Christ, not Comfort: The Purpose of Preaching

Somewhere along the way, preaching became about us. The goal shifted from proclaiming the glory of Christ to producing an emotional experience. Sermons became motivational talks, the pulpit became a stage, and the preacher a performer tasked with moving hearts rather than exalting Christ. The measure of a sermon turned into how it made us feel, not how it lifted our eyes to Jesus.

But true preaching is an act of worship. It is not primarily for our inspiration—it is for Christ’s exaltation. When the Word is faithfully proclaimed, Christ is held high. The preacher stands not to impress, but to disappear behind the majesty of the One he proclaims. The pulpit is not the place to showcase creativity, humour, or emotional resonance—it is the place where heaven speaks to earth through Scripture, where Christ is revealed and adored.

We must recover a vision of preaching that is God-centered, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-empowered. The sermon is not a tool to help people feel better about themselves; it is a divine summons to see the beauty of Christ, to repent, believe, and worship. It demands a response—not first of emotion, but of reverence.

This means we don’t come to church primarily to feel something. We come to give something—our attention, our hearts, our worship. Whether we walk in weary, distracted, or even cold, we are the ones who must tune our hearts to adore Him. Jesus is worthy of exaltation, regardless of how we feel. Our emotions may follow, but they must not lead.

Let us not settle for sermons that entertain or simply relate. Let us recover preaching as worship—where Christ is the center, His Word the authority, and His glory the goal.

Nino Marques