How do you listen to a sermon? Easy. Go to church, sit in a chair, wait for the sermon, and listen.
But actually, there’s more to listening to a sermon well. Matt Smethurst writes:
What you get out of sermons isn’t just up to your pastor. It’s also up to you.
— Matt Smethurst (@MattSmethurst) July 25, 2026
Pride: “I know this already.”
Humility: “I need this again.”
Don’t be a prideful listener.
If you’re going to listen to a sermon well, you need to take some deliberate steps. Here are some practical steps you can take right now.
Treasure Scripture
The most important step you can take is to ensure you have a right view of Scripture. If you treasure Scripture, you will also treasure the preaching of Scripture. This means that we should think accurately about what Scripture is and intends to do (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and we should also pray that God gives us a heart that loves his word (Psalm 119:97).
Treasure Scripture, and you will also treasure the preaching of Scripture.
Prepare Before the Sermon
A lot of the preparation for hearing a sermon happens before you listen. Arrive ready to hear God’s word preached. Here are some steps you can take:
- Pray for a receptive heart before listening to the sermon.
- If possible, read and meditate on the passage being preached in advance.
- Get adequate rest so that you’re able to concentrate during the sermon.
- Cultivate high expectations of what will happen during the sermon.
A little preparation before you begin to listen counts for a lot. Prepare your heart and mind before you even start to listen to the sermon.
Listen Well
During the sermon, listen well. Jesus told a parable about various kinds of listeners, and he concluded by saying, “Take care then how you hear” (Luke 8:18). There’s a spiritual battle going on when you listen to a sermon, so prepare for the battle and listen well.
Lean in. Pay attention. Open your Bible. Minimize distractions. If it helps, take notes. Actively listen. Work hard at listening to what the preacher says, and compare it with Scripture. Don’t just passively sit back and listen. Come to church as a participant, not as a spectator. Treat the sermon as if it really matters, because it does.
Take the Sermon Home
Don’t stop when the sermon’s over. Talk about the sermon with others. Ask them for their thoughts on the passage, and share how God’s word affected you. Dedicate some time to thinking through the sermon and how it would change your life if it’s true. Apply the sermon to your life. Pray through what you heard, and ask God to change your heart.
If I were to summarize all of this in one sentence, it would be this: Cultivate such a high view of Scripture that it shapes how you prepare, listen to, and respond to a sermon. Never take the preaching of God’s word lightly. Listen carefully, and respond. Decide to be someone who takes part in preaching before, during, and after the sermon. This way, you can get the most out of hearing God’s word.
For more on how to listen to a sermon, check out A Consumer’s Guide to Preaching by Jay Adams and How Do I Get the Most from My Pastor's Sermons? by Gunner Gunderson.
