As we concluded last year, we examined several biblical passages to remind ourselves of the importance of applying the sermon we hear on Sunday. We don’t need to spend long in church before we discover that, at times, it can be a struggle. While we want to hear from God and change our lives, there are times when we leave on Sunday without that seeming to happen. I believe this is a two-way struggle we must understand to ensure it does not recur.

First, this is a struggle for and/or because of the preacher. As a pastor, my desire is that the messages on Sunday impact your lives Monday through Saturday. As I (and I know this is true for Christian) prepare the message, I am reflecting on what I know of each of you and how this text might impact your life. I seek to make some applications as I preach. However, there is an inherent challenge. We have a diverse church body. The practical applications of each text are also diverse. How a text might practically work out in the life of an older widow is not the same as how it practically works out in the life of a middle school boy. The way it practically works out in the lives of a couple who have been married for 30 years is not the same as the way the text might practically work out in the life of the young ladies longing to be married. It is impossible for me, as a preacher, to make all the applications I would like to the church body. That is, unless we extend the morning service to 3:00 pm, which I don’t think anyone really wants.

There is also the reality that I am not always the best preacher. There are times when I should improve the message. Vocal inflection ceases to exist, and my voice puts you to sleep. The message is not structured in a pattern that is easy to follow. After almost 400 Sunday-morning messages at Cambria, I am sure we can all think of a few duds. As much as I want every message to be the best message ever, I am not Charles Spurgeon, John the Baptist, or the Apostle Paul. Thankfully, all who trust Christ have the Holy Spirit within them, who illuminates God’s Word to them so that He overcomes my shortcomings.

Second, the struggle arises from the listener. While you want to hear God each Sunday, there are things that can hinder this. Sometimes, you are tired, and the struggle is to stay awake, much less listen. Sometimes, people around you are talking over the message, which is a distraction. Sometimes, you may struggle to follow the flow of the message or to understand the concepts presented. And sometimes, the mind wanders to other things, like lunch or the challenge you are facing at work or in your family. We have all been in the pew at one time or another, feeling that we are not getting anything from the message.