How have you grown in your act of hearing the Word of God proclaimed? Doesn’t that question itself seem foreign? Here’s another to put it: how does your intake of the Word of God during a sermon look different than when you first started believing 1, 10, 50 years ago? Don’t be overburdened when your answer is something like it’s about the same, I guess. But at the same time, remain the same no longer!
Have you ever in your life considered growing in how you hear the Word of God proclaimed? If your Christian life—devotional, service, demeanor, fellowship—has stagnated, check your ears and your heart. There is much truth below, and there is much benefit, too. It’s not truth alone, but truth leading to growth! Consider these things, and in boldness, adopt them for your own. Take seriously the faith you have been given, and be blessed today!
CHAPTER 5.B.4.c (Ordinary Parts): HEARING THE WORD
Great care and diligence toward hearing the Word of God must also be given by the people.
It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they…
(Each number below is from the Westminster Larger Catechism, 160)
1. attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; (Ps. 119:18, Prov. 8:34, Luke 8:18, Eph. 6:18-19, 1 Pet. 2:1-2)
Regular and faithful attendance for hearing the Word of God preached is required of all. We are to encourage one another in it and are not to forsake our assembling together (Heb. 10:25). Prayerful preparation should mark our approach to the preaching of the Word, for only as the Lord opens our hearts and minds are we enabled to understand clearly and receive by faith the truth of God’s Word.
2. examine what they hear by the scriptures; (Acts 17:11)
All who hear the Word of God preached should examine what they hear by comparing it with Scripture. One’s own conscience cannot be yielded to another person, and simply to receive the word of any person as the Word of God is to commit idolatry. Great care should be taken to understand what has been preached and to know that it is indeed what God’s Word teaches.
3. receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the word of God; (Acts 17:11, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Thess. 2:10, Heb. 4:2, James 1:21)
When the Word has been faithfully preached, it should be received in faith, love, and meekness. We should bow before its authority as coming from God Himself and we should obey Him promptly and sincerely.
4. meditate, and confer of it; (Deut. 6:6-7; Luke 9:44, 24:14; Heb. 2:1)
One should carefully meditate on the preached Word, that it might be better understood and applied (Ps. 1). Discussing the Word with others, especially with those more mature in the faith, can be of great help to us in coming to a clear understanding of the Word.
5. hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives. (Prov. 2:1, Ps. 119:11, Luke 8:15, James 1:25)
The Word which has been preached should not be forgotten, but hidden in the heart (Ps, 119:11). It is the Word implanted which is able to save our souls (James 1:21). All care should be taken that the Word which has been heard will prove to be fruitful to the honor and glory of God (Luke 8:4-15).