Reviving Solid Preaching in Modern Churches

There’s a strange irony in the church today: we have more access to sermons, podcasts, commentaries, and theological resources than any generation before us, but we may be the most starved for solid preaching. At the same time, we have shelves full of the writings of the Puritans, Reformers, and faithful saints of old, and still many Christians act as if those voices are irrelevant, outdated, or simply too demanding. And underneath both trends lies a quiet but potent danger: generational snobbery, the belief that our time, our tastes, and our insights are superior to those who came before.

This problem is not new, but it is sharper now than ever. Let’s look at what’s driving it, why it matters, and how I think Scripture calls us to respond.

1. The Decline of Solid Preaching

Many churches have gradually replaced “preaching the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2) with something softer, lighter, and less confrontational. Sermons have shifted from exposition to entertainment, from doctrine to “tips for successful living,” from unfolding Scripture to unpacking personal stories. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all doom and gloom, but there are significant parts of the church where ‘preaching’ does not happen regularly.

Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when people “will not endure sound teaching” but would instead “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Tim. 4:3). The issue wasn’t simply bad teachers—it was people who no longer wanted the truth. They wanted palatable preaching, not powerful preaching.

Today’s shrinking appetite for robust, biblical preaching is not merely a stylistic shift; it reveals a spiritual condition. When God’s people prefer the thin gruel of motivational talks over the feast of God’s Word, spiritual anemia follows. Churches grow wider but not deeper. Christians become busier but not holier. And preaching becomes “safe,” avoiding the sinfulness of sin, the majesty of Christ, the demands of discipleship, and the glorious weight of the gospel.

2. The Decline in Listening to Older Voices

I think this is in part due to the decline of listen to older voices. We live in an age obsessed with the new—new styles, new trends, new leaders, new content. None of these are bad in themselves, but when “new” becomes a substitute for “true,” we have a problem.

Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to remember the past and pass on that knowledge and experience to the next generations.

The Puritans, Reformers, and faithful church fathers did not say everything perfectly—but they said a lot and in a profound way. Their writings are deep because their roots were deep. They lived closer to hardship, persecution, and revival. They prayed more than they posted. They read Scripture more than they scrolled. They cared more about holiness than platform.

But today, many Christians (including pastors and seminarians) skip over these older voices because they require time, effort, and humility. The problem is not that the Puritans are too hard; it’s that we have grown too soft.

When we dismiss older voices, we amputate ourselves from the rich heritage God has given us in the body of Christ. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us that we run the race “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”—not a crowd of influencers. We need their wisdom. We need their grit. We need their God-centeredness.

3. Generational Snobbery: The Hidden Attitude Behind It All

Generational snobbery assumes, “Our generation knows better.” It’s the spirit Lewis once called “chronological snobbery”. It’s the idea that more recent insights are automatically superior.

This mindset shows up when Christians say things like:

• “Those old guys just don’t get today’s world.”
• “We’re more emotionally aware now.”
• “They were too rigid; we’re more balanced.”

But Proverbs 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

And Proverbs 20:5 reminds us, “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”

The church is healthiest when younger believers bring energy and older saints bring depth. One provides momentum, the other direction. When we cut ourselves off from older voices, both in our churches and in church history, we become a generation running fast but running blind.

4. What We Should Do Instead

a. Recover a hunger for expositional, doctrinal preaching.

Demand, and grow in our desire for, sermons that explain Scripture, not merely comment on culture. Pray for pastors to be bold and faithful. And encourage preaching that reveals Christ, convicts sin, and strengthens souls.

b. Sit at the feet of dead mentors.

Read the Puritans. Read the Reformers. Read the early Baptists. Read the old commentaries. Their theology may not always be “trendy,” (and you might not agree with it all!) but it will always be weighty.

c. Practice humility in how we view our own generation.

Psalm 119:99 is striking “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.”
In other words, wisdom doesn’t come from novelty, it comes from Scripture. Let Scripture humble us, shape us, and remind us that every generation desperately needs God and the wisdom He has passed down through His people.

d. Embrace intergenerational fellowship.

Invite older saints into your life. Ask them questions. Listen well. Encourage them to share their stories, struggles, and insights. Scripture assumes a church where young and old sharpen each other (Titus 2:1–8).

The decline of solid preaching, the dismissal of older voices, and the rise of generational snobbery are not just cultural issues—they are spiritual dangers. The church thrives when it is rooted: rooted in Scripture, rooted in historic faith, rooted in humility.