Why Modern Sermons Are Starving the Church
The Alarming Trend
I’ve been listening to some of the most influential churches in America. Their pastors fill arenas, drive conference agendas, and shape how thousands of smaller churches preach each week. But after hearing message after message, I was struck by one thing:
Not a single one held to the true point of the New Testament.
Instead of proclaiming life through Christ, most sermons sound like TED Talks with a couple of verses tacked on. They offer tips on how to focus, how to fight distraction, how to have better relationships. Practical? Sure. Transformational? No.
The gospel is not self-help. It is Christ-help.
From Proclamation to Presentation
What I’m seeing is a shift:
Away from proclamation (“Christ has finished the work, you are made righteous”)
Toward presentation (“Here’s how you can do better, stay focused, try harder”)
It’s not that pastors mean harm. Many believe they’re helping people be practical. But in reality, they’ve replaced the substance of the New Covenant with shadows of moral advice.
The New Testament was not written to give us life hacks. It was written to announce life Himself.
Why It’s Happening
Fear of Losing People – Preach grace too clearly, and pastors worry people will get lazy or stop giving. So they hedge the message.
Wrong Success Metrics – If attendance and clicks define “success,” then sermons get shaped to attract crowds, not reveal Christ.
Performance Obsession – The pulpit subtly re-centers the story on you and your decisions instead of Jesus and His finished work.
It’s no wonder sermons become a cycle of motivation rather than revelation.
The Danger
When grace is sidelined, assurance disappears. Believers start measuring their standing with God by how well they focus, how intentional they are, how devoted they feel this week. That’s not gospel—that’s bondage with better branding.
Paul warned the Galatians:
“Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
The modern church is repeating their mistake.
The Real Point of the New Testament
Here’s the heartbeat of the New Covenant:
Jesus finished the work (John 19:30).
You are righteous by faith alone (Romans 1:17).
Christ is your life (Colossians 3:4).
The church exists to proclaim Him, not principles (2 Corinthians 4:5).
The church’s role is not to hand out motivational tips but to feed starving souls with the only food that satisfies: Christ crucified and risen.
A Needed Course Correction
Imagine if the modern pulpit returned to this focus:
Less “five steps to stay focused”
More “One Savior who finished it all”
Less “decide harder, devote stronger”
More “rest in the One who holds you fast”
The church doesn’t need more distraction disguised as discipleship. We need the unfiltered announcement of grace.
Conclusion
There’s a famine of grace-preaching in our day. Cotton candy is being served instead of bread. Crowds are being drawn but souls are being starved.
But God always raises up voices to call His people back. If you feel this ache in your spirit, know this: it’s not cynicism. It’s the Spirit reminding you that Christ alone is the message.
The good news is still the good news.
Not tips. Not tricks. Not self-help with a Christian gloss.
Just Jesus. Just grace. Just life.
