Over the 50 years I served in churches, I preached thousands of sermons and Bible studies. You might think that such a vast number of messages—and the preparation that went into them—would have transformed me into a saint.
Yet, the reality is, I’m much like the people who listen to my sermons. While they may find the messages entertaining or not, they are frequently not life-changing, even for me.
Ezekiel had a profound encounter with God before he ever spoke a single word as a prophet.
However, his audience was much like me and those who listened to my sermons. They may have appreciated the messages, but they failed to respond with obedience.
As for you, mortal, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses say to one another, each to a neighbor, “Come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.”
They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not obey them. For flattery is on their lips, but their heart is set on their gain.
To them you are like a singer of love songs, one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; they hear what you say, but they will not do it.
When this comes—and come it will!—then they shall know that a prophet has been among them (Ezekiel 33:30-33).
The Inefficiency of Preaching
I’ve often reflected on how inefficient preaching can feel. While it remains the largest gathering of Christians on any given Sunday—and is therefore essential—I can’t help but wonder how much genuine life transformation results from it.
The reality is that both preachers and their audiences enjoy hearing the Bible taught, but meaningful lifestyle change often proves to be a significant challenge.
I recently read a story about a first-grade student who regularly met with a deacon in his church. The boy affectionately called him “Uncle.” After every service, the deacon would ask him, “What did the Lord say to you today?”
If we approached church on Sundays with the same expectation—seeking a word from God and refusing to be content until we encountered Him and received His message—we would witness far greater transformation in our lives.
Unfortunately, the message of Second Timothy is altogether too true for us.
“For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
To Hear and Obey
The Hebrew word for “to hear” can also be translated as “to obey.” The ancient Hebrews understood this concept well: hearing is not merely an intellectual activity where we process thoughts in our minds.
True hearing involves action—it requires obedience. James echoed this truth, and here is what he had to say.
But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing (James 1:22-25).
After years of preaching, I’ve realized that I often forget the content of my sermons just a few days after delivering them. What seemed so vital—something I dedicated time and energy to communicate—quickly fades into insignificance.
This is exactly what James addresses. We might hear something that deeply convicts us, but if we fail to act on it, we miss out on the life-changing blessings God intends.
I love the story of the little boy who came to church eager to hear what God had to say to him. We would do well to adopt the same mindset, resolving to listen to God’s voice whenever we attend church.
However, it’s equally important to commit to acting on what He tells us.
God doesn’t communicate with us simply to make us feel good. His purpose is to transform our lives, guiding us to live the way He intends.
YouTube Discussion
When Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I worked on this lesson for today, we had a recording malfunction, so today’s video is a solo by me.
Real Voices 