Jump Start # 4199

Matthew 13:16 “Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”

Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

Sermon Listening

Good communication is tricky business. The one who speaks, must speak well. The one who listens, must listen well. Both are hard work. Both have many factors that they have to overcome. Listening to a sermon is just as important as the preaching of a sermon. In the parable of the sower, Jesus emphasized the importance of listening. The Lord said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Lk 8:8). Researches report that audiences only hear about 28% of a ten-minute talk. The best sermon will be wasted unless there is an open heart to receive and apply the message.

What can be done to improve “listening?”

1. Don’t assume the subject is dull. When the preacher announces what he is going to preach on, avoid the habit of thinking, “I’ve heard that before.” A listening ear will hear new insights, new illustrations and a renewal of what the Bible teaches. The preacher Timothy was told to “Remind them of these things” (2 Tim. 2:14).

2. Don’t criticize the speaker before you have heard him out. No one is perfect. Some preachers are new and they show it. Some are old and they show it. Preachers get tongue tied. Sometimes they say one verse and read a different one. Some talk fast. Other talk slow. You waste precious time when all you hear are mistakes. Focus on the message that is being delivered. Remember the message is perfect, even though the messenger is not.

3. Don’t close your mind to a subject. Some lessons are charged with energy and passion. Listen carefully to all that the preacher has to say. You may disagree with what he is saying. Be careful! Don’t start debating him in your mind and defending your case before he has said all he has to say. You may change your mind about some things as you see the truth revealed. Does the Scriptures teach what the preacher is saying? Take careful notes. Go home and study first. Pray for an open heart. Then, and only, then, make up your mind.

The Five Sermons in Every Sermon

Œ The sermon the preacher wants to preach (the idea stage)

 The sermon the preacher studies to preach (the development stage)

Ž The sermon the preacher actually preaches (the delivery stage)

 The sermon the audience heard   preached (the listening stage)

 The sermon the audience wished the preacher had preached (the need stage)

And on a rare and good day, all five are the same!

Roger

March, 2015