So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. – 1 Thessalonians 2:8
How do we best put Sunday’s sermon to work in our own lives? In the last issue, we considered how important it was to “sit and receive the sermon.” In this last and final issue, we’ll consider how to practice the sermon through the week.
Look for ways to apply the sermon this week. Are there SINS to confess? PROMISES to meditate on? EXAMPLES to follow or avoid? COMMANDS to obey? “SPEC” is a good outline to consider when seeking to be doers of the word, not only hearers (Ja.1:22). This also is useful while reading the Scriptures in your devotions.
Apply today, not tomorrow. Often times we might have a number of “Amens” during the sermon and think that was great. I need to apply this. But then time passes and circumstances fill our interests with other things. Christopher Ash, in his “Listen Up: A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons writes, “Every time we listen to a sermon, the devil will whisper this in our ear: ‘That was good stuff. Why not do something about it tomorrow?’”
Talk to others about the sermon. Talking about the sermon with your family (if applicable) is the most likely place to start. Consider Sunday afternoon or later in the evening, whatever works for you. As single adults, share with another person that week what you’ve learned about the sermon and how you are putting it into practice. The point is, find ways to keep it fresh on your mind. This will help you benefit most from the preached word.
Examine the sermon according to God’s Word. Placing this as the last point is not without purpose. Our tendency is to go right to criticizing the preached word (“Having Roast Pastor for Lunch”). This may become a stumbling block to keep you from humbly submitting to the preached word. Put this at the end. However, once you find where the preached word connects with some need in your own life, then examine the sermon whether it was faithful to God’s word (Acts 17:11). God’s word never returns void (Is.55:11).
More could be written but this is a good start to help you get the most out of Sunday’s sermon.
