Sermons failing to inspire change in believers

Congregations may look forward to the pastor’s sermon, but when it comes to bringing about a change in their attitudes or lifestyle, preaching appears to have little impact.

That is the finding of a new study by the CODEC research centre at St John’s College, Durham, commissioned by the College of Preachers to mark its 50th anniversary this year.

Of the 193 Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists and Baptists surveyed, only 17 per cent said sermons frequently changed their attitudes towards others or helped them look afresh at controversial or topical issues. Eighty-four per cent said the sermons should be rooted in the Bible.

Sixty-two per cent of those questioned said sermons frequently gave them a sense of God’s love and helped them to understand Jesus, while almost two thirds said they “frequently” looked forward to the sermon.

The results have prompted the College of Preachers to conclude that sermons are better at helping people to reflect than challenging them to act.

College Director Paul Johns said: "The digital age isn’t killing off preaching, but what the survey suggests is that too much preaching is doing too little to motivate people to look at the world differently and therefore live in it differently.

“If that’s so, we have to question what we preachers are actually saying about the Bible and about contemporary issues, and how well we’re engaging with our congregations."

Mr Johns said he hoped the findings would trigger debate in the church about effective preaching.

The research team was led by the Rev Kate Bruce, Fellow in Preaching and Communication, who added: "The people we surveyed said they wanted sermons which are biblical, but also relevant to contemporary life and issues, and in a culture which values entertainment and likes stand up, over a quarter of them said they want preaching to be entertaining too."

Other events to mark the college’s 50th anniversary include the search for a Young Preacher of the Year competition and two Festivals of Preaching.