When Abraham Lincoln traveled to New York City he would often visit the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
He often chose to sit in a private room. The Civil War was still raging, and the last thing he wanted was to cause a distraction. One Sunday when pastor Phineas Gurley had wrapped up his sermon, Lincoln continued to sit there, pondering what he had heard.
His aid eventually broke the silence and whispered into the president's ear, "Well, what did you think of the sermon?" Lincoln paused, thought for a few moments, and then responded bluntly, "I think it was a failure." "A failure?" said his aid. "But why?" Lincoln replied, "Because he did not ask of us anything great."
Preacher friend, never allow a sermon to end without your congregation being asked to do something great. Conclude every message with a challenge -- a challenge that invites people to reflect on the message and take active steps in their lives. Jesus did this all the time. Nothing less can foster a sense of responsibility among your listeners. You are like a pilot landing a plane. Be concise. You've only got about 90 seconds to engage your audience. Be careful to ensure that the challenge is aligned closely with the sermon's main text for maximum impact. Be specific. Trust your conclusion and let it stand. Don't circle the airport. Just land the plane and then stop talking.
A sermon is a failure if it has no call to action.