A man once asked his friend, “What color are your pastor’s eyes?” The friend chuckled, “I don’t know. When he prays, he closes his eyes, and when he preaches, I close mine.” We laugh at the pun, but it highlights a sobering truth: one of our sacred Christian duties is to sit under the preaching of God’s Word. As 1 Corinthians 1:21 declares, “…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Preaching is God’s ordained method for reaching the world and edifying the saints, building our faith as Romans 10:17 reminds us: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Just as Walt Whitman said, “To have great poets, there must be great audiences,” the same is true for preaching—it needs great listeners. So, how can we get the most out of the sermons we hear? Here are seven practical steps to listen to preaching with a heart ready to receive God’s transformative truth.
1. Listen with a Prepared Heart
Jeremiah 4:3 says, “Thus saith the Lord … Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” At one end of the pew, a man yawns and checks his watch, while at the other, a woman wipes tears from her eyes. What’s the difference? The heart. The seed of God’s Word finds fertile soil in one heart but stony ground in another. We can “plow up” our hard hearts by preparing before the sermon. If I stay up late Saturday night, wake up rushed on Sunday, and skip my time with the Lord, I’ll struggle to focus—my eyelids heavy, my heart unprepared. But if I’ve spent the week in the Word, praying, praising, and seeking God before the service, I’m ready to receive what He has for me. Preparation isn’t just for the preacher; it’s for the listener too. Start your Sunday with prayer: “Lord, soften my heart to hear from You today.”
2. Listen Attentively
When the preacher opens the Bible, follow along intently. God speaks through His Word, so give it your full attention. Ignore distractions—whether it’s a buzzing phone or a wandering thought—and focus on the message. Respect the Word as it’s preached, and you’ll be amazed at how God can edify you, even through a sermon that seems “boring” at first. I’ve often found that when I listen studiously, God reveals a nugget of truth I didn’t expect, turning a simple message into a life-changing moment.
3. Take Notes
Some truths are too important to forget, and writing them down helps us remember. Having a pen in hand turns you into a student of the Word. Jot down key points, verses to study later, or insights to share with others. For example, during a recent sermon, I wrote down a reference to 1 Thessalonians 2:7—about nurturing like a mother—which inspired our blog on Gospel parenting and our past mothers-day sermon at church. Notes not only help you retain the message but also allow you to pass it on, multiplying the impact of the preaching.
4. Listen Without Prejudice Toward the Preacher
We all have favourite preachers—someone whose style resonates with us, like “our preacher.” But if we only listen when they’re in the pulpit, we miss out on God’s blessing. 1 Corinthians 1:12 warns against this kind of spiritual immaturity, where the Corinthians divided over Paul, Apollos, or Cephas. Every person who opens the Bible deserves our undivided attention, because it’s God’s Word, not the preacher’s charisma, that transforms us. I remember hearing a guest preacher whose monotone voice nearly put me to sleep—until I focused on the Scripture he shared. That day, God spoke to me through a man I almost dismissed. Don’t let prejudice rob you of a blessing.
5. Listen Prayerfully
Nothing significant happens apart from God, so weave prayer into your listening. Pray for yourself: “Lord, help me hear what You have for me.” Pray for the preacher: “Give him clarity and boldness.” Pray for those around you: “Lord, touch that new family in the row ahead.” During the invitation at the end, talk to God about what you’ve heard: “Thank You for speaking to me; help me to apply this truth.” Prayer turns listening into a conversation with God, making the sermon a moment of spiritual growth.
6. Listen Discerningly
While we honor the preacher, we must test every message against Scripture. Jeremiah 17:5 warns, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man,” and Acts 17:11 praises the Bereans for searching the Scriptures to confirm Paul’s teaching. Whether it’s a seasoned pastor or a guest speaker, hold their words to the standard of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). If something doesn’t align, dig deeper in prayer and study. Discernment keeps us grounded in truth, ensuring we grow in faith, not error.
7. Be Thankful to God and the Preacher
When a sermon blesses you, express gratitude to God first, and then to the preacher. A simple “Thank you for that message” can encourage someone who has laboured in prayer and study to deliver God’s Word. I think of George W. Truett, the legendary pastor whose mother’s prayers shaped his life and ministry. When God mightily used Truett, he could thank his Mom and the Lord for every sermon she inspired through her nurturing love. When God uses the Word through us, who are preachers. Like George W. Truett, we have others and the Lord to thank. Let’s be a source of encouragement, reflecting the gratitude of a heart transformed by preaching.
Let Preaching Transform You: Preaching is God’s chosen method to build our faith and change our lives, but it requires us to be great listeners. Prepare your heart, listen attentively, take notes, set aside prejudice, pray, discern, and give thanks. As you do, you’ll find that the “foolishness of preaching” becomes a powerful tool in God’s hands to shape you into the person He’s called you to be. Let’s honor the Word by listening well, and watch how God uses it to grow our faith.
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