Sermon introductions – so what and who cares?

'Good morning everybody. Please keep your Bibles open at the passage we’ve just read. John chapter 14 contains glorious truths about the gospel. Our first point is...'

Many sermons begin like this. It’s not wrong, but do you notice the assumption here? In opening the sermon this way, the preacher has assumed that everyone in the room is fully engaged, interested, and ready to listen. Yet the reality is many are not.

A congregation coming from different places

There will be those who are not yet Christians. Some may be first or second-time visitors. There will be teenagers who have been dragged along unwillingly. There will be others who are struggling in all sorts of ways.