Much of the preaching from the pulpit is directed at the edification of the saints, and, boy, do we need it! We need the Holy Spirit to purge our bitterness, pride, and envy. We need to be encouraged to right living, thinking, and soulwinning! We need to be confronted with God's Word on a regular basis and it's not always meant to be pleasant, intriguing, or entertaining. We need to be pushed out of our comfort zone and awakened from our slumber. Our spirit needs to be provoked to self-examination and stirred up to joyful obedience! Christian, we need the powerful penetration of Bible preaching and not just the curious intellectualism of Bible teaching. Sometimes, the preacher needs to get righteously stirred up to fan the flames of faithfulness in his congregation. But, no matter how soundly the Bible may be revealed from the pulpit, it is on the Christian in the pew to receive it. When Jesus came to Nazareth to preach and to heal, little to nothing happened. Elsewhere, he was well-received and well-respected. As a result, much work was done. What made the difference? The difference was in the hearts of the hearer. Mark gave some insight into it, "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching." (Mark 6:5-6). Was there no power in Jesus' preaching in Nazareth? There was all power, but there was no recognition of God's authority on Him. They could not bring themselves to trust in Him. How much healing and blessing did they withhold from themselves because of this attitude! I am not equating the preacher to Jesus, but I am definitely equating the Word of God to Jesus because He is the Word of God! So then, what attitudes should I have when entering into a preaching service?
Searching not Snoozing
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:22-23)
These were the words of King David. These are to be my words every day. Our attitude when listening to preaching needs to be purposeful and active. A sermon is a time for the Holy Spirit of God to move upon us, but we will not notice it if we are not searching for those answers, clarity, inspirations, or exhortations. What things are you actively doing during church to make the most out of it? If all we are doing during church is trying to stay awake, then that may be all that happens! Instead, you can write down phrases that stick out, phrases that you want to meditate on or pray about later. Write down questions, topics that you may want to study into later, or verses of scripture that you think would be good for memorization. Make lists of proof texts as we come across them during the service that may come in useful later on topics such as: the deity of Christ, assurance of salvation, baptism, free will, and others. Instead of passively sifting and waiting for a nugget of truth to fall into your lap, try purposefully searching, and the Holy Spirit will deliver!
Self-focused but not Self-obsessed
Let me explain, we all know what it is like to sit in a service and think to yourself, "I hope ______________ is listening. They need this more than I do!" Likewise, every preacher know what it's like to put something in our notes thinking "I hope this person or that person doesn't think I put this in there directed at them." Sadly, much of this distrust is a result of unforgiven sin, bitterness, and pride. Let's do a mental exercise and pretend that he was directing that comment specifically at me. Is he right? Am I being convicted by the Holy Spirit and my conscience? Is my pride getting in the way of me receiving it? When I am sitting in the pew and listening to the preacher, I have to work hard to keep the focus of his preaching on me. God, what do you have for me? Lord, is this describing me? Is there a sin in me that I am not aware of? Help me to recognize your will in this sermon for me! Lord, please, don't let me leave here unmoved and unchanged! "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." (Psalm 26:2)
Humble not Haughty
"Ok preacher, impress me. Tell me something new. Preach what I want to hear, or else." I am as guilty as anyone else at allowing my first impressions to determine how much I will receive from a speaker. Likewise, I am guilty of allowing my 150th impression to affect how sensitively and sincerely I listen and receive when God's Word is opened. Oh that God would strike down that wicked mentality in me. Pride stands in the way of reconciliation. It blocks the Spirit from moving. Pride insulates the heart from the searing heat and the healing balm of the Word of God. "Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment." (Psalm 73:6) Pride keeps the lost from opening their eyes to their lost condition and their need for a Savior. Pride keeps the Christian from the searching, purging, cleansing, and restoring that comes from genuine contact with the Word of God. Pray for your shepherd. Pray that he will first receive from the Lord that which he needs to deliver to you! Pray for you own heart to be prepared to receive it. Then, come to church humble and hungry!
Quick to Respond, Slow to Deflect
Does God move in your heart when the Word of God is preached? He moves us for a reason; He moves us so that we will respond. "God never moves without purpose or plan, when trying a servant or molding a man." How discouraging it can be as a father to try to prompt your children to right things only for it to be coldly ignored. Really, the same can apply to your pastor. Do you want to know one thing that encourages your pastor while he is preaching? Responsiveness. This also encourages others who are listening as well. How can I be responsive during church? Be involved: turn to the passages, answer the questions, pretend to laugh at his dry humor. Be respectful: try to minimize any distracting noise or movements and look up at him, giving him your full attention. Be engaged: nod your head in agreement, say "amen!" Maybe at some point during the service the Holy Spirit has brought conviction of sin or a call to obedience, respond! Do not do it for anyone else's benefit or satisfaction, but don't wait for another time, respond! Our natural tendency is to deflect the weight of the decision until later or to someone else whom we think needs it more. We will not answer to God for how someone else did or did not respond, but we will answer for our own response to truth and conviction.
When you head into your home church this weekend, consider writing down these four attitudes on your sermon notebook and practice them. To sum it all up, be a purposeful listener when your pastor opens his Bible, and see the new life that the Spirit will breath into the preaching for your heart! Everyone has an opinion on what the characteristics of great preaching are, but what would you say are the characteristics of a great listener? What do you think? Did I forget something? Add it in the comments!
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