SABBATH

God's Gift to Us

Sermonette: Hear the Word

#1568s

Given 31-Oct-20; 15 minutes

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description: Even as hard work goes into preparing and delivering sermonettes, commentaries, and sermons, so we must invest as much energy into understanding them, regardless of the idiosyncrasies or speaking skills of those delivering them. The Parable of the Sower and the Seed focuses on the manner in which the recipient of the Word responds, whether apathetically, shallowly, halfheartedly or, on the other hand, gladly and enthusiastically endeavoring to absorb the life-giving counsel. Sadly, preferences as to who is doing the speaking have the potential of choking out precious life-saving truth. The steps God's people take to ensure that they understand the messages should include: 1.) praying for each speaker before services, 2.) looking on the speaker as a conduit Jesus Christ has selected, 3.) determining the specific strategy to listen to each speaker, 4.) spending time discussing the message after services, 5.) listening more than talking, 6.) listening to each message as diligently as the speaker is to prepare it. The principles taught in Malachi 3:16 should inform the way God's people respond to any message: "... [T]hose who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name" [AMPC].