George Whitefield was an English Anglican preacher who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. In 1771 he offered these keys for getting the most out of what the preacher has to say:
- Come to hear them, not out of curiosity, but from a sincere desire to know and do your duty
- Give diligent heed to the things that are spoken from the Word of God
- Do not entertain even the least prejudice against the minister
- Be careful not to depend too much on a preacher, or think more highly of him than you ought to think
- Make particular application to your own hearts of everything that is delivered
- Pray to the Lord, before, during, and after every sermon