The Listener’s Guide to Preaching (3): Engaged Listening
or, the Art of Hearing
An engaged listener is as vital as the preacher in the act of preaching. How vital? They're an "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it" vital. Without a listening ear, even the most heartfelt preaching falls on barren ground. But is it engaged hearing? The Apostle calls it "mixing faith with hearing” in Hebrews 4.
Engaged Listening: The Hallmarks
1. Reverence for God’s Word:
The listener must approach the preached Word with the same reverence he would give to the Bible in private study. Preaching is a means of grace, where the pulpit delivers the living Word of God, and the heart receives the living Word. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Ps. 19:7)
2. Active Engagement:
Passive hearing is far from genuine listening. An engaged listener pricks his own mind; he ponders, analyses, and seeks to understand. He uses his discernment, drawing from Scripture itself and the teachings of our forefathers. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
3. Open Heart:
One must approach the sermon with a heart ready for transformation. "Speak LORD, for thy servant heareth" is ready in the heart. Some want the Word to "happen" to them in the preaching, but the Scriptures say we are to seek Truth like hidden treasure, leaning in, as it were, with our hearts. Being vulnerably open to the conviction, comfort, and challenges of the message is vital. To own transgressions and admit our sins. As Thomas Watson once said, "Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet."
4. Praying Continuously:
A listener should continually lift little, silent, impromptu prayers, seeking illumination and guidance. "Help Lord" is my personal favorite. But others will come to your mind. There's a story concerning George Gillespie, Scottish Commissioner to the Westminster Assembly. It is said that during one particular critical session, as they paused for a break, someone passed by Grorge's desk. Scrawled all over his paper were the words, "More light. More light." One’s heart should yearn for more light, personal application, asking God to “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Ps. 119:18)
5. Putting it into Action:
The application of a sermon never happens in the pulpit.
Husband: "Wasn't that a wonderful application dear?"
Wife: "We'll see. Let's go home and live it."
True listening doesn’t end when the sermon concludes. It walks out the doors into action, applying what was learned to life. James admonishes, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
Barriers to Engaged Listening and Their Remedies
1. Distractions:
Today, distractions are plentiful. The remedy? Preparation. Let's call it distraction removal. All phones are on "Do Not Disturb." No checking the weather in the pew. No last-minute text. Just as the preacher prepares his sermon, the listener should prepare his heart and mind to hear that sermon. Solace and quietness should be sought before coming to worship and then assembling in silence. Needless chatter and niceties before the service are not a sign of a congregation's warmth but of its chill. "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10. There are six whole days left in the week for as much banter as you would like. This is the Lord’s Day. Let us give it to Him in love.
2. Preconceived Notions:
To listen with prejudiced ears, due to disagreements or past hurts, is a disservice to oneself and God. Someone once said, “If you want to dislike your minister’s preaching, get to know him.”The best of men are men at best. It's paramount to leave these outside the church doors, seeking unity and growth in the body of Christ. Men will disappoint, but beneath and behind his words stands Christ. "And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." 1 Cor. 2:3: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." - 2 Corinthians 4:7
3. Over-Reliance on Feelings:
One’s feelings can be deceitful. One may not always "feel" the sermon's impact immediately. Like the nutrients of a meal, it takes time to impact the body’s metabolism. Regardless, one should trust that the Lord uses His Word powerfully and in His timing. As the Scriptures remind us, the efficacy of the preached Word does not lie in the man who preaches but in the Spirit of God. "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:3-5
The Reward of Engaged Listening
Listening with an engaged heart ensures that the Word of God, the divine manna, doesn’t just touch the tongue but is eaten by the heart. Engaged listening fosters growth, transformation, and a closer walk with Christ. It’s not merely the right kind of preaching but the right kind of hearing that brings about the fruit of salvation. So, cherish your preacher, but also cherish your ears, mind, and heart as an engaged listener. That's what preaching is. It’s a divine conversation. May our Lord continually shape our hearts to be receptive soil for His saving Word.