"I'm Not Getting Much Out of My Pastor's Sermons!" (pt. 1)

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What's a Christian to do if they are just not getting much out of their preacher's sermons?  In some cases, it may be helpful to humbly share this concern with one's pastor.  If you do this, provide a few specific examples in order to demonstrate the "head to heart" disconnect.  Do this with grace and humility and commit the matter to prayer.  This kind of prayer plea is surely welcomed by the God of the Word who longs for His people to grow and mature in the faith through the public preaching ministry of the Word (Col. 1:28-29; 2 Tim. 3:15-4:5).  God also wants (we) pastors to grow and develop so that our spiritual "progress might be evident to all" (1 Tim. 4:15).  Assuming that the specific criticisms that you have are biblically valid, extend grace by giving your minister time to grow and develop accordingly.  In some cases, you may need to leave and find a new local church that regularly offers MEAT (as opposed to MILK) per the admonition found in Hebrews 5:12-14 and 2 Timothy 4:3f.

Having said that, before setting up such a meeting you should acknowledge that the problem may reside as much in your own heart as it does in the human mouthpiece of the Word (note 1 Peter 4:10-11).  James 1:19 says "Let everyone be quick to hear and slow to speak."  The context of this statement is a believer in relation to the Word of God (note also James 1:22f).  Before judging or setting up a meeting to voice our concerns we should first examine our own life and heart in the spirit of Matthew 7 and Galatians 6.  

In the past decade a few helpful resources have been written on the subject of expository listening.  These are welcome additions as thousands of books have been written for preachers; (My favorite's preaching resources are Preachers and Preaching, Rediscovering Expository Preaching; Famine in the Land; He is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World; and Between Two Worlds). 


If you have not read Ken Ramey's, Expository Listening: A Practical Handbook for Hearing and Doing God's Word and Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons they are essential resources.  Suffice it to say, if we are not listening well we are not in position to properly evaluate the sermon (regardless of whose preaching).  One pastor recounted how one of his lay leaders expressed how he was "not getting much out of his sermons."  Ironically, this same individual could be found regularly napping during the "worship through exposition" portion of the service.  Through my weekly interactions with other pastor/preachers I have found this to be an all too common experience.  

Another word of wisdom is to be sure that our expectations for what a faithful expository sermon is consistent with what the Scriptures actually teach/expect.  In other words, if our unmet listening expectations are not biblically sound (note 2 Tim. 4:3) we will need to ask for God for grace to adjust our personal tastes and desires.

Since the Word preached is a chief means of grace in the life of the saints it would do our soul well to read some of the best resources on expository preaching (see my list of resources listed above).  This kind of study will help align the congregation's desires and preferences with the pattern of Scripture, which is the ultimate measuring rod.

PERSONAL NOTE: I am very blessed to feed a flock that is full of 1 Peter 2:2 (hungry) Christians.  A mark of spiritual health of any believer is that they long for the Word of God like a newborn infant craves the milk of it's mother.  Sadly, many expositors preach to congregations who prefer messages akin to the Daily Bread (aka the Daily Crouton).  If you don't have an appetite for the things of the Lord you will not benefit from sound expository preaching.  If you do desire such preaching and are not regularly receiving it, consider the principles in this series and pray for wisdom as to how you should proceed.

This series will be continued