A Revelation Regarding Worship

I've been reading Robert Webber this evening (he's an awesome and insightful worship leader) and I've come to a startling realization: a sermon is to be a compliment to worship, instead of the worship complimenting the sermon. Now for some that might not be terribly exciting, but to me, this is groundbreaking. I was raised in conservative Pennsylvania and I was taught that the sermon is the most important part of the service. Sadly, it rarely lived up to this pomp. But this evening, while reading Webber I realized that since worship is all about God and getting in touch with Him, then the sermon should be much of the same.

Although I have always been frustrated by sermons that were not practical, I should have been frustrated with sermons that were not praiseworthy. The sermon takes our focus from the horizontal to the vertical. It is not a teaching moment, it is a leading moment, and for that moment the pastor is leading the people in worship. Teaching is to take place in Sunday school and small groups. The sanctuary is a place for praising God.

Now that does leave me with another small problem...how do I get people to Sunday school and small groups in order to learn about God? It's hard enough to get them there for worship.