LISTENING TO SERMONS

Chuck Lawless posted on his blog some challenging reasons some folk don’t listen to preaching or teaching in church (Jan.8,2024). They include 1. Distraction: something else was going on in their head – like worries, concerns, exciting plans etc. 2. Fatigue: being tired, worn out by their schedules. 3.Sin: they don’t really want to hear advice or learn more about the Bible. 4. Boredom: it is hard to be attentive when the preacher is dull, unimaginative, or wants to tell you one more story about his family. 5. Wounds: past events that have caused problems in your relationships. 6. Ego: they think they know more than the preacher and end up critiquing and correcting the sermon. 7. Disbelief: they don’t believe anymore. 8. Spiritual warfare: you are being attacked by the devil. (ChuckLawless.com)

I would add, 9. Irrelevance: the message has no relation to the times, issues of the day or the needs of the congregation. 10. Lack of Application: the sermon may be so heavenly minded it is of no earthly use. It can be good exegesis of the biblical text without practical application to the lives of the congregation. Chuck Lawless thinks that application is the weakest component of most expository preaching today.

In my book JOHN STOTT: A SUMMARY OF HIS TEACHING, I quote what he wrote about preaching:

“You must root your preaching in reality, remembering that the people before you have problems – doubts, fears and anxieties gnawing at their faith. Your problem and mine is to get behind the conventional fronts that sit row upon row in the pews.” (Peter Marshall) Too much of our preaching is academic and theoretical; we need to bring it down into the practical realities of everyday life. It is not enough to give an accurate exposition of some passage of the Word of God if we do not relate it to the actual needs of men. This is the fascination of preaching – applying God’s Word to man’s need. The preacher should be as familiar with man in his world as he is with God. (p.71)

As I listen to the preacher I ask myself: how is this relevant to my life? How can this challenge me, encourage me, comfort me, give me hope, counter despair, guide me, give me more wisdom? I desperately need divine help which I look to the Scripture to give me. It causes me to pray for the preacher.