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1) Sermon fail when we deliver an academic lecture (for the eye) instead of a sermon (for the ear).
Writing makes you an exact man, reading makes you a learned man, just don't read your sermon manuscript verbatim. You are not simply reading an essay. We prepare a sermon to be heard not read. As preachers we are called to herald the truth.
Sermons need to be clear, direct, accurate, and passionate. Our sermons are never linear and will often use restatement to drive home your thesis.
2) Sermons fail when we do not tell the congregation anything new (which can bore the audience), or fresh; (we need restate well known truths in a fresh way).
Surfacy preaching does not engage a mixed congregation of mature Christians, new believers, and unsaved attendees. Preaching should be deep enough so as to say something new in your messages; (just don't find something in the text that is not there),
3) Sermons fail when we insult the dignity of the audience.
The speaker has received a privilege from God (1 Peter 4:10-11) and from the flock (bring the book). Personal issues with individuals should be addressed directly and privately.
If you have prestigious academic degrees you might be tempted to talk down to your congregation. Do not flaunt your education (1 Cor. 2).
The people you love the most may provoke you to wrath. You do not want to preach with sinful anger. It's like the old "kick the dog' analogy (when the dog takes the blunt of personal frustrations).
4) Sermons fail when they do not have a clear purpose.
It is difficult to listen to messages that are "bridges to nowhere." Sausage sermons don't have an introduction and a conclusion. A good sermon goes someplace and has a purpose to it. Every sermon should be summed up with a clear propositional statement. We should always be able to answer the question, "What are you preaching on this morning?" "What is the main idea of the text/sermon?" Preach for a verdict.
5) Sermons fail because speakers sometimes expect far too much from their audiences.
Sermons should feel like thirty minutes even if they last an hour. You need to do everything you can to hold the attention of your people without compromising the principles of Scripture. A boring sermon should be avoided at all costs. Substance is more important than style but style is not unimportant. You are not there to entertain the flock or tickle ears but that does not exclude sermon polish and exemplary homiletics. Dark, abstract sermons need to be improved upon before you go into the pulpit.
Longer is not always better. You want people to want to come back for more of the Word.
If you go down into the depths of Scripture you must be clear! You need to patient with a biblically illiterate church.
