What is a sermon?

I asked this question to Artificial Intelligence (AI), which answered: “A sermon is a religious speech or discourse delivered by a clergyman or other religious leader to a congregation. It typically includes a moral lesson, a call to action, and a prayer. Sermons are often based on a particular biblical passage or theme and are intended to inspire and motivate the listeners to live a more moral and spiritual life.”

How accurate is this?

Preaching and Teaching

Calvin Theological Seminary uses a sermon evaluation form with four basic questions. Is it biblical? Is it authentic? Is it contextual? Did it accomplish a gospel purpose? When evaluating sermons, it is clear that preaching is more than teaching. Preachers are under pressure. Their sermons are now on YouTube. Covid has lessened church attendance. Should they compete with “edutainment” to bring people back?

Years ago, I had an article in the Banner (a Christian Reformed Church magazine), called “The Preacher’s Roast,” which contrasted roast preacher at the Sunday dinner table with the cut of meat my family would give to the preacher. Preaching and preachers are often criticized. Preaching varies widely among different Christian traditions, and attitudes range from “Preach it, sister” to “Papa, don’t preach.”

A theological definition

I’ll take a stab at a definition: a Christian sermon is an oral presentation of the Good News of the nature and work of the Triune God, based on the Scriptures, which engages our world and lives.

A sermon is theological. It focuses first on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A sermon is Gospel, Good News. There may be warnings and confessions of sin, but, overall, it is to be helpful and encouraging. A sermon is biblical. The authority and power of a sermon is not in the preacher, but in the Word. The preacher is humbly to help the people interact with God through his Word. This usually has elements of teaching; teaching the content and context of a text, teaching how to read and apply Scripture, teaching the “why” of a text, not just the “what.” A sermon is an event. Something important is happening. Preaching should seek to bring about an encounter or engagement between God and his people.

Engaging human hearts

My main issue with AI’s answer is that it is primarily horizontal. It focuses on human action, not God’s. This is also my complaint about many sermons I hear.

A preacher needs to engage her audience quickly with all the elements of rhetoric. The goal is a human engagement that leads to a divine one. This engagement is to help us live before God in our daily world and lives. With a focus on moral teaching, the AI definition misses a crucial point: intelligent theological preaching is about God engaging us.