How to listen to a sermon

First Christian Church (DOC)
Dexter, Missouri

Pastor’s Newsletter Column

In addition to some good fellowship at our Wednesday night gatherings at Tio’s we have been asking some great questions about our Christian faith. While discussing the Bible, one of the topics that came up was how to get the most out of a sermon. It was a great question, and afterwards several people wanted to hear more. This is my attempt to answer in a little more detail:

First of all, it is critical to remember that in the Disciples tradition the pastor is not the only preacher. Our elders often preach as well. We operate this way because we believe that good preaching is not a monologue. A good sermon is a dialogue between several parties. The preacher, the Holy Spirit, the text of Scripture, and the congregation all need to fully engage with each other. Sometimes that dialogue is explicit and the members of the congregation are asked to verbally participate in the preaching moment. Often the congregation’s contribution in the dialogue is implicit, but no less important.

If good sermons are a dialogue, all parties need to show up fully prepared. Preachers spend many hours studying, praying and wrestling with a particular text of Scripture. Sermons are most effective when members of the congregation do the same thing. This is why we put the texts for upcoming Sundays in the newsletter. Read ahead on Saturday night. Learn about the context of a passage. Pray for guidance and clarity. Come to the sermon prepared to engage with God’s Word.

Engaging with God’s Word on Sunday morning requires your active participation, beginning with prayer. Lift up the preacher, the congregation, and the needs of our world. Pay attention to the sermon title, the choice of music and the liturgy. Most of the time they were specifically chosen to reinforce the theme of the Scripture passage. Reflect on the illustrations the preacher uses. Relate them to your own life and experiences. Take notes. Expect to encounter the Holy Spirit. Prepare to be taken outside your comfort zone as a result.

Finally, the most overlooked part of preaching is what happens after the sermon is over. Follow up on what you have heard. Read the passage again. Talk about it with your family and friends. Pray for the Spirit to help you apply what you have learned. Don’t just say, “good sermon” on your way out the door. Instead, try something like, “I heard you say…” or “I really appreciated it when you said…” Be specific. Share your reactions, questions and even your disagreements. (Be fair about the timing, however, remember that the greeting period immediately after worship usually does not allow for in depth conversation.) It is often better to make an appointment for lunch later in the week. These follow up conversations mean more to a preacher than hundreds of compliments ever will.

In the end, remember that the good sermon is a dialogue that requires the full preparation, participation and response of everyone involved. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we are brought into a deeper encounter with the living Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. The members of this congregation are already highly committed to this dialogue. It is my prayer that our conversation will grow even deeper in the years ahead.