The young Scottish preacher Robert Murray M’Cheyne said he, “preached as a dying man to dying men.” The picture, of another Scottish preacher, in the picture below, tells the story of a preacher with this attitude. But what does a “dying man” look like that comes to hear from a dying preacher? We get a glimpse of this when the apostle Paul came to Berea in Acts 17. There he met a noble people who received the Word of God that was preached to them with eagerness, examination, and response (Acts 17:11-12).
First, we need to receive the preached Word with eagerness. We are eager for many things and we exemplify this by our anticipation and preparation. We must come to the reception of God’s word with an even eager anticipation. There are many temporal and eternal reasons for this, but here is one from the Psalmist, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; (Ps.19:7-8). Since this is true about the word of God then we must in our anticipation prepare ourselves for an eager reception on the Lord’s Day. We may do this by turning our hearts on Saturday evening to him in prayer for the church, those teaching and leading worship, the one who preaches and for the Holy Spirit to come down upon his church. We may also prepare for an eager reception by arriving to worship early with a quieted heart and a ready mind.
Second, we need to receive the Word by examination. The Bereans heard the word on the Sabbath and they examined what they heard each day during the week. Examination requires deeper thought beyond the sermon. The apostle Paul required this of Timothy when he said, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2Tim.2:7). It requires the discipline of checking out what has been preached with the rest of Scripture. It requires asking questions of the text and the points that were made from the text. It requires talking about it with others.
Third, we need to receive the Word with a proper response. We are called to be eager receivers and examiners of God’s Word, so that we may give a proper response. James says, “the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (Jas 1:25). A proper response to God’s word is trust, belief, thanksgiving, praise and varied obedience depending on the prescribed will of God.
We are called to receive the word of God preached by dying men with eagerness, examination and response for the glory God and the furthering of his kingdom.
First, we need to receive the preached Word with eagerness. We are eager for many things and we exemplify this by our anticipation and preparation. We must come to the reception of God’s word with an even eager anticipation. There are many temporal and eternal reasons for this, but here is one from the Psalmist, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; (Ps.19:7-8). Since this is true about the word of God then we must in our anticipation prepare ourselves for an eager reception on the Lord’s Day. We may do this by turning our hearts on Saturday evening to him in prayer for the church, those teaching and leading worship, the one who preaches and for the Holy Spirit to come down upon his church. We may also prepare for an eager reception by arriving to worship early with a quieted heart and a ready mind.
Second, we need to receive the Word by examination. The Bereans heard the word on the Sabbath and they examined what they heard each day during the week. Examination requires deeper thought beyond the sermon. The apostle Paul required this of Timothy when he said, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2Tim.2:7). It requires the discipline of checking out what has been preached with the rest of Scripture. It requires asking questions of the text and the points that were made from the text. It requires talking about it with others.
Third, we need to receive the Word with a proper response. We are called to be eager receivers and examiners of God’s Word, so that we may give a proper response. James says, “the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (Jas 1:25). A proper response to God’s word is trust, belief, thanksgiving, praise and varied obedience depending on the prescribed will of God.
We are called to receive the word of God preached by dying men with eagerness, examination and response for the glory God and the furthering of his kingdom.
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