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How Faithful Preaching Keeps Bibles Open

How Faithful Preaching Keeps Bibles Open

By Peter Mead on Mar 9, 2026

BiblicalPreaching.net

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Effective biblical preaching keeps listeners engaged with the text, helping them follow Scripture during the sermon and return to it throughout the week.

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-22, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:2 (view more) (view less)

Tags: Bible, Faith, Preaching, average, interest, preaching, bible (view more) (view less)

How Faithful Preaching Keeps Bibles Open

One simple way to evaluate preaching is to ask how long the congregation keeps their Bibles open. When sermons drift from the text, listeners quickly disengage or close their Bibles. But when preaching faithfully explains and applies Scripture, people remain attentive to the passage and eager to study it further. Good preaching keeps the Bible open not only during the sermon but throughout the week. When you preach, how long do Bibles stay open?

1. Open until right after the reading.

Perhaps your listeners know from experience that once the reading is over, the message will fly every which way, and the text that was read will become a distant memory. They may open their Bibles for the reading, but once that is done, the Bibles are shut. So what are you preaching?

2. Open until disconnect is evident.

Perhaps they will look at the passage and listen for a while. But after a while, it will become evident that your message has no real connection to the passage. At some point, some will close their Bibles in an act of quiet pew-level frustration and sit listening in anticipation of the closing hymn. Or ...

3. Open as an alternative to listening.

Perhaps some will stay open so that the listener can occupy themselves while your message continues. For whatever reason, they have struggled to stay engaged and have decided that rather than being frustrated, they will read some Bible and make the best use of the time!

4. Open until fingers grow tired.

Here’s another possibility. Perhaps after the fourteenth cross-reference, they get tired of searching for 2nd Hesitations and decide they’d be better off just listening rather than trying to keep up in the grown-up sword drill for the initiated Bible handlers (or the folks with the indented pages for cheating in sword drills!).

5. Open until the end of the message.

Perhaps people keep their Bibles open all the way through, frequently checking that what they are saying fits with the text. It is both textually accurate and personally compelling. When the message ends, grateful hearts close the Bibles and help lives.

6. “Open” even on the way home.

Perhaps people close their Bibles with a finger in the text, because subconsciously they can’t wait to get back into that passage and pray through it some more at home. This would be a good sign of effective preaching!

7. Open all week.

Perhaps you preach in such a way that listeners are motivated and stirred to keep their Bibles open all week. They want to read on, read around, read more. They discovered that the Bible was accessible, enjoyable, and relevant to their lives. They can’t imagine not wanting to pursue the God you introduced on Sunday. Good preaching!

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 17:11, Matthew 24:1-22, Nehemiah 8:8

Peter Mead (website: BiblicalPreaching.net)

View all articles by Peter Mead

Peter Mead is involved in the leadership team of a church plant in the UK. He serves as director of Cor Deo—an innovative mentored ministry training program—and has a wider ministry preaching and training preachers. He also blogs often at BiblicalPreaching.net and recently authored Pleased to Dwell: A Biblical Introduction to the Incarnation (Christian Focus, 2014). Follow him on Twitter.

Talk about it...

Michael James Monaghan

commented on Jun 16, 2013

At some churches , people do not bring Bibles with them , but use those supplied . Those who do bring bibles sometimes do not use them as it may be a different translation . One reason why church Bibles are used is that many people need to be told the page number of the chapter and verse . So 6 and 7 may be unlikely unless regular reading of the Bible can be encouraged . It may be true that people like to be told what to believe rather than also find out for themselves . In general people are not very 'Berean' in searching the scriptures to see whethr those things are so '. It's just the way things are ; and it may take more than a sermon to get biblicly interested christians . People say they believe in the Bible ; but they oftimes do not know the Bible . They may have a 'sense' what is true , but cannot explain the doctrine well , so are 'pastor dependant' ?. I hope this is taken as an observation and not a criticism .

Vincent Aja

commented on Jun 16, 2013

I can see one reason why being judgmental is evil. Many people will think that there is something wrong with Christianity today, but the truth is that we have never met the right people. I have watched many prosperity preachers, and was excited myself... but when I begin to look back into the Bible. I was highly disappointed/surprised because none of what they were saying that has anything to do with the contents of the Bible where they have begun their preaching, so I called it a quit. Here I saw a man who was saying how it should be. From number 5 to 7 of this article are good for every Bible believing Church. The truth here is when a pastor has trained the members of his congregation to know the Word of the Holy One of Israel. It`s for his personal good. I just want to say that my week has been blessed. The Lord Jesus will always tell His people go and do the same.

Dorna Chambers

commented on Jun 16, 2013

Oh my, I didn't know anyone else went through these things. I've been known to sit and read the bible so as not to waste my time.

Minister Sanders

commented on Jun 17, 2013

A lot of Pastors tell you to open your Bible to a certain passage of Scripture and then before you know it they are preaching about something not pertaining to the Scripture they just read. When we preach we need to teach the Scriptures that we have asked the congregation to open their Bibles on, and make sure that what we preach stays on course, and is pertaining to that particular passage of Scripture God Bless You!!!!!!

Samantha Sandys

commented on Jun 17, 2013

How about people who are illiterate, how about those who did not have the bibles available to them. How about when Jesus was preaching and teaching, did people cary the scriptures around with them?. I'd rather take notes when listening to someone preach, and then later look up the Bible if I have any queries or to seek more. If I try to look up some of the verses that the preacher quotes, I might miss out on some important message, as I am not multitask. But otherwise, yes! our sermons should move people to want more of God, His words and become like Him. Unfortunately today many open the Bible, just to prove a point, to judge, to redicule, to manipulate, etc.

Alan Montgomery Hutchens

commented on Jun 17, 2013

This is a great and needed article. The matter of a preacher using a different translation is one which is easily remedied. I often provide inserts for the bulletins which contain the text of my message from the translation which I shall be using. I habitually encourage people either to open their Bibles to the passage or point them to the insert. I often say, "Just as you go to a baseball game and hear that you can't know what's going on without a program, just so you cannot adequately follow my message without a copy of the Bible text. I know, as Samantha Sandys said, that Jesus may not have pointed people to the Septuagint when He preached. But, I'm not Jesus. I am subject to make ignorant mistakes at times. They need to check me out along the way, and not take my word on it, but His. A worthy article!

Michael James Monaghan

commented on Jun 18, 2013

Yes the article is relevant to the preacher and the listener . The idea of listener notes is a good idea , jotting a quick reminder to look up and investigate ideas , further . Personally as I gave up the habit of note-taking , I struggle to remember as many things as I can about the sermon when I get home . Lately , I had another idea . Look up similar sermons on the internet by other preachers . Sermon Central is a good source . I find then that a overview of the sermon sticks and also , ideas flow .