Learning to listen

After the Message

Introduction

Having looked at how to listen before the message, and how to listen during the message, we are now going to look at how to listen after the message. To do this, we need to first…

Review the message

From preview to review

To benefit from a movie, a sporting event, or a concert, there is usually a preview, a view, and a review. To benefit from sermons, we should do the same. Acts 17:11 says, “The Berean church received the message with great eagerness and examined or scrutinised the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” If they did this with the apostle’s teaching, how much more should we do it today?

Devouring the word

Having listened carefully to the message and discerned its purpose, we should review the message by looking over it, and asking what it means for us today. Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “Pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words… keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” It is like eating food. Having prepared the food, we put it into our mouths, chew it, and then swallow it. The food is then digested until it becomes part of who we are. The same should happen when we listen to God’s word. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “When your words came, I ate them, and they became my joy and my heart’s delight.” The word ate is devour, and we should devour God’s word in the same way that we devour food.

Retaining the word

Experts in communication tell us that we retain about 5% of what we hear. This 5% is soon lost, however, if we do not respond to what we hear. In other words, if we don’t use it; we lose it. We live in a busy world with many distractions, and we need to review what we hear. We need to review, continue to review, and keep on reviewing. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” This is how to review the message, and it leads to a further step in listening after the message. We need to…

Reflect on the message

Taking in the word

Listening to a message is like driving from Harpenden to Redbourn by car. This takes about five minutes and we take in some of the surroundings. Reviewing the message is to travel the same distance on a bicycle. Now we take in more. Reflecting on the message is like walking. We cover the same distance, but we absorb much more. Psalm 1 says, “Blessed people meditate in God’s word day and night.”

Blessed are those who meditate

For a message to have a positive effect, we need to reflect deeply on its content, and allow the Holy Spirit to apply it further. This can be a very profound moment for us all. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 says, “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” Verse 12 goes on to say that we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may understand what God has freely given us. According to Psalm 1, this comes as we meditate on God’s word day and night. The Psalm goes on to say that when we do this, we will be like trees firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever we do prospers.

Making the message our own

2 Peter 1:12-13 says, “I will always remind you of these things—even though you already know them… I will keep on reminding you as long as I live.” The ESV says, “I will stir you up by way of reminder.” It is like stirring orange juice that has been standing for a while.

We can reflect on God’s word by…

Experts in communication tell us that we retain 5% of what we hear, 15% of what we see, 30% of what we hear and see, and a staggering 70% of what we hear, see, and talk about! Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “These words I give you today are to be upon your hearts. We should then talk about them when we sit at home, when we walk along the road, when we lie down, and when we rise.” This leads to a further point. Having reviewed the message and reflected on the message, we need to…

Reinforce the message

More statistics

Experts in communication tell us we retain 5% of what we hear, 15% of what we see, 30% of what we hear and see, 70% of what we hear, see, and talk about, but up to 90% of what we hear, see, talk about, and act upon. The most important principle in listening to sermons, therefore, is not what we hear or how we hear. The most important principle in listening to sermons is how we apply what we hear.

The truth will set us free

The main purpose of education is not to cram knowledge into people’s heads, but to draw out the best in people. In John 8:31 Jesus said to his followers, “If you remain in my teaching, you are really my disciples.” He then said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 2 Timothy 3:16 in the NLT says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and teaches us what is true. It makes us realise what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.” We listen to God’s word, therefore, not just to get saved or to go to heaven, but to learn how to live. This is why Jesus came. He came so that we might have life in all its fullness. If we don’t allow this to happen, it is like spitting out food before we swallow it. It may taste good, but it is of no benefit. Growing in the word.

In Philippians 4:9 Paul said, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” According to this passage, effective teaching takes place when we listen, when we think, when we talk, and when we act. In other words, we learn by trying, by succeeding, by failing, and by trying again. But we don’t learn by giving up. Hebrews 2:1 says, “We should listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away.”

Bernard Cartledge