Dull as a Butter Knife

I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was in a 3rd grade Sunday School class with a teacher named Marshall Tress. Our memory verse for the week was Hebrews 4:12 which states, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and the spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." That verse and that lesson made an impact on me. The writer of Hebrews presented the words of God as powerful, sharp, and able to accomplish something. That verse made a 3rd grader sit up and listen.

But it causes me to wonder, if God says his Word is so sharp, then why is most preaching that I hear so dull? Why is it so mundane? Why isn't it interesting? Why is most preaching that I hear not as engaging to me at 32 years old as that lesson was when I was 9? Why is it so palatable? Why is most preaching more like B101 (Easy Listening) than MMR (The Station that Rocks)? If the Word of God is sharper than a sword then the faithful preaching of that Word should be sharp also. The faithful preaching of that Word should cut me down to my soul. It shouldn't always be easy to digest. It seems to me that faithful sermons should be quite focused and cutting. Faithful sermons should be challenging and interesting and thought provoking. If the Word of God divides down to the motives and intentions of the heart then good sermons should do that also. Good sermons will "cut to the heart" like Peter's sermon did in Acts 2. Good sermons should make believers feel massive conviction over our sin and give us massive reassurance because of the love of God through Christ.