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How To Rightly Listen to Preaching

Writer's picture: Dr. Ray E. Heiple, Jr.Dr. Ray E. Heiple, Jr.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

This morning we look at Question 160 of the Larger Catechism, which asks, “What is

required of those that hear the word preached?” It gives the answer, “It is required of

those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation,

and prayer; examine what they hear by the scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love,

meekness, and readiness of mind, as the word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in

their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives.” Last time we saw the goal at which

minsters must aim as they preach God’s Word. Today we consider our duty to rightly hear

the preached Word.

Ordinarily we think of listening as a passive endeavor. However, for our Puritan forefathers,

even quietly listening was seen in the light of our active responsibilities. Every time we sit

and listen to a sermon the following active duties are incumbent upon us: First, we must

attend upon the word with diligence, preparation, and prayer. If I believe I am about to

hear a word that God at that moment is bringing to me for His glory and my good, I will

surely listen to it diligently, which is to say attentively. I will earnestly and actively apply my

intellect to what I am hearing and desire to focus on it and understand it, and I will have

previously prepared myself to hear it. As much as is possible, all should come to worship

well rested, with our affairs in order so that nothing will distract from the all-important

duty and privilege to listen to God’s Word. Moreover as sinners we know that our hearts

our naturally hard and closed to God’s Word, therefore we should ask Him to graciously

allow us to understand, believe, and do what His Word says.

Likewise, since the preachers are not infallible prophets, we are always responsible to be

like the Bereans and test what we hear according to the rest of Scripture. Has the

preacher accurately handled God’s Word of truth? If it sounds controversial or new to me,

can I confirm it with another part of the Word of God? Can I find the same doctrine in

other faithful preachers down through the ages? If I see the message is true to God’s

Word, I must believe it, study it, and meekly allow it to judge & shape me. I should do what

I can to immediately put it into practice in my life. If it reveals a sin I am committing, I

must confess it to God and seek to turn from it in my life. If it holds forth to me a promise

from God, I should thank God for it and ask him for help in believing it, hoping in it, and

doing whatever I can legitimately do to live in the light of it. If it provides instruction in

godliness receive and internalize it. If it gives a warning or rebuke I should fear before it

and be more steadfast because of it.

Meditating on the Word of God is a powerful way to practically and deliberately grow in

thinking God’s thoughts after Him. Take one verse of Scripture and think about it as you

are driving, cleaning, or cutting the grass. Say it over and over again in your mind,

stressing each word in turn, considering what that particular word reveals to you about

what you should believe concerning God and what God requires of you. To “confer of it” in

Old English meant to examine by comparison. Here is where I apply each word and verse

to my life, as I judge myself and my ways by the Word of God. Hiding God’s Word in my

heart is the practice of memorization, which goes right along with meditation. When a

text of Scripture is preached on in such a way that it powerfully impacts us, we should take

that passage or verse and memorize it. Do not allow the Word that reaches you to return

void. Strike while the iron is hot! Use those moments when God stirs your heart to commit

His Word to memory: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against

You” (Psa. 119:11).

Finally we note the ultimate outcome of our rightly listening to God’s Word: that it would

(by the Holy Spirit) bring forth fruit in us. Here we are talking about the fruit of obedience,

which is good works. God has saved us for the purpose of righteousness, and His Word is

the means by which we are sanctified so that we do good works. Take some time today to

consider your duty in rightly hearing the Word of God preached, and ask God to give you

the grace to do it.

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