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HEARING THE WORD PREACHEDThe preaching and exposition of Scripture is the God-ordained means
—for spreading the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21)
—for instructing His people (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1:11).To hear the Word preached is not enough (Hebrews 4:2).
If it is to profit you
—you must listen (Mark 4:24)
—you must obey (Luke 8:21; Psalm 119:9).How can you get the most out of a sermon?
—Follow the preaching with an open Bible (Acts 8:27-35)
—Listen to a man who expounds the Bible (Nehemiah 8:8)
—Have a due reverence for the Word (Nehemiah 8:5)
—Listen attentively (Nehemiah 8:3)
—Let the Word deal with you (Nehemiah 8:9)
—Do not be too occupied with your watch (Nehemiah 8:3)
—If you do not understand, ask afterwards (Acts 8:34).Pray for those who preach the Word (Ephesians 6:19).
Pray that they may have the Holy Spirit's power and authority (1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 2:4).
Pray for the success of the Word (Acts 4:29,30).'I warn then everyone who loves his soul to be jealous as to the preaching he regularly hears and the place of worship he regularly attends. He who deliberately settles down under a ministry which is unsound is a very unwise man. If false doctrine is preached in a church a man who loves his soul is not right in going to that church.' J.C. Ryle
'The most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching: and as it is the greatest and most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also.' D.M. Lloyd-Jones