Great Listening Makes a Great Sermon

It had been a very long Sunday, and the great preacher, Dr. Harry A. Ironside, had been especially busy.

He had preached five times that day. On the way home, his wife asked him a simple question, and, being extra tired and weary (and human and irritated), he ignored her. The Holy Spirit quickly spoke to his heart, convicting this man of God. Contritely, he asked his wife’s forgiveness, with “Forgive me. I am quite tired. Remember, I have preached five times today.” Then came the answer, “Yes, dear, I know. But remember, I have had to listen to you five times today!”¹

Writing prophetically of Christ, Isaiah penned, “Listen to Me, O isles and coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar,” (Isaiah 49:1, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition). “Listen” means “to listen attentively, pay attention.” “Hearken” means “to prick up the ears, attend to, give heed, and regard.”² In addition, seven times in the book of Revelation, we read, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” We must “listen” to get the message God has for His Church!

“It requires great listening, as well as great preaching, to make a great sermon,” (John Andrew Holmes).³