How To Listen To A Sermon

I have stood before congregations large and small along with Sunday School and Discipleship Training classes to proclaim God’s Word on the average of 3 times a week for about 25 years. Figuring in vacations and guest speakers along with the times I filled the pulpit in churches where I was not the pastor, I calculate that I have done this about 3,900 times. I have seen just about every reaction possible ranging from complete apathy to intense conviction that resulted in some people storming out of the church and some storming into the arms of God. How is it that many of these different reactions take place with the same group of people sitting through the same message? I think it is because some people know how to listen to a sermon while others do not. So I thought I would share my opinion on how to properly listen to a sermon.

It is as simple as this; ask the right question. For example, the wrong question is, “Which one of these heathens sitting around me is the pastor talking to?” Out of those 3,900 opportunities to proclaim God’s Word, I cannot begin to tell you how many times someone has said to me, “I sure wish so-and-so were here to hear this. They sure needed it.” I am fully convinced that God knows who the audience will be for every sermon preached, so let God be God and let us ask the right questions. Another wrong question is, “What is that preacher trying to say to me?” I’m sure I’ve heard someone else say what I am about to share with you because I am not that profound, but the other day, this thought came into my mind and I cannot get it out: “To believe that a godly pastor would target individuals with a certain message is either the height of arrogance or the depth of conviction.” To believe that a pastor has the time or energy to search out Scripture and put together a sermon that targets you demonstrates a level of conceit that is almost mind-boggling. However, I know there are times when individuals hear a message that pierces their hearts and souls to the point they know that they are the target – and that, my friends, is the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. So the right question that must come from an humble and honest heart is simply this: “What is God saying to me today through this sermon?” If you will ask this question, God will answer it every time, for His promise says, “Seek me and you will find me if you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).