If your church uses the 3-year lectionary from Lutheran Service Book, you heard the gospel lesson from Matthew 13 which began “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.”  Alas, sometimes the treasure is so hidden that it doesn’t even really make it into the sermon.

If you are a frequent listener of Issues Etc., you probably have heard Todd Wilken do sermon reviews of the likes of Joel Osteen and Rick Warren and some good Lutheran pastors (with some good sermons).  Todd provides a “3 Step Plan” for diagnosing a sermon and adds a bonus 4th Step.

What is our primary reason for going to church?  I would say we are there first and foremost to receive God’s gifts — one of which is to hear God’s word.

Todd’s diagnostic plan, while certainly not perfect, guides us to see if Christ is the center of the sermon.  Next week, why not give it a try.  Or if you’re a pastor, consider it while preparing your sermon.

1. How often is Jesus mentioned? (Just a simple tally)
2. If (1) is true: Is Jesus the subject of the verbs?  (Is it what Jesus has done for you or what you do for Jesus?)
3. If (2) is true: What are those verbs that are used?  (e.g., the helping Jesus, the saving Jesus, the dying/crucifed Jesus).
4. Bonus Question:  What has the preacher told me is my problem and what solution did he give me for the problem?

A related and worthwhile read from a few months back is Soaked In Christ’s Blood.

Related posts:

1. Sailing with Christ
2. Fourth Sunday in Advent
3. Word & Sacrament – How Christ Makes a Christian
4. Habits of Highly Effective Liturgies
5. Survey Says: Many Religions Can Lead to Eternal Life