The art of listening to dull(ish) sermons

The sermon is arguably the central feature of a worship service and the one component most likely to remain in our consciousness as we leave church. That is, if the sermon has done its work.

Having spent my whole life regularly going to church, I discovered a long time ago that there are preachers and preachers: some who are exceptionally gifted and others, well… not quite so – which actually accounts for most preachers.

For every outstanding communicator there are a thousand regular pastors whose work is to faithfully prepare, pray and deliver a message on Sunday, sometimes twice. And the result is probably rather average, which means that most of us will have to be content with the ordinary, and sometimes even the dull(ish).