"Ok, But What Do I Do?"

That's the question that is running through the mind of most church members at the end of each weekly sermon. It's also the question that most pastors feel the need to make sure they answer at the end of each sermon.

Kevin DeYoung reminds us though that while application is very important, not every text is focused on us doing something. Some texts call from us not some action, but rather an affection. Some sermons need to end with "Now, let us glory in this truth about Christ" rather than, "Now let's go out and do such and such."

Kevin concludes the post with these words:

Maybe we just aren’t as passionate about the person and work of Christ as we are about getting in people's faces (which, trust me, I also do). Or maybe we think people will be bored if they don’t get some good practical advice on their way out the door (and it’s possible they are more eager to hear three points of application than ponder the glory of Christ). Again, I’m not saying no text can end with imperatives. "Repent," "believe," "obey" are all biblical injunctions. But we must let the text determine the mood of the sermon and not tack on honey-do lists at the end of every message. Preachers ought to rebuke when necessary, when the text calls for it. But it makes for bad preaching and beat-up congregations when every sermon concludes with exhortation. Sometimes it’s ok to end the sermon by simply telling the people about Jesus.