Bring Back the Evangelistic Sermon

By Harold Vaughan

While in England, I asked Peter Masters, pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, why the United Kingdom had become so spiritually dark. Without hesitation he replied, “The loss of the evangelistic sermon.”

The Heart Behind the Sermon

Like his predecessor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Masters believes that God uses ordinary and extraordinary means to rescue the perishing. Every Sunday night, he preaches an evangelistic message. He points people towards truth. He tears down excuses and demolishes reasons for unbelief. He presents Christ as our only Savior from sin. With earnestness and compassion, he pleads with men and women to repent and believe the gospel.

Masters remains faithful to the evangelistic roots of the Tabernacle by inviting those concerned about their souls to meet with him personally after the service. Spurgeon famously led thousands to Christ in the vestry of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Masters continues that same weighty evangelistic strategy today.

Which raises an important question: Whatever happened to the evangelistic sermon in North America?

The Evangelistic Sermon Isn’t Outdated

The apostle Paul asked, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). That question still resonates across the landscape of the modern church.

Many pulpits today are rich in information. Sermons are often filled with historical background, doctrinal analysis, and technical detail. But where is the declaration and exhortation? Whatever happened to sermons aimed directly at the conscience? Where are the pulpits that still aim for conversion?

At the heart of the evangelistic sermon is the death of Christ for the sins of the world and the absolute necessity of the new birth. Gospel preaching is not merely an infomercial designed to impress seminary students. It is heaven’s call to dying men.

The evangelistic sermon is not outdated. It is biblical.

Preached from a Broken Heart

When God draws near to His church, evangelistic preaching returns. And it is not preached mechanically or academically. It comes from a broken heart for a broken world.

The apostle Paul said he warned men “night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). He also declared:

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5:11)

Paul did not merely lecture people.

• He pleaded with them.
• He reasoned with them.
• He declared the claims of Christ to them.

Somewhere along the way, modern preaching lost its urgency. Fatalistic doctrine has smothered expectant hearts. Hyper-analysis has replaced holy pleading. Some men preach as though no immediate response is necessary. Others seem more concerned with being precise than persuasive. But the gospel was never intended to be delivered as a cold, theological lecture.

A Return to Our Biblical Roots

God still saves sinners through the preaching of the cross. When men preach the gospel under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, people will be convicted. Some will repent and believe.

The church desperately needs the return of earnest, Christ-centered, evangelistic preaching. We need sermons that confront sin, exalt Christ, call for repentance, and urge men to flee from the wrath to come. It’s time to start preaching for transformation again.

Brothers and sisters, let’s bring back the evangelistic sermon and return to God’s call for the church!