[Faith-talk] How to Conduct Yourself During Preaching

Fri Aug 28 16:51:38 UTC 2009

Hi all,

I just read this, and think it worth passing on. 
May you be blessed and encouraged.

Blessings,

Linda

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Fundamental Baptist Information Service
August 27, 2009
HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF DURING PREACHING

Updated August 27, 2009 (first published June 26, 
2002) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist 
Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, 
MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns at wayoflife.org; for 
instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing 
or changing addresses, see the information 
paragraph at the end of the article) –

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how 
thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of 
God, which is the church of the living God, the 
pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

1. SIT RESPECTFULLY AND ALERTLY

Examples of what not to do: leaning on your 
elbows with your head down and chewing gum. Such 
things send signals that you are not interested 
in what the preacher is saying. Remember that 
others are watching you. Your attitude and very 
bodily posture affects the preacher, those 
sitting around you, and the entire atmosphere of the service

2. DON’T DISTRACT OTHERS

Examples of things that distract others are 
talking and writing notes back and forth between 
persons, making noise (i.e., cracking your 
fingers), playing with babies, and children 
looking at the people behind them. Parents need 
to be aware of what their children are doing and 
make certain that they are not distracting someone.

Another example is leaving the service to go to 
the restroom. Parents should make sure that their 
children don’t develop this distracting habit. It 
is extremely dishonoring to the Word of God that 
is being preached. There is plenty of time to go 
to the bathroom before and after the services. Of 
course, if an individual has a medical or health 
problem that requires him or her to leave the 
service, that is a different matter altogether. 
Such a person can sit in the back and slip out quietly.

3. LISTEN WELL

LISTEN WITH COMPASSION TOWARD THE PREACHER. God 
uses all kinds of men and not all are powerful, 
fascinating speakers. It appears that Paul wasn’t 
(2 Cor. 10:10). Jonathan Edwards preached one of 
the most famous of sermons, “Sinners in the Hands 
of an Angry God,” but Edwards was not a great 
speaker. In fact, he simply read the sermon. The 
preacher who was instrumental in the conversion 
of Charles Spurgeon was not a mighty speaker. 
Spurgeon described him as a very simple, 
uninteresting speaker, yet how greatly God used 
him! Remember that God can use weak men. An 
example is Solomon. He had tremendous problems, 
but God used him to write three important books 
of the Bible, including the book of Proverbs, 
which is the book of wisdom. Our eyes must be 
upon God and not upon the preacher. Listen to the 
preacher as you would want people to listen to you. Avoid a critical attitude.

LISTEN PRAYERFULLY. Nothing significant is 
accomplished apart from prayer (Rom. 12:12; Eph. 
6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17). Pray for 
yourself. Pray for the preacher. Pray for others who are in attendance.

LISTEN ATTENTIVELY. Listen as if Jesus Christ 
were speaking. 1 Peter 4:11 says the speaker is 
to be the very oracle of God, meaning His 
mouthpiece. If you listen carefully and seek 
something from the Lord, you can be edified even 
from a seemingly boring message. Don’t let your 
mind wander to other things. Don’t do something 
else when you should be listening to the 
preaching. I have seen people read novels in 
church! More often they read the hymnal or pass 
notes or other such things. You won’t get 
anything from the preaching if you don’t listen attentively.

LISTEN WITH AN OPEN, SUBMISSIVE HEART. God’s 
invitation is extended throughout the message and 
not merely at the end. Let God speak to you, 
reprove, rebuke, and exhort you. Don’t think that 
the preaching is for someone else. Don’t make 
excuses for your sins and faults.

LISTEN WITH FAITH (Heb. 4:1-2). The Word of God 
is ineffective unless it is “mixed with faith.” 
Some listen to preaching as a form of 
entertainment. They enjoy it but they don’t 
believe it enough to change how they live. This 
was how the Jews were listening to the prophet 
Ezekiel: “And they come unto thee as the people 
cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, 
and they hear thy words, but they will not do 
them: for with their mouth they shew much love, 
but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song 
of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play 
well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, 
but they do them not” (Ezek. 33:31-32).

LISTEN DISCERNINGLY. The Bible warns that we must 
not put our trust in man (Jer. 17:5). We must 
carefully test all preaching by the Word of God 
(Acts 17:11; 1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:21).

LISTEN STUDIOUSLY (2 Tim. 2:15). Have paper and 
pen ready so that you can capture something from 
the message. Write things in your Bible 
(important things, such as cross references, 
definitions, important thoughts). By the way, you 
should have your own Bible rather than merely 
looking on with someone else. Take notes of the 
important points. Write down things to study 
later, things to check later, and things to share 
with others. This will help you remember what is preached.

4. TREAT THE INVITATION SERIOUSLY

Respond to the invitation as Lord leads, and pray 
for others. Be careful not to distract others 
during the invitation. Be conscious of their needs.

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