A Jot From John
In the church we are listeners. We listen to our teachers; while we sing we listen to those about us; then we listen to the prayers, the sermon and the announcements.
Accuracy in listening is important, whether it be to the radio, the television, the conversation of friends, your wife, or your boss giving you instructions. Careful listening will not only help you to become a more effective individual, but in religious matters it will make you a more effective Christian.
The word “listen” does not appear often in the King James Translation of the Bible, but its synonyms are frequent. “Harken,” “hear” and “give heed” are used many times. (See Isa. 49:1; 34:1.)
The following points are intended to improve your pleasure in listening.
1. Get ready to listen. Relax. Make yourself comfortable. Regardless of any slight irregularities which may arise, do not let little inconveniences bother or distract you. Begin to concentrate at the very first word: for retention depends on intention.
2. Share responsibility with the speaker. Be an active listener. Listening is like catching a baseball, you get set for it, watch it, follow the throw or pitch as if the ball were being thrown to you.
3. Keep your attention on the speaker and his message. Shut out distractions, forget your troubles. By practice only, can you learn to concentrate.
4. Try to grasp the theme or central idea that is being presented. Listen for the core or the main point of the lesson. If the speaker does not put it in exact words, do it yourself. When the speech is over, you should be able to state briefly what the theme carried. If you cannot do this, you have not listened efficiently.
5. Try to gain a clear picture of the organization of the speech. This will give you an understanding and appreciation of the development of the central idea. Clear organization is also a good rule of good speaking: for speaking and listening are reciprocal. A good speaker will give you transitional words, phrases and summaries. Listen for them as an aid to understanding and appreciation.
6. Sift, measure and judge. Try to form your own evaluation of the speech, not on a purely emotional basis, but after careful consideration. Understand. Think. Evaluate.
7. Practice listening at every opportunity. Look for situations such as radio, television, pod cast and daily conversations to apply these methods. You can learn to enjoy listening.
Hearing is not like reading. In reading you can look back to catch anything you missed. The spoken word is only with us an instant and it is gone. If you would make the most of your religious opportunities you should learn to listen carefully, reverently and seriously.
JBD
