Listeners to sermons far outnumber preachers. Every Sunday and on special occasions, the person in the pew listens to one or two sermons. That’s more than 100 sermons per year. Although they hear the proclamation of God’s Word, it doesn’t necessarily sink in all the way. The preaching doesn’t necessarily benefit the hearer the way it should.

That’s because we are poor listeners. The assumption is made that listening comes naturally to us. It is not something that we need to learn. And therefore there are no courses specifically designed to teach people how to listen to the preaching. The Bible, however, tells us how important it is to listen.

The preacher says in Ecclesiastes 5:1, Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen...

And the Lord Jesus said in Luke 8:18, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen.”

In reality listening is more difficult than speaking. That is why James says, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). The biblical religion is the religion of the Word. For that reason hearing is emphasized. In Isaiah 1:2, the prophet says, “Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken.” Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord makes the accusation against his rebellious covenant people that they are not listening to Him.

He says in Jeremiah 7:13, While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.

In the New Testament, the importance of listening is emphasized as well. Paul says in Galatians 4:21, “Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?” (ESV)

Preparation⤒🔗

In order to be a good listener you have to be properly prepared. If we live during the week as if God does not exist, as if we do not need Him, then the preaching will have little or no effect. For the Word to be planted in fertile soil there must be a sincere desire to serve the Lord every day of the week. David writes in Psalm 139:23, 24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; see if there is any offensive way in me.” David wants to live close to the Lord and therefore he wants to know about any obstacles that are in the way that would prevent that.

A life of self-examination leads to the knowledge of your sins and creates a desire to hear the message of salvation. When you live close to the Lord then you are eager to hear his Word.

Preparation must, therefore, be done carefully. Knowing that many people pray for me during the week as I prepare the message is of great comfort to me. But, you do not just pray for the minister. You should also pray for yourself, that the Lord will cultivate your heart so that you will hear Him. Listening with your heart is difficult, because our hearts are messed up. And so, you must ask the Lord to prepare your heart to want what He wants, to love the things that He loves, and to care for the things He cares for.

In the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-20) the Lord Jesus compares the heart to the soil of the earth. In order for a plant to take root and to grow the soil has to be properly prepared. In that parable, the Lord refers to four different kinds of hearts.

Four Kinds of Hearts←⤒🔗

• In the first place Jesus Christ speaks about hard hearts. That refers to those people who are bitter and angry because of all kinds of things. Their anger or resentment could be directed at the minister for some reason, or at other people such as family members, brothers and sisters in the Lord, or co-workers. It could also be that their hearts are hardened because of unrepentant sins. Because of such a sinful attitude they are unable to hear the message. They don’t listen for themselves, thinking only about how others should apply the message. But you do not get anything out of the preaching if you don’t apply God’s Word to yourself in the first place.

• Secondly the Lord Jesus refers to those whose hearts are shallow. They are looking for immediate satisfaction in life and have no patience when adversity comes their way. They want what they want now. They seek immediate solutions and when they do not get it they shut their hearts to the Lord. The eternal truths of God’s Word do not move them.

• In the third place there are those whose hearts are thorny. Such people are busy in their minds with all kinds of worldly things and are full of anxiety. Consequently they have difficulty concentrating on the message. During the preaching they have their minds on the vicissitudes of daily life, choking out the message being preached.

• In the fourth place the Lord Jesus refers to those with good and responsive hearts. That refers to those people who are hungry for God’s Word and who expect the Lord God to guide their lives. Week in, week out they come to be strengthened in their faith and to be encouraged. For they know that only the Lord can rescue them in the midst of the turmoil and uncertainty and sinfulness they experience within themselves and all around them. They look forward to be fed with the good nourishment that only God’s Word can give.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

Listening to the preaching every week does not do you any good unless you also apply it in your life. It is not enough to faithfully show up for every worship service and then not to put God’s Word into practice.

James says, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.James 1:22-24

When you listen to the preaching carefully, then it is like a mirror being held up in front of you. For God’s Word reveals who you truly are: a sinner in need of redemption. It exposes your sins and holds out God’s promises. Through the Word of God you are washed. As the Lord Jesus says in John 15:3, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

Such cleansing through God’s Word can only occur if you allow his Word to penetrate your heart. Every time you hear the proclamation of God’s Word your life is changed; it is renewed. You once again have been given the courage and the zeal to live your life to God’s glory. And ultimately that is the aim of being a careful listener to God’s Word, so that you can give glory to God’s Name.