Voice from the Pew

Preachers are often told that people really are not interested in substantive content in sermons. I know of pastors who have been severely criticized for dealing with texts that people did not find easily digestible, or useful enough in drawing crowds. Shallow, generic “life-thoughts” will appeal to some, but there is an increasing number of people who are crying out for substantive teaching as they yearn to know God and to have something weighty enough to serve as an anchor for their souls.

Below is a response from a survey student after listening to a sermon I assigned. For the record, this was not one of my sermons. :)

"I love sermons like this because it isn't 3rd grade Sunday school like …. I want to hear intellectual study. When preachers give a lesson like this it keeps me interested"

Let us give them real substance, explained and applied of course, but not diluted and dumbed down.