The Sermon

Chapter 2 in "Pagan Christianity" is a very volatile subject for most. He states that without the sermon being a part of the typical church service, "it becomes a songfest". To remove the sermon would induce mass exodus from the church, from the lack of the "need" to attend. Maybe the reason people are leaving is more poignant, boredom from the sermon. Viola challenges us to ask the typical church member, "How was church last week?". The answer will probably center around how good (or bad) the sermon was presented. As I pondered the question in my own life (pre-detox), my answers always revolved around the sermon's relativity.
Frank's frankness on the subject is painful at times. He shares that the sermon itself actually prevents spiritual growth in people. The congregates come each week with the sole purpose of "getting their cups filled up" by the sermon so they can go into the week ready to take on the evil world. Wow! That was so me. I've got to get to church this week so that I will have bullets in my gun to fire at the evil world around me. What was I thinking?!
The practice of the sermon has pagan roots, not biblical ones. His reasoning? The men and women in the bible that "preached" were more prophetic (telling people what God said not what they thought) rather than the definition of modern sermons (the preacher sharing his opinion about what God is saying). There is a world of difference obviously. Frank makes a comparison in the book on the difference, very informative.
After much footnoting and references, Viola sums things up by listing how the modern day sermon is harmful spiritually to the C/church. First, the preacher is a performer and the congregates are merely spectators, taking it all in. Second, because there is no active participation between the Body during the "message". Without active participation there is no growth. Third, the unbiblical clergy hierarchy. The undo pressures that are on the modern day clergy are not only unbiblical but much too weighty. Fourthly, the sermon does not "equip the saints for the work of the ministry". Last, the sermon is just impractical. No one is helped by a "swimming lesson on dry land".
The most compelling argument that Frank offers is this: how many millions have been sermonized week after week yet are still baby Christians. Wow! That is the truth if I've ever heard it. No one has been spiritually matured through the modern day sermon, but it remains the centerpiece to the weekly worship service for millions. The only way to grow spiritually is to have regular encounters with Jesus Christ. Less pulpiteers and more spiritual facilitators is what Frank suggests, and I tend to agree.
The SIM church planter
P.S. Happy New Year!