5 Tips for Listening to Sermons

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Sometimes people complain that they didn’t get much out of a sermon. Often (maybe even most of the time) this is the fault of the preacher, but sometimes this can be the fault of the listener. There are certain steps you can take to prepare yourself to get the most out of a sermon on any given Sunday at any given church. Here are some tips:

1. Bring your Bible

If you are listening to an explanation of a Bible passage, but don’t have it open before your eyes, it can feel a little like listening in on someone else’s conversation — it’s hard to track with all that is being said. Make a note to bring your Bible to church, and have it open before you during the sermon. Not only will it aid in your listening, it will help you find your way around your Bible.

2. Take notes

Some people take notes on sermons and even review those notes the following week. But even if you never look at your notes again after that particular Sunday, it’s still a valuable exercise to take notes during a sermon because it forces you to listen for main points, Scriptural references, and specific applications. So don’t just bring your Bible — bring a pen and notepad also.

3. Consider that preaching is not entertainment

Because we live in such an entertainment-dominated culture, people can sometimes assume that the preacher’s job is to amuse, and so they fall into a passive stance, waiting for their ears to be tickled. In Nehemiah 8, the book of the law was found and read aloud before the people, and v. 3 tells us that “the people were attentive to the book of the law.” A preacher should do everything he can to avoid being boring, but fruitful listening requires active concentration.

4. Get enough sleep

The sleep I speak of here is not to be gained during the sermon, but before. Generally people will go to bed at a reasonable hour when they have to work the next day, because they want to be alert and engaged on the job. The same applies to Sunday morning worship. On the occasions when you are sleepy, and you just can’t avoid it, consider getting out of your seat and standing in the back of the sanctuary. It’s very hard to fall asleep while standing up!

5. Ask God to bless the preaching you hear

How often do you pray before a service and ask God to bless the sermon to the edification of your soul? Preachers pray that they will preach well; listeners should pray that they listen well. You can make this simple and just pray Ps. 119:18 —

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things (in your Word).”

7 Favorite Preachers

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Thankfully, there are more opportunities today to hear good preaching than ever before, as one can hear multiple sermons from high-profile preachers on the Web. Below is a list of seven preachers that I consider to be highly skilled and Gospel-centered, and from whom I personally receive much spiritual edification and inspiration. Click the links and you will be directed to a list of sermons you can hear on-line:

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian (PCA) in
New York City

No surprise here. Keller has gained a measure of fame for his unique ability to make the Gospel plausible to skeptical, postmodern twenty-somethings in New York City. Some would call Keller soft, but even the most strident traditionalist has to admire how Gospel-centered his sermons always are.

John Piper, former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis

Piper can get pretty deep in the weeds exegetically, but he can make just about any Biblical text seem like the most glorious and inspiring passage in all of Scripture. New believers might find Piper too erudite, but preachers in particular tend to look to Piper as a kind of mentor and example.

Zach Eswine, pastor of Riverside Church (EPC) in St. Louis

Eswine, a former Ball State student and later a published author and professor at Covenant Seminary, has the rare gift of being able to speak directly to the fragile human heart. He doesn’t speak about people; he speaks to people, right where they live, with all their fears and longings. Zach knows people.

Kimber Kauffman, former pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis

I would have never gone to seminary if it weren’t for Kimber Kauffman’s influence in my life. Sadly, he is no longer in the pulpit and I could not find audio sermons of his on the Web, but back in the 1990s, he was a powerhouse preacher whom God used to dramatically grow College Park Church.

Richard Pratt, professor at Reformed Theological Seminary and president of Third Millennium Ministries

Passion, relevance, theological soundness, profundity — these are all important aspects of preaching. But hardly anything is more important than clarity, and this is where Pratt excels.

Rankin Wilbourne, pastor of Pacific Crossroads Church (PCA) in Los Angeles

Rankin teaches the Bible from the same kind of apologetic stance as Tim Keller — seeking to answer the big questions and make the Bible credible to the skeptic. He’s clearly influenced by Keller, but I don’t hold that against him. The church will need more preachers like Keller and Wilbourne as we move forward in the 21st century.

Alistair Begg, pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland

His sense of humor and Scottish accent are added benefits, but most importantly, Begg is the consummate expositor of the Bible, exploring all the nuances of a text and yet making it all seem so relevant and engaging.

Is it Possible for a Homosexual to Flourish in a Heterosexual Marriage?

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

One of my favorite books from last year was Is God Anti-Gay by Sam Allberry. In the book, the author, who himself struggles with same-sex attraction (SSA), makes a suggestion that I had not considered, and that many gay rights activists might not even consider a remote possibility. Here’s what Allberry wrote:

“It will be possible for some Christians with SSA to marry. This may be because they experience a measure of change in their sexual desires, or else because they find that, despite ongoing homosexual temptations, they are able to enjoy a happy marriage to someone of the opposite sex.” (p. 50-51). He goes on to mention people whose “desires remain predominantly homosexual,” but who nonetheless are able to find “deep companionship” and even “sufficient sexual chemistry” in a heterosexual marriage.

Really? Is that possible? One of the calls upon any follower of Christ is to “abstain from the passions of the flesh,” which “wage war” against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). We are to put off our old selves (Eph. 4:22), to lay aside the sin that clings to us so closely (Heb. 12:1), to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24).

In other words, we are to resist those sinful cravings that are contrary to God’s will for us. For some of us, that means we must restrain our desires to overspend when we walk through the mall. For others, it means we must hold our tongue when we are ready to explode with anger. For others, it means we must push away from the table when we’re tempted to over-indulge. And for Christians struggling with SSA, it means a willingness to struggle to reorient desires toward a person of the opposite sex.

I am not suggesting this is easy. I am not suggesting that it can even occur in a fully satisfactory way in every situation. But the Christian life is not about giving up and submitting to our sinful cravings; it’s about continuing the fight against the sins which our Savior died to forgive and to slowly eliminate from our lives.

If you doubt whether a person with SSA can flourish in a heterosexual marriage, you must listen to this 10-minute NPR interview with Allen Edwards, pastor of Kiski Valley Presbyterian Church, a congregation in our denomination (Presbyterian Church in America). He’s married to a woman, and they are expecting their first child in July. (By the way, kudos to National Public Radio for asking good questions and treating Pastor Edwards with respect).

Pastor Edwards is at least one example of how it is possible for a homosexual to flourish in a heterosexual marriage.

5 Recommended Books on the Goodness of Earthly Existence

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

This Sunday I will be completing a short sermon series called “What is Christianity,” in which I have attempted to explain the four major epochs of redemptive history – creation, fall, redemption, and glory. It’s a new start for our church as we have been adjusting to a new sanctuary, so it seemed appropriate to go back to the basics and review what the Christian faith is all about.

One emphasis that has come through in each message is the centrality of the physical creation in God’s redemptive plan: God created the physical universe and pronounced it good (Gen. 1); the effects of the fall actually extend beyond the spiritual to the physical universe (Rom. 8:20-21, Is. 24:4-5); the physical universe is actually within the scope of Jesus’ redemptive work (Col. 1:20); and the glorious future eternal state for God’s redeemed will involve the physical universe (Rev. 21:1; 2 Peter 3:13).

For many Christians, this is a startling new thought. Many believers have no category for the idea that bodies, trees, music and food will one day be redeemed – that salvation is not something reserved only for souls and spirits. One reason for this is the influence of Gnosticism, which teaches that physical matter is inherently evil, or at least significantly inferior to the spiritual. Gnosticism was considered a heresy in the days of the early church (I John 4:1-3), and yet it is unwittingly assumed by countless people in the church today.

The implications of holding a high view of God’s creation are profound. If the earth is good, and God is going to salvage it instead of scrap it, then this would suggest that this world matters, that Christianity should not be reduced to private acts of personal piety, and that Christians of all people should be the ones most involved in politics, science, technology, the arts, and business.

How do we get over this mistaken notion that God has somehow lost interest in creation and has forfeited it to the devil? Below I have listed five books that explain the goodness of earthly existence as we await the promised redemption of all things:

1) Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview, by Al Wolters.

2) Heaven is a Place on Earth: Why Everything You Do Matters to God, by Michael Wittmer.

3) Heaven is Not My Home: Living in the Now of God’s Creation, by Paul Marshall.

4) When the Kings Come Marching In: Isaiah and the New Jerusalem, by Richard Mouw.

5) Far as the Curse is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption, by Michael Williams.

How Can Christian Supporters of Gay Rights Be More Biblical?

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

A church in Alexandria, just about 20 minutes west of Yorktown, has recently been thrown into the national spotlight because of a situation regarding its former choir director. According to an article in the Ball State Daily News, the director, Adam Fraley, was forced out of his position at First United Methodist Church. The reason? Fraley is gay.

You can read about the situation here and here. Bottom line is the church has an interim pastor who does not accept Fraley’s lifestyle. Many in the church have protested the pastor’s position. About two-thirds of the congregation has left. But according to the DN article, Fraley will “continue to fight until he is welcomed back into the church for who he is: a gay man.”

Situations like this have become commonplace in our culture. Most of the ensuing discussions revolve around whether homosexuality is condoned by the Bible, or whether churches should employ homosexuals, or whether gays are being discriminated against.

But there is one significant topic that never surfaces in this debate. It is an issue that every professed believer should be concerned about, whether gay or straight. It is an issue that is near and dear to the heart of Jesus. I’m talking about the unity of the church.

When people in the church are insistent on pushing a particular agenda, no matter what it might be, the result is almost always dissension. Most Christians find a way to avoid the tension by seeking a church more in line with their convictions.

A Baptist, for instance, might find it impossible to coexist in a paedobaptist church; if so, he will find a church more in line with his convictions about baptism. A charismatic might find it impossible to coexist in a cessationist church; if so, he will find a church more in line with his convictions about spiritual gifts. A Calvinist might find it impossible to coexist in an Arminian church; if so, he will find a church more in line with his convictions about God’s sovereignty.

But rarely, if ever, have I seen a Baptist, or a charismatic, or a Calvinist “continue to fight” until the church was willing to overhaul its beliefs to match their own. And one reason we don’t see this is because Christians see the way peace and unity are highly exalted in the Bible.

Jesus prays in John 17:20-23 that his people would be “perfectly one.” Paul admonishes us in Eph. 4:3 to “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.” He also lists “dissensions” and “divisions” as examples of “works of the flesh” in Gal. 5:19-20.

It does not seem to me that there is much peace at First United Methodist Church right now. A headline in a local paper sadly summed it up: “Alex church torn apart by gay issue.”

Perhaps mistakes were made with regard to how Fraley was hired and “pushed out.” If so, the church should acknowledge its error and make it right. Whether a person is gay or straight, he or she should be treated fairly and with respect by his/her employer. A spokesperson for the United Methodist Church denied that the decision had anything to do with Fraley’s sexuality. It was a “personnel decision,” they said.

Whatever the case, there is nothing unfair about a church staying true to its official position on an ethical issue. The UMC Web site says: “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.” To demand a United Methodist congregation to defy this position does not seem to demonstrate an eagerness to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

One of Fraley’s supporters said he believed in “accepting everybody for who they are, not what you think they are.” May I suggest that he and Fraley accept the United Methodist Church’s position on this issue for what it is? Would that not be the Biblical thing to do? Lord grant peace to First United Methodist Church in Alexandria.

4 Things to Remember If You Are Discouraged by the Moral Deterioration of Our Nation

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Ross Douthat has written an article in the New York Times in which he says same-sex marriage will inevitably be legalized in all 50 states, and that all that is left for proponents of traditional marriage now is to “find out what settlement the victors will impose.”

It’s a pretty bleak prognosis. But there are at least four things to remember if you are one who is discouraged by the rapid changes that are taking place in our nation.

1. The leaders of our nation have been appointed by God. Pontius Pilate was in a position of authority to deliver Jesus over to be crucified. In John 19:11, Jesus said to Pilate: “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” Rom. 13:1 tells us that the governing authorities have been “instituted by God.” Our president, our Congress and our Supreme Court are in charge because God put them in charge. But remember — God can remove people from power just as quickly as he placed them in power. (Is. 40:22-23)

2. We no longer live in a pro-Christian culture. Back in the 1960s, it was socially desirable to be a Christian churchgoer. The church enjoyed a place of prominence and respect in the culture. That is no longer the case. Many observers say we now live in a “post-Christian” culture, which means the basic values and convictions of Christianity are no longer assumed or even desired. This is alarming to many Christians, but it is certainly not unusual. For much of history, the church of Jesus Christ has been a marginalized, maligned and sometimes persecuted group. The psalmist, writing about 3,000 year ago, captures what many Christians feel today: “My foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.” (38:19-20)

3. We should not shrink back from speaking the truth. It does not follow from points 1 and 2 above that we should therefore resort to apathy or indifference about what is happening in our culture. Paul warns us not to take part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but “instead to expose them.” (Eph. 5:11). The psalmist says he hates “every false way” (119:128), and that his eyes shed “steams of tears” because people do not keep God’s law (119:136). As believers we should be prepared to respectfully but boldly take a stand for Christian truth, and take the hits that will inevitably result.

4. Our ultimate hope is not in the salvation of America. There is Biblical precedent for being passionate about one’s country. Paul suffered “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” because of the spiritual state of his fellow Jews (Rom. 9:1-5). He longed for them to be saved (Rom. 10:1). So it is good to long for revival in the United States, that our fellow countrymen might be reconciled to God. But the final culmination of God’s redemptive purposes will not be found in a “reclaimed America,” but in the new creation, the new heavens and the new earth, where godlessness will be eradicated and righteousness finally will dwell (2 Peter 3:13), where all of God’s people from a multitude of nations (Rev. 5:9) will gather around the throne and worship Jesus forever.