I don't endorse everything Rick Warren teaches, but this quote is dead on target:

So every message must be preaching for life change. I hear people talk about life application preaching as if it were a genre or type of preaching. But I think if you don't offer life application in your sermon, then you're not preaching. It may be a lecture, it may be a study, it may be a commentary but it is not preaching. ~ Rick Warren*

*"Purpose-Driven Preaching: An Interview With Rick Warren by Michael Duduit" in The Pastor's Helper.