Out of respect, I’ll not name him.  But when I was a kid growing up in church, one of the men in our church fell asleep during the sermon almost every Sunday. He was so obvious because he sat in the back row of the choir, the highest point in the church.  He fell asleep with his head tilted all the way back and mouth wide open.

Now that I am a pastor and preach every Sunday, I know how our pastor felt about sleepers.  I take preaching very seriously, though I try to have fun with it. I want my sermon to be moving, educational, inspirational, motivational, challenging, encouraging, and yes, to some degree even entertaining. I understand my preaching style is not everyone’s cup of tea, and I am OK with that. That doesn’t stop me from working towards the goal of being the best that God wants me to be.

As preachers, we bear the responsibility to prepare and deliver sermons prayerfully under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We are SO dependent on HIM for everything that we do. The moment we begin to believe that we have anything of ourselves that makes us good preachers, we are DOOMED.

However, listeners also have a responsibility. I have heard too many people say (about my preaching as well as others’), “I just don’t get anything out of it.” Granted, we preachers are apt to have a “bad day” from time to time, and some who stand to preach do so consistently unprepared and under-prayed. Yet often the fault of a boring sermon may fall upon a listener who is not prepared to hear what God is saying.

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How Can I Prepare to Hear a Sermon?

So, how can we prepare to HEAR a sermon? The following verse shows us 4 steps we can take to prepare ourselves before we come to church to hear what a teacher or preacher has to say.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. – James 1:19-22

Quiet your mind.

I had just finished “preaching my guts out” in a revival service at a friend’s church.  A few had come to the altar during the response time, and many had heard God speak to them.  My friend and I stood at the door during the closing prayer waiting to greet the attenders as they left.  One of the church’s deacons joined us.  Immediately following the final amen of the closing prayer, the deacon began a tirade about the thermostat and room temperature. The deacon was quick to speak and vent and therefore was slow to hear what God said during the service.

Begin today asking God to quiet your mind so you can hear Him on Sunday.  Rather than rationalizing and arguing with what the preacher says, listen for what God is saying to you through him.

Clean up your heart.

James challenges us to “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.” Sin prevents us from hearing God clearly. Sin is to our spiritual ears what static is to our physical ears. Sin creates a noise that drowns out God’s still, small voice.  Spend time this weekend examining your heart.  I challenge you to pray Psalm 139:23-24 each Saturday night before you go to bed.  It may change your Sunday experience.

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Open your spirit.

James refers to implanting the word of God meekly into our lives.  A meek man is not a week man.  A meek spirit recognizes he has a lot to learn and is eager to learn it.  Meekness causes us to desire to get better every day.  When we are meek, we do not soon forget what we heard from God.  Instead, when we are meek we let God’s Word sink deeply into our heart and become firmly implanted.

Before you come to church in Sunday, ask God to give you a sticky heart so that His message adheres.

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Engage your will.

All to often we wait until we hear what God will say before we decide if we will obey.  We are much more attentive when we are listening for a specific word we have already decided we will obey.  James encourages us to be doers rather than mere hearers.  It is a good thing to hear God’s Word.  It is even better to obey God’s Word.

Whatever God tells you to do will be the best thing you can do.  Do not wait until you hear what God says to decides what you will do.  Come listening for God’s instructions, fully persuaded you will do whatever He tells you.

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Sometimes the sermon is just boring, and it’s the preacher’s fault.  Some of the time, however, the problem is the hearer.  May we all prepare the seed bed of our heart to hear whatever God wants to say to us.  His is THE message WAY TOO IMPORTANT TO MISS.

Wherever you attend church this Sunday, I hope you will prepare yourself beforehand to hear from God.