Tag Archives: teaching

Hearing God’s voice

1 Reply

The discussion of the last few days made me remember a quote that I’ve really taken to heart. With several of you commenting on preaching and teaching, this is a good time for a value check, to see if you think this quote is valid or not. (You can also help me identify the original source; I can’t seem to find it)

Here’s the quote:

You can’t overhear the voice of God.

I’ve very much taken that to heart in my own ministry. The weakest lessons I’ve given were things that I tried to craft thinking about what God had to say to someone else. The most powerful lessons I’ve been able to share were when I spoke to others something that God had put on my heart.

When I read a passage thinking, “This is what Brother Finkleberg needs to hear,” I’m not getting everything out of the passage that God has for me. When I look at Brother Finkleberg’s situation and relate it to ones I’ve experienced, I can say, “Here’s what God had to say to me at a similar time in my life.”

In the same way, I’ve found that when I choose to preach or teach through a book, time and again someone says, “That’s exactly what I needed to hear today.” When I point out a way in which God is seeking to correct something in my life, I often find that others need the same message.

So what do you think? Can you overhear the voice of God? Or is that quote just a pithy saying?

How You Hear

11 Replies

This week I got the student evaluations from the course I taught last semester at Abilene Christian University. That is, the evaluations the students did of me. The marks were outstanding. In some areas, they gave me a perfect score, every student saying I did an excellent job.

Now before you think that I’m trying to impress you, let me tell you that I wasn’t that impressed. You see, I’ve taught this course three times now, basically teaching it the same way each time. The first time, I got decent evaluations. This time they were off the charts. But the second time, I got hammered, to the effect that a couple asked why they didn’t have a more qualified teacher teaching the course. Ouch!

So when I say I wasn’t impressed, I’m saying I wasn’t impressed with me. Because I know that the difference in these three semesters has been the students. Students that come in ready to learn have a wonderful experience. Almost regardless of who the teacher is or what the teacher does. (Almost, I said)

That got me to thinking about churches. Could it be that the congregation’s attitude has a lot to do with the success of the preacher? Yes, of course, some men are gifted speakers who can reach almost any audience. But for us run of the mill guys, I’d say that much of how we come off depends on who is listening to us.

I love the way Mark presents the parable of the sower. The first word that comes out of Jesus’ mouth is “Listen!” Then as soon as the parable is finished, Jesus says: ““He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”” (Mark 4:9) Jesus repeats that phrase in verse 22, then says, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:24-25) [As Ray Vander Laan points out, the Greek says, “Look at what you hear,” for the Hebrew mind focused on concrete things, not abstract ideas]

So my word of advice for all of us comes in one single word: Listen!

Field Guide to Church Fauna: The Blustery Sloth

Leave a reply

The Blustery Sloth (blabbingus et boringus) is truly a wondrous creature. Blessed with amazing lung capacity, the sloth can literally talk for hours, nonstop. Virtually incapable of other physical activity, the sloth has a great capacity for oratory, mimicking intelligent speech in a most convincing way.

The Blustery Sloth seeks to meet every challenge with vocal strategies; any problem to be solved is greeted with “We should have a class on that” or “A good sermon will fix everything.” Suggestions of physical action are meet with artful filibuster; the sloth is willing to talk about anything, but unwilling to act on anything.

Attempts to force the sloth into action will prove counterproductive. The only successful way to guide this creature to overcome inertia is through gentle prodding and constant example. Praise and understanding go a long way when dealing with this sluggish critter.