In Sermons Do We Trust (part 1 of 2)

Hughes Oliphant Old, church historian and respected scholar, writes in his book Leading in Prayer :

"It has been put to me so many times, " 'I just think that the sermon is the main part of the service.  It gives me a boost and that is what I want to leave church with.'"  For many people that is the conclusive argument and no amount of theological considerations or historical evidence is going to change that...It begins with the unfortunate assumption that the sermon is all that really matters in the service and concludes by imagining that the purpose of worship is to make people feel good.  We can expect this kind of argument from a Church that has forgotten how to pray, especially when it has forgotten how to pray together."