Day 276

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 5.

“…Preaching, and hearing the word of God,…”

Scripture Lookup

2 Timothy 4:2

Luke 8:18

Reflection

Sermons. Sitting and listening to someone talk. To the unenlightened mind, it is one of the most boring parts of a church service. That is why “seeker-sensitive” churches present a “message” with rapid-fire delivery and lots of movement by the preacher. On special occasions, there is no sermon at all, making way for special music, children’s performances, and other exciting events.

Yet preaching, when done correctly, is a strenuous act. It is commanded by the word of God, calling the preacher to “reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 2:4). More than just someone’s opinion on what Scripture has to say, preaching takes a text from the Bible, clarifies it, and points the listener to worship and obey the great God whose word it is. Because Scripture is most necessary to know the truth and to comfort and establish the Church, preaching should never be allowed to take a backseat to anything else in the worship service.

Rather than waiting for a sermon to end, the Christian ought to examine the Scriptures and listen intently. Yes, listening to a sermon takes work on our part as we reflect on what is being preached. Rather than filling tickling ears with what we want to hear, the sound preaching of the Word nourishes our souls with what we need to grow in holiness. Proper handling of the Bible by the preacher is God speaking to us through His word. The preaching of the Word should be central in our churches. Instead of dozing off, we should be eager to hear what He has to say.

Questions to Consider

• With what attitude are you listening to your pastor’s sermons?