Thank you for the question on sermons, “What are the advantages and disadvantages of homilies or sermons?”
Here are some thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of sermons:
A. The advantages of sermons.
- The pastor is theologically and biblically trained in the Scriptures.
- The pastor is able to explain and illustrate the Scriptures.
- The pastor is able to address/reach the attendees on a topic with the attendees on a given Sunday in contrast to teaching a Sunday School class or leading a Bible study during the evening.
- The pastor is able to develop a sermon series that may help the attendees understand a book of the Bible or a topic more thoroughly.
- The pastor is able to challenge or reflect on their beliefs and lifestyles.
- The attendees is able to consistently hear one person explain the Scriptures without the inconsistency of guest speakers.
B. The disadvantages of a sermon.
- The pastor may dedicated too much time in sermon preparation to the neglect of other ministries that may need his attention.
- The pastor may preach on his favorite topics instead of preaching the whole council of God.
- The pastor preaching style and delivery may become routine and boring.
- The pastor may be seeking to impress the attendees than to convict or challenge the attendees.
- The attendees may judge the pastor solely on the “success” of the sermon without acknowledging his other ministries in the church.
- The attendees may come to hear the speaker than to hear the Word of God.
There are other pros and cons of having a sermon each Sunday. In my opinion, the sermon is only part of the worship service, not the whole service. In Protestant churches, the sermon is the highlight of the service. Some attendees come for the worship songs while others come for the sermon. In reality, attendees are to come to worship God and to hear his Word through the speaker of that Sunday. To overly focus on the speaker, it becomes idolatry.
SUMMARY: The sermon is to speak to the heart, mind, and spirit of the attendees whereby the Spirit of God will convict or challenge the listener to respond to God.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-homilies-or-sermons