How To Listen To A Sermon

Pastor Waldrip addresses the crisis of spiritual unresponsiveness in American churches, arguing that it stems from sin in the preacher's life, sin in the hearer's life, or, increasingly, a lack of training in how to listen properly. He contends that modern technology (TV, computers, smartphones) and gentle, undisciplined parenting have trained millions to be passive, inattentive hearers. Pastor Waldrip emphasizes that to benefit from the Word of God—the divinely appointed means of grace and salvation—one must be an active listener. Using the Roman Centurion Cornelius as an example (Acts 10:33), he outlines three essential attitudes required for proper listening: eagerness, appreciation for the preacher's role, and understanding of one's personal accountability to God for the message received. The message urges both believers and the unconverted to cultivate these attitudes to ensure they hear and respond to the Gospel.

瓦尔德里普牧师谈到了现代教会中不回应的危机,他认为许多基督徒和自称信徒的人在“罗马燃

烧时胡闹”。他指出了对于神话语的传讲缺乏回应的三种可能解释:传道人生命中的罪、听众生命

中的罪(特别是未重生的心和隐秘的罪),以及越来越不会正确听道。他将这种现代的聆听缺陷

——他将其归因于缺乏训练、缺乏自律以及技术设备的被动性质——视为获得救恩的关键障碍。

随后,瓦尔德里普牧师劝勉听众,要培养三种必要的态度,以使自己成为积极的聆听者并从所传

讲的道中获益。这三种态度以使徒行传 10:33 中的哥尼流为榜样:热切、珍视和将信息视为来自神

的命令的领悟。