Listeners can help expository preachers preach better. Have you ever preached when listeners were hanging on every word? It fired you up! In Nehemiah 8 there is an example of the procedure for preaching that Ezra outline in Ezra 7:10. Listeners can improve their preacher’s preacher as this example shows.
When listeners are obedient (8:1).
The people “gathered” in obedience to Deuteronomy 31:12. Today believers gather in obedience to Heb. 10:25. Men, how would you like to preach in a service like the one Peter preached in and described in Acts 10:33: “Now thererfore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” In other words, the church members said, “Preacher, you tell us what God’s Word says, and we will obey.” Do you think God could bless that kind of church with that attitude about preaching?
When listeners are united (8:1)
Unity is seen in the word “one.” In Acts 2:1 and 4:32 the believers were united and experienced God’s blessings. The doctrinal version of this unity is found in Ephesians where Paul used the word “one” fourteen times to reinforce his theme of Unity in the Body of Christ. Wow, there’s a thought. Unite your people spiritually and enjoy better preaching.
When listeners are hungry for God’s Word (8:1)
Hungry believers ask their preacher to “bring the book.” What are church members clamoring for at church today? “Bring the drama team.” “Bring more music.” “Bring the entertainment.” I actually read the syllabus for one preaching class where one assignment was to write a fairy tale. Thank God for church members who cry out, “Bring us God’s Word!”
Ezra read the Scriptures for five hours. Acts 20:6-12 describe a scene in the early church where Paul had been long preaching. Remember? Eutychus fell asleep and to his death from the 3rd floor window. Paul, being an apostle raised him back to life. Sorry, that will not work today with the passing of the apostolic gift of healing. If you kill someone with your preaching, you will have live with it.
When listeners have developed their skill of listening (8:2)
The word for “understand” is found six times in Nehemiah 8. The word for “understand” is also used in 1 Kings 3:9; Nehemiah13:7; 1 Chronicles 15:22. There are three different words for “understand” in 8:1-13. In other words, Ezra appealed to the intellect not just the emotions. Experts tell us this kind of preaching is more difficult today with rightbrain T.V. conditioned listeners. There is a trend, however, to longer preaching in some of churches. Mark Driscoll typically preaches over an hour.
When believers respect God’s Word (8:4)
Ezra mounted a pulpit of wood and in verse five was above the people, not because he put himself on a pedestal but so he could exalt God’s Word. Ezra’s respect’s for God’s Word was caught by the people.
The people stood (8:5) and said, “Amen, Amen” (8:6). “At about the same period in Israel’s history, this is the response given in a court case as the witnesses affirm the truth of the plaintiff’s statement before the court official. The connection is simply that stating the facts accurately deserves an affirmative ‘Amen,’ i.e.. ‘This is true’” (David C. Duel, An Old Testament Pattern for Expository Preaching. The Master’s Seminary, p. 134).
When we hold to a high view of Scripture as the final, infallible authority in our lives as preachers our people also will respond to its authority in their lives. When I announce my text, I like to invite my people “to turn in the Word of God” to the passage. This reminds them that they are about to hear what God says and not just the preacher.
Not only do we need skilled expository preachers but trained expository listeners. Why not preach this passage and equip your people to be experts listeners to God’s Word?
