a key member of the body.

4. The Christian sermon sets forth God's righteous demand and his merciful grace.

"You killed the Messiah," Peter says point blank. He clearly sets forth God's commandments and how they were broken by these listeners. But Peter also proclaims that everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus will be saved,a promise to those of you near and far. Sermons that don't contain both law and gospel, the proclamation of God's sovereign holiness and our human rebellion, eventually become little more than moralistic do-gooderisms: "Do more!" "Try harder!" "Be nice."

5. The sermon points to Jesus as the solution.

I went to a church on Sunday which was accepting new members. Each new member was asked to bring a Scripture promise that meant a lot to him or her. Almost every verse was actually not a promise to us, but a promise to Christ, such as Isaiah 41:10 ("Fear not, I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.") The Gospel isn't about us; it certainly effects us, but it's not about us, but about a man who died in 29AD and came back from the dead. Sermons that honor God always point to Jesus as the sufficiency for our needs.

6. The sermon clearly calls people to faith in Christ.

This doesn't mean there should be an altar call at the end of every service, but it does mean that the preacher concludes every sermon by presenting Christ and calling for faith and trust in His atoning sacrifice for sin. The Bible says, Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. The sermon is as sacramental as the bread and cup in that it communicates the grace of God to the sinner's heart.