My Bible And I: Listening to A Sermon
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (1Tim 1:3-7) KJV
Note that Paul’s exhortation is that Timothy teach the people to NOT listen to anything that is not edifying them in the faith.
This makes demands upon us as hearers of sermons. Those demands are those of study, meditation, and learning. The people in the pew should already have been immersed in the Word when the come to sit under the preaching of God’s Word. They should be able to discern good from evil and sound doctrine from profane doctrine.
One can only know that they are being edified in the fa