Wisdom on Listening to Our Pastor

J.R. Vassar from Apostle's Church in NYC has some good words here on how to approach listening to our pastor's sermons week after week (italics mine - hopefully our class is seeing fruit from our being in the Word!):

"For those that have to listen to preachers every week, I have two quick things to say:

• Trust that there is a cumulative effect to your pastor's preaching. Don't expect him to hit a home run every week. It is impossible. Receive the sermon trusting that God will add it to the work that He is currently doing in your life and bring forth fruit. Your pastor's sermons should be supplemental to the work God is doing in you through your own times in the word.
• Define the win. Don't judge your pastor on whether he is funny or dynamic or captivating. If your pastor is preaching the bible, exalting Christ, keeping the Gospel central and applying it to your context, then you have a great pastor and you should thank God for him. Stop complaining about your pastor's delivery; pray for your receptivity. I hear people criticize their pastor's preaching but never scrutinize their own listening. Maybe the problem is not what you think it is. "

The whole post is worth reading here.

HT: Vitamin Z