How to Assess a Sermon

Synopsis

William Shishko's checklist, provided for ruling elders but useful for any evaluator, argues that assessing preaching is a duty owed both to the preacher and to the congregation's edification, yet elders often feel ill-equipped and leave the duty undone for want of objective criteria. The checklist asks whether the sermon's type (textual, topical, or expository) was clear; whether the introduction captured attention and truly introduced the sermon; whether the outline was easy to follow and memorable; whether the preacher dealt with the actual words of the text rather than flying over them; whether illustrations were sufficient and apt; whether the argument was compelling to mind, will, and emotions; whether applications grew legitimately out of the text and were pressed on the conscience; whether Christ and the gospel were preached; whether the conclusion made a final impression; whether the preacher showed earnestness and communicated to all, including children; and whether the sermon was evidently well prepared. Two supplied sermon-evaluation forms translate these questions into gradable categories — introduction, material, organization, style, delivery, illustrations, conclusion/application, and audience factors — for scoring an actual sermon.