Reconciled: Responsibility of the Listener in Preaching

esponsibilities of the Listener in PreachinI have profitted greatly from reading Michael Fabarez's Preaching That Changes Lives this summer as part of the requirements for my Homiletics 2 class. I have been struck with an increased sense of responsibility as a listener from the reading of this book, so I figured I'd share. :) Blessings to you!

Responsibilities Before The Word is Preached

How do you prepare for church?
Do you pray for your encounter with the sermon?
Do you pray for your pastor in his preparation during the week?
Have you taken the time to study the next part of the passage which you know will be preached this week?
Do you rise early enough to eat a good breakfast so that your stomach doesn’t distract you during the sermon?

Focus on Preparation

We are taught in seminary that men should not preach without preparation. That is true. But, men ought not hear without preparation either. Which do you think needs more preparation, the sower or the ground?

Study The Parable of the Soils – Luke 8:4-15

Why is coming to church, especially to preaching, so important? Because it is where the seed of the Word is sown in your hearts!

Pray for Something Significant

We should pray for and trust God for a significant encounter with Him through His preached Word every time we come to hear it. Very often our minds and hearts are not in line with God’s. Therefore we should spend more time with God in prayer, asking for His expectations to become ours. If you come into church not knowing what you want, you will probably get what you deserve. There ought to be a sense of anticipation in your heart as you come to church to hear God’s Word preached! You have not because you ask not! Ask and expect God to minister His Word to you!

Pray for the Preacher

If you are looking for a rich sermon from pastor Shawn, you ought to supply him with the needed material. You should realize that your prayers are the means which God uses to make him more of a blessing. You should pray for his preparation to preach to you. You should pray for God to urge him to pray. You should pray realizing that the means God most commonly uses to minister great revival in your life is preaching. Pray fervently for Shawn.

Schedule Around Church

Church should be given a very high priority in your schedule. Paul describes it as “God’s household, the church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Scripture requires that we “forsake not the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25), so you should plan your weekends around the gathering of “God’s household”. Be punctual. Sunday morning is the most important time of the week. Wake up earlier and plan a real breakfast. Getting ready for church is so much more important than getting ready for work or class any other day of the week. This should impact your Saturday evening plans.