Every once in a while a pastor will hear someone say, "that was a good sermon or that was a great message". Pastor's strive for that response from the people because it indicates to them that the message was heard and, we hope, received. The word good usually means beneficial and when the Word is received in a good for me attitude God is pleased.
The word great, however, puzzles me a little bit. Great can mean a lot of volume, or stuff, or lengthy. So does it mean the message was too long, stuffy, and loud? I guess maybe it could mean excellence. In that case we pastors are thankful for this is what we strive for in the preaching of the Word. It's a goal to do what we do for the Lord with excellence.
Sometimes people will leave and say "nice tie, pastor". Now that comment sets a pastor back a little because it carries the idea that the person didn't get much from the message that day but wanted to say something nice.
Last night the pastor had a nice tie on but the message was good, great and excellent, exalting our living God, edifying the Saint, evangelizing the sinner. What do you say to the pastors about the Word when you hear it?