John Armstrong Articles

John Armstrong recently published two great articles on the preaching ministry. The first is entitled "What Ever Happened to Good Sermons" and the second "Preaching and Hearing Good Sermons." In the latter Armstrong provides helpful instruction on listening to good sermons. I provide that excerpt below in case you don't read the articles.

The old saying is true: "You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink." So good preaching can be done but good listening can still fail. The preacher must prepare and experience the force and power of truth. But the hearer must also learn to listen for the Spirit’s prompting and leading. I suggest these actions will help those who listen to preaching:

1. Ask "why" questions, not just "what" questions. As you listen to the text being read listen—do not simply follow words. In fact, I suggest you listen without following in a Bible so that you develop this skill. As the sermon unfolds, ask "why" did Jesus say this, or "why" did Paul urge this action or response? You need to know the meaning of a text in order to see its significance.

2. Plan to respond to whatever it is that God reveals to you in a sermon. Pray often, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening." Take an action step and follow it up when you come to the end of a biblical sermon.

3. Make listening to the sermon an act of worship, not simply a classroom experience. Receive the Word with a spirit of gratitude, for it is God who is speaking to you. Be reminded of God’s grace and his mercy toward you in Jesus Christ. Remove whatever distractions keep you from listening carefully.

4. Prepare before the sermon to listen to what God may say to you. Start your day with prayer to this end and ask God for the Spirit of revelation when you enter into a service of divine worship. Humble yourself and seek God’s glory in your hearing.

I especially appreciate #2 above: "take an action step" (this, of course, assumes the preacher has provided careful steps of action from the text). It is difficult to see most folks chat it up immediately after the close of the public assembly (or before, for that matter). We've been confronted with the mysteries of God. Lost souls hang in the balance and might very well enter eternity before lunch is served. Satan is on a rampage of destruction. Sin is breaking new ground. Yet, we seem unaffected. The only action step is toward the door while superficial pleasantries vanish like vapor.

For those who aren't pastors: prepare to hear a word from God specific to you every Sunday. Then pray often for your pastor, asking the Spirit to make him alive to truth. Though the pastor may be ignorant of your struggles, God is not. And God will provide divine counsel through the preached word. After the sermon let the preacher know about an action step you intend to take. Say to him, "God has taught me through the sermon that I must [insert action step her] in order to love and obey Jesus." That will greatly help him pray for you and help you along in sanctification.