What is the Purpose of a Sermon?

Many people today confuse preaching with therapy, seeing Jesus as a kind of life coach who gives us “be happy attitudes” to help us cope with life’s disappointments, along with practical principles for self-transformation. Others view preaching as a kind of political speech, where Jesus becomes the mascot of either Democratic or Republican policy prescriptions. So then what is the purpose of a sermon, and why have Christians over the centuries given so much attention to the proclamation of the Word during the weekly worship service? That’s the focus of this edition of the program as the hosts are continuing their discussion of the Ministry of Word & Sacrament.