August 7 | Application (‘The Man Who Looked Away’)

By David Faust 

Are you a good listener in church? Do you focus on the preacher’s message, or are you easily distracted? The author Wendell Berry observed, “Some of the best things I have ever thought of I have thought of during bad sermons.” Maybe you can relate to the husband who said, “My wife tells me I have two major faults: I don’t listen . . . and something else.”  

When I preach, I try my best to connect with the listeners and hold their attention. I want to help them engage with the life-giving relevance of God’s Word. Scripture isn’t boring. Adrian Rogers said, “There are two reasons I preach the Bible: (1) I am not smart enough to preach anything else, and (2) I am too smart to preach anything less.”  

Distractions and Disruptions 

The apostle Paul asked, “How can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14), but Paul never had his sermon interrupted by a ringing cell phone. He never had to worry whether his microphone would work or the PowerPoint operator would fall asleep at the switch. The book of Acts contains no record of anyone complaining about the air conditioning or worrying that Sunday school would be off schedule if the sermon went too long.  

Yet, first-century believers had to deal with distractions of their own. A fellow named Eutychus gave new meaning to the expression “fell asleep” when he literally fell out a window during Paul’s late-night sermon. At Corinth, some of the worshippers interrupted their gatherings, quarreled about which preacher they liked best, and arrived at the Lord’s table half-drunk.  

In those days, the preacher’s physical safety was at stake. When Paul spoke about Christ, he risked being beaten, imprisoned, or run out of town. Preaching is challenging when people aren’t in the mood to listen, but the Lord told the prophet Ezekiel, “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious” (Ezekiel 2:7).  

Negative Body Language 

Recently I led a difficult funeral for a young woman who had died of a drug overdose. The whole time I spoke, an older man seated in the front row—presumably a relative of the deceased—refused to look at me. Everything about the man’s body language communicated discomfort and resistance. He scowled and folded his arms. He glared at the floor and looked away throughout the entire service, refusing to make eye contact with me. 

His actions didn’t make me angry; they made me curious. Anger often accompanies grief. I wondered: Beneath his frown, is there a broken heart? Has he been wounded by churches and preachers? Might he be absorbing more of the message than his negative body language indicates? Is the Lord knocking on the door of his heart?  

Like Ezekiel, I must speak God’s Word whether people accept it or not—but I earnestly want them to listen. Like Paul, I am called to preach “the whole will of God”—but I must do so “with great humility and with tears” (Acts 20:19, 27). 

Jesus had compassion on the crowds “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). It’s natural to appreciate listeners who smile, nod, and offer encouraging feedback. But unfriendly listeners need to hear the gospel, too—even the silent, sullen strugglers who scowl and look away. 

Personal Challenge: Think of individuals you know—neighbors, coworkers, friends, or family members—whose hearts seem closed to the Lord. Pray for their hurts to be healed and their hearts to be open to the good news of Christ. Ask the Lord how you can be an ambassador of hope to them this week.