Personalize Your Listening and Learning
Every sermon preached, and every bible class taught, should penetrate the heart and soul of the speaker just as effectively as the speaker wishes it to affect every hearer! If it doesn’t help the instructor, how can he expect the lesson to help the hearers? That places an increased responsibility on every teacher to carefully prepare and present those lessons with extreme preparation, review, practice, and diligence. Most importantly, every preacher/teacher should take time to pray before facing his audience, asking God’s help with remembrance of things prepared, boldness to speak them, and love for the souls of those who hear!
There is a divine rule for this process. By inspiration, James wrote, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19) Paul, by inspiration, instructed Timothy, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2) To Colossae Paul wrote, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6) Plainly, it is a matter of WHAT you say, and HOW YOU SAY IT, that is required in preaching/teaching. The reason is found in the response of those who heard Christ Jesus: “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29) “And the common people heard him gladly.” (Mark 12:37)
Yet, there is a responsibility upon the hearer as well! (Luke 8:18) Sixteen passages within the New Testament command us, “Let him hear.” It isn’t just “listening,” but includes the process of LEARNING, so we BELIEVE (Romans 10:17) and are persuaded to OBEY the commandments of our Lord (Matthew 7:24; Luke 6:47; James 1:25; et al). One wonders just how well some LISTEN when the actions of the hearers show they didn’t make application to themselves!
“Put yourself in the story” is an effective way to remember what you read, heard, and need to learn. When hearers personalize what they hear, their learning increases. They are moved to see themselves, and in this examination, if they are honest with themselves, they allow the teaching to penetrate their heart (mind) and face the facts presented. This was the case at Acts 2:37. Granted, sometimes hearers are offended when confronted with truth, and their reaction shows they believed the message “too personal” for their liking. Rather than appreciate the correction, they rebelled against it, as was the case with the hearers of Stephen (Acts 7:54). It did not change the truth Stephen spoke! He didn’t change his presentation to “tickle their ears.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
While preachers/teachers seek to find out acceptable words (Ecclesiastes 12:10), hearers need to do the same! No, “cherry picking” lessons is not what we mean by this statement. Rather, we mean we need to listen carefully and diligently, making the needed changes in our lives to become more pleasing to God the Father! We need to accept God’s word as His word, personally written to each of us, because He loves us, and is not willing that we perish! (2 Peter 3:9) Don’t “daydream” through bible studies. Don’t “nap” through the sermons. PERSONALIZE your listening and learning, making your soul better for His service!