What is a sermon? What is preaching? What should we expect from our preachers and, just as important, from ourselves as hearers? Are we left to ourselves with these questions or we have an example of preaching in the Scriptures to inform our answers? Yes, we do. The book of Hebrews is a written sermon, the only example we have in the New Testament of a sermon for a local congregation. In fact, the author intentionally shapes our perspective on the act of preaching when he writes, "I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly" (Heb. 13:22). In doing so, he helps us listen well and receive what we hear. Let's be a churc known for expository preaching but also expository listening, in order that we might be a church strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus who speaks to us through the Word.