“Therefore consider carefully how you listen.” Luke 8:18 Two psychiatrists meet at their 20th college reunion. One is vibrant, while the other looks withered and worried.
“So what’s your secret?” the older looking psychiatrist asks. “Listening to other people’s problems every day, all day long, for years on end, has made an old man of me.”
“So,” replies the younger- looking one, “Who listens?” (quoted in Reader’s Digest.)
Listening is hard work, isn’t it!
If you go to church often, you probably have heard a lot of sermons. Really listening takes effort.
Being a of a few thousand sermons, I don’t believe I have ever spoken about how to listen to a sermon.
Here are a few thoughts. A sermon is interactive. The speaker and listener work together like a pitcher and catcher in a ball game. The pitcher and catcher interact to strike out the batter.
When musicians are “jamming” and get “in sync,” magic happens.When preacher and audience come together, with the Holy Spirit, there is a God moment. Engage with the preacher and the sermon comes alive.
*Listen with a “sincere desire” to hear from God. God has chosen through the “foolishness of preaching” to bring Good News, to draw people to the grace of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) Preaching is one way, appointed by God, to bring His Word into your life. Desire to hear Him.
*Offer grace to the preacher. He is given an impossible task. With flawed frailties he is teaching from God’s word things he can’t live up to. But his charge is to teach it. Give him/her grace.
*Don’t think too little or too much of the preacher. Pastors do not belong on pedestals. We have a nasty way of falling off. Your minister has faults. Don’t let anyone stand between you and your relationship with God.
*Respect your pastor. He is giving his life to serve God and is doing so to the best of his ability. We live in a day when pastors are disrespected. People do not value spiritually guiding people through teaching and conversation. Not even church members. Few people give their spiritual life much thought.
I was surprised that in a February 2014 issue of Forbes magazine, they listed pastoring as being one of the top ten toughest leadership positions. According to the article it is easier to be a CEO or congressman than a pastor. Hmm… *Apply what you hear in a sermon personally. It is easy to hear a message and think, “ole’ Sam Smith” needed that. Don’t apply the sermon to others. Apply it to yourself.
*Pray. Pray before, during, and after the sermon. Pray to prepare to listen. Pray for understanding. Finally, pray as you begin to apply what you have heard during the week.
Do your own follow up study. Read the text in its overall context. Search for answers raised by the sermon. Use cross-references to find other Bible passages about the same subject.
Listen for the Spirit of God, for He has the word of life.
Listen well!
