The only time I saw a kick-everyone-out phenomenon going on was when Rabisu started the Inquisition and started going after Niselurians and anyone who sympathized with them. It was a whole Thing, briefly. (Started in an effort to make SA more interesting!)
And you're right about the sermons. Making sermons, or for that matter writing lengthy spiritual texts (cough), doesn't lead to more activity or involvement. I wonder if it might actually have an opposite effect? Who knows.
I think its most fun with a good balance of doing things and having flavor. The sermons are a nice read and they make the religion seem much less like its just a place for politicians to argue and spread propaganda.
