The Family at Church, Part 5 (Practicing the Preached Word, part 2)

How are we to put into practice what God's Word commands us to do? To answer this question, Beeke offers four more practical suggestions to help us to be better doers of the Word, rather than merely being hearers.

1. Listen carefully to sermons that teach us how to live.

Like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), we need to check with the Scriptures to verify whether what is being preached is truth. The first question we must ask is, "Is this true?"

But we must not stop there. If what is being preached corresponds to the truths of Scripture, we must go on to ask a second question: "How can I put this sermon into practice?"

For example, if the pastor is preaching on fleeing from certain sins, we should ask ourselves, "How can I shun the sins that the Word is pointing out in my life?" Or perhaps the pastor is preaching on evangelism. If so, we need to be actively praying, "Lord, give me grace to intentionally plan on sharing the gospel with someone this week."

Idly nodding our heads in affirmation and approval is not enough.

2. Ask older, more experienced Christians for advice.

After the sermon, do not be afraid to ask more seasoned Christians what this looks like in everyday life. Or perhaps the sermon was a bit confusing to you. Again, seek the godly counsel and wisdom of those who have been pilgrims longer than you.

This is one of the greatest benefits for attending Community Groups. If you are a new convert, you especially ought to take advantage of this glorious means of grace God has given His church.

3. Thank God for all you receive in the sermon.

How often do we thank God for instructing us through the preaching of His Word? Here is an encouragement to read Psalm 119. It is true that we are to be grateful for the promises of God's Word. But notice how thankful the psalmist is also for the instructions and commandments of God's Word.

Beeke confesses, "Often, I fear, we receive little because we are not grateful for what we receive." Let us then leave thanking God for the fact that He seeks to guide and govern us through His Word. What a privilege to put into practice His commands, instructions, ordinances, laws, testimonies and statutes!

4. Lean upon the Holy Spirit.

Beg God to accompany His Word with the effectual blessing of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 10:44). If this is ignored, the preached Word will bring more harm than good. As Thomas Watson wrote: "The Word will be effectual one way or the other; if it does not make your hearts better, it will make your chains heavier."

How may we know if the Spirit of God is applying the Word to us? Simply put, the fertilizer of the Word will cause the fruit of the Spirit to abound in our lives.

Beeke closes this first section of his book with the following searching words:

Are you an active hearer of God's Word? Are you a doer of that Word? Or do you listen to sermons half-heartedly? If so, repent of you sin and begin to actively listen to His Word. It is not enough for you to attend church, as Thomas Watson spoke: "Dreadful is their case who go loaded with sermons to Hell." Therefore, let us, in the words of Jesus, take heed how we hear!

The next section of Beeke's book will deal with attending prayer meetings.

May God use this for His glory in His church!

Pastor Ryan