What are the Qualities
of a Good Sermon?

Few sermons are perfect, but many are good.  Remarkably, God has been known to use even poor sermons to good ends.

But some sermons are more effective than others.  Here are some questions to ask when you want to know why.  Note: These are questions asked from the perspective of the hearer, not the preacher.

Is its main idea clear and compelling?

• What is the sermon about?  Did it stay on track or wander through several different ideas?  Was there a unity to the sermon?
• Does the sermon have something important to say?
• Does the preacher always seem to use the same main idea?  That is, am I always subjected to basically the same message week after week (God is love, You are accepted)  no matter the text?  

Is its purpose or function clear?

• How did the sermon change me?  What did it invite me to do?   What will I take away from it?   Will I be a better person and Christian if I respond to it's invitation or demand on me?
• Does the preacher always seem to use the same function (strive for justice or be converted, for example)?

Does it do a good job exegeting the text or topic ?

• Does it open up the text or subject? Deal with it honestly? Probe it for its mysteries or use it as a proof-text to make some point that was on the preacher’s mind? Does the preacher “get out of the way” of the creative energy of this text or topic?
• Is it apparent that the preacher takes the text or topic seriously for his or her own life? 
• If sermon is lectionary based, how did the preacher deal with the lectionary?  Did she or he use one text or borrow from two or more?  What difference did that make to the effectiveness of the sermon?
• Does it draw on the best interpretations of the text available?
• Does it see the text in its literary context?

Is it theologically sound?

• Is it concerned with God? The Divine? The Ground of Being? Or does it deal only with church matters or human matters? Is it an ethical essay?
• Does it speak of God in ways that seem in continuity with the tradition it is supposed to represent?  For example, does a sermon preached in a United Methodist church reflect the theological tradition of Wesley and Methodism?
• Does it reflect the joyfulness of a life lived in God’s presence or is it dour and overly serious? To say it in another way: does the basic thrust of the sermon arise out of God's gracious dealings with humanity or is it merely judgment?
• Does it liberate?
• Is it concrete? Are the things of God spoken of in such a way that it reflects the incarnational nature of God?
• What images of God does it employ or does it assume? Images of Christ....?  Spirit...? 
• What theological assumptions does it make about the hearers?   About other people that appear in the sermon?

Is it humanly compelling?

• Where is its center of gravity? Head? Heart? Gut?
• Is it true? Does it trade on generalizations about life that I don’t find true? Is it wrong about science matters it mentions? Social statistics? Has the preacher done his or her homework?
• Is it something that engages human life in the community in which I live? i.e. a sermon about suffering in Kosovo is difficult unless 1) it engages some fear or situation that has been on my mind, too. 2) it opens up a justice issue that I can easily recognize applies to me, and 3) invites me to make a concrete response.
• Does it recognize the complexity of human life in the world today?
• Does it give me something to do that I can do?
• Does it use illustrative material in an appropriate and helpful way?
• Does it engage my religious imagination as well as challenge my conceptual world: does it address both sides of my brain?

 Does it employ good language?

• Does the preacher use everyday language?  Is it direct and accessible?
• Is the language inclusive?  Responsible and ethical?
• Is the pattern of language appropriate for an oral presentation?   Does it use repetition and color that adds interest and makes it easier to follow?

Does it have good form?

• Does the sermon begin in a way that leads to the central idea and purpose of the sermon?
• Does it move naturally? Does it set up the feeling of anticipation in me?
• Does the sermon reach a high point or climax that calls for a response from the hearers?
• Does the sermon end at the right time or continue beyond when it should have?
• Does the form of the sermon flow naturally from what the sermon is trying to achieve?

What about the delivery?

• Can I hear the preacher? Acoustics? Where are the speakers located?
• Does the preacher engage me visually? Use appropriate gestures?
• Is there good eye contact?
• Does the preacher have any distracting or annoying habits?
• Is the voice easy to listen to?
• Is it invitational rather than heavy?

How does the person of the preacher show through this sermon? 

• Does the preacher own her or his authority?  Use it appropriately?
• What is the preacher’s relationship to me in this sermon? An advice giver? A frustrated leader? A career climber? A fellow member of the congregation?
• Do you get the sense that the preacher is seeking our approval or is she or he differentiated? 
• How mature is the sermon and the preacher?

Last Updated: 11/15/05