HEARING
When a congregation expects nothing, it generally finds nothing even in the best of
preachers; but when they are prepared to make much of what they hear, they usually
get what they came for. AM355
But, we add, men ought not to hear without preparation. Which, think you, needs the
most preparation, the sower or the ground? 420.583
Those who are hearers only are wasters of the word. What poor creatures hearers
are, for they have long ears and no hands! Ye have heard of him who one day was
discoursing eloquently of philosophy to a crowd, who greatly applauded him. He
thought he had made many disciples, but suddenly the market-bell rang, and not
a single person remained. Gain was to be made, and in their opinion no philosophy
could be compared to personal profit. They were hearers until the market-bell rang,
and then, as they had been hearers only, they quitted the hearing also. I fear it is so
with our preachings: if the devil rings the bell for sin, for pleasure, for worldly
amusement, or evil gain, our admirers quit us right speedily. The voice of the world
drowns the voice of the word. 1847.359
We must all learn to hear what we do not like. The question is not, “Is it pleasant?”
but, “Is it true?” 2130.107
Not everything that I say, or that any minister says, is God’s Word. Hence you should
take heed to separate between what is God’s and what is our’s. But wherein we speak
according to Holy Scripture, it is as much God’s Word as if God himself spoke. 3357.272