I have two distinct memories of listening to someone else preaching--one is sort of funny and off the wall.
I was attending a worship service at a church--it was a really hard week of seminary, and I probably would have preferred to stay in bed and definitely not be around people! But I went to a congregation I had been to before, and usually there weren't many I knew there. I heard the pastor preach--and I can't tell you today what he said--but the songs and the preaching spoke directly to whatever my struggle was at that time. A friend of mine was also there and she asked if I wanted to do lunch after and I agreed. During lunch, I talked with her about the service, how I am so glad the Spirit forced me out of bed, and I went on to say all the things this pastor had said that helped. After a while, Margie said to me, I don't know what you were listening to, but I didn't hear any of that!
The other memory is in a preaching class and one of my classmates brought in an old record player that I remember from my younger years. It was like a yellow suitcase, and you opened it up and it played albums. I think he played Tradition from Fiddler on the Roof--but all I heard in my head was Shaun Cassidy singing Da Doo Ron Ron--which I had played over and over on my record player. I heard nothing the classmate preached about.
Whether you realize it or not, these things happen to all of us. Some example leads us to a memory of the past that gets in our mind, and we lose focus for a bit--maybe we get back to listening, maybe not. Maybe there is a word that triggers us or a phrase that we hear and just get the feels--good, bad, angry, hurt. Or the preacher brings up something that we disagree with, with the preacher and yes, even disagree with Jesus about. When these things happen, we don't really hear what is being said, we hear what we think we hear.
I do believe that this is partly the work of the Spirit. I needed to hear those words of the Spirit that week I went to worship. I believe the Spirit spoke to me as I needed to hear. But I also know sometimes I get in my own way. I hear words like "stay in your lane"--which is a trigger for me, and I shut down. Some of us hear of current events that are splitting countries, family and friends, and fail to listen to the full message--we have already jumped to a conclusion. Sometimes we look at a sermon as the pastor telling us what we need to do, and other times it is simply a challenge for us to think and reflect.
As one who writes at least one sermon a week, and generally more than that--this is some of the pressure. God created the whole world, not just the church. But I know that if I speak to situations in the world, that is under God's authority, someone is going to accuse me of being too political. Years ago someone accused me of preaching one of the platforms from one of the major political parties. When I asked what it was that I said it was feed the hungry. I tried hard not to laugh, but I did say something like well we better talk with them because they stole the words of Jesus and are preaching his platform!
We are about to engage in the holiest week of the church year, beginning with Palm/Passion Sunday. Jesus will ride into Jerusalem like a king, like political leaders of the day--but not quite. He won't come in on a strong horse, but a common donkey. And it won't take long before he is approached by church and political leaders for the things he is saying that they don't like, that offend them, that are threatening. There will be shouts of Crucify him, let the criminal go free. There will be those who say nothing, and maybe a few who will say under their breath so no one hears and can call them out, maybe he is the Son of God. Those who said I will follow wherever you go will instead deny and hide from authorities.
I tend to look at preaching as part of a conversation--beginning with God conversing with me throughout the week through the assigned readings and the experiences of the week, through prayer and the Spirit as the message is formatted, and then with the congregation as we preach together. I love conversation afterwards, what did you mean by this. One man in a former congregation gave me one of the best compliments I think I have ever heard--he came to my office after worship and said, "I hated your sermon, and it was the best sermon you have ever preached."
When I worked for the synod office, I often had one shot to preach a sermon to that congregation, to that group of people. If it was a good one, yeah. If not, I was known as a bad preacher. I trust in our relationship together there is grace for our preaching together. I also know some struggle with offering that grace.
So when you hear a sermon, especially one that you don't like, it offends you, or the like, ask yourself what you think was the point of the sermon. (I used to have youth do sermon notes, and what they thought I was preaching about and what I thought I was preaching about were often two different things--maybe we can institute that for all). Have conversation with the pastor or with others, not just those who you know will think the same as you, but I would be thrilled if through the week people would say in the sermon you said x and I wonder xyz. Go back and read the text and see if they strayed in a way you don't understand. Spend time questioning yourself, reflecting, getting into the Word yourself. Preaching is for the community; it is not just a spectator sport. And know that it might be you heard something that wasn't said.
But hear these words--Jesus loves you as you are! Jesus isn't finished with you yet. Love God, love your neighbor-period. Jesus is with you always! I hope you heard these words right!
