One of the ways to measure the spiritual health of a congregation is to consider its attitude toward preaching and toward those who do the preaching. Throughout the Bible, God has chosen to spread His message through human messengers, imperfect men who carry a perfect gospel. Because of that, our attitude toward preaching is never a small matter. It reflects how we view the Word of God itself.

Preachers should not be treated like performers. In many places, preaching has been turned into entertainment. Some evaluate sermons the same way they might evaluate music or a speech: Was it funny? Was it exciting? Did he tell enough stories? Preaching is not meant to impress us. It is meant to instruct, rebuke, encourage, and lead us closer to God. Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2). A preacher is not an entertainer or motivational speaker. He is a messenger of God’s Word. When we approach preaching with a consumer mindset, we often miss the point. The question is not, “Did I enjoy it?” but “Did I learn God’s will, and will I obey it?”

Preachers should be working to effectively present their lessons and should never take their work lightly. Preachers carry a serious responsibility, but it is unwise for a congregation to expect perfection from them. They are human. They get tired. They face temptations. They need encouragement, prayer, and patience. That does not mean a preacher is above correction, but it does mean we should be careful not to become hypercritical, cynical, or impossible to please. A congregation can either strengthen a preacher’s hands or weaken them through constant faultfinding.

Preaching requires good listeners. Even the best sermons cannot help a person who refuses to listen with an honest heart. Some sit with their arms crossed, already determined to disagree. Others listen only if the message is aimed at someone else. The Bereans were called “noble” because “they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). A good attitude toward preaching would be for the listener to think about how the lesson can be personally applied. Jesus said, “Therefore take heed how you hear...” (Luke 8:18).

In a time when many are abandoning sound doctrine, faithful preaching is needed now as much as it ever was. Paul warned, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). A church must decide: Do we want the truth, even when it challenges us? When a congregation loves truth, it will support a preacher who preaches it, whether convenient or not. The preacher’s job is to preach the Word. The hearer’s job is to first make sure it’s true, and if so, to receive it, apply it, and live it. When both sides do their part, the church grows stronger, souls are saved, and God is glorified.