How Will They Hear?
Journey's Road Map • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Text: Romans 10:14–21 (ESV)
Text: Romans 10:14–21 (ESV)
Series: Journey’s Road Map
Series: Journey’s Road Map
Theme: The gospel must be proclaimed, heard, and believed—but many still reject it.
Theme: The gospel must be proclaimed, heard, and believed—but many still reject it.
Introduction – When the Message Doesn’t Get Through
Introduction – When the Message Doesn’t Get Through
Funny StoryA woman meets with an attorney and says “I want to divorce my husband!“
Funny StoryA woman meets with an attorney and says “I want to divorce my husband!“
“OK” the attorney responds, “let’s start with a few questions first.”
“OK” the attorney responds, “let’s start with a few questions first.”
“Like what?” she asks.
“Like what?” she asks.
“Well, do you have any grounds?”
“Well, do you have any grounds?”
“Yes, we have about 5 acres out in the country.”
“Yes, we have about 5 acres out in the country.”
“No, I mean do you have a grudge?”
“No, I mean do you have a grudge?”
“No, but we have a nice, wide carport and a storage shed.”
“No, but we have a nice, wide carport and a storage shed.”
“Let me ask this a different way. Do you have any complaints about him?”
“Let me ask this a different way. Do you have any complaints about him?”
“Like what?”
“Like what?”
“Well, does he beat you up?”
“Well, does he beat you up?”
“No, I’m up at least an hour before him every day.”
“No, I’m up at least an hour before him every day.”
“Well, what about your role here? Do you ever wake up grouchy?”
“Well, what about your role here? Do you ever wake up grouchy?”
“No, when he’s in a bad mood I just let him sleep.”
“No, when he’s in a bad mood I just let him sleep.”
Exasperated, the attorney finally asks, “Why exactly do you want to get a divorce?”
Exasperated, the attorney finally asks, “Why exactly do you want to get a divorce?”
“Well,” she replies, “the guy just can’t communicate!”
“Well,” she replies, “the guy just can’t communicate!”
Communication is important.
Communication is important.
That’s exactly Paul’s point in Romans 10.
That’s exactly Paul’s point in Romans 10.
People cannot believe a message they have never heard.
People cannot believe a message they have never heard.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Point 1 — The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed (vv. 14–15)
Point 1 — The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed (vv. 14–15)
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?”
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?”
Explanation
Explanation
Paul gives a chain of gospel logic:
Paul gives a chain of gospel logic:
People call on Christ to be saved.
People call on Christ to be saved.
They believe because they hear.
They believe because they hear.
They hear because someone preaches.
They hear because someone preaches.
Someone preaches because they are sent.
Someone preaches because they are sent.
Salvation spreads through proclamation.
Salvation spreads through proclamation.
The word “preach” (κηρύσσω) means to announce like a royal herald.
The word “preach” (κηρύσσω) means to announce like a royal herald.
In the ancient world, a king would send messengers ahead of him to proclaim his arrival.
In the ancient world, a king would send messengers ahead of him to proclaim his arrival.
The church is God’s messenger announcing the King.
The church is God’s messenger announcing the King.
Cross-References
Cross-References
Matthew 28:19–20 — The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19–20 — The Great Commission
Isaiah 52:7 — “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news”
Isaiah 52:7 — “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news”
Illustration – Historical
Illustration – Historical
In ancient battlefields, a runner would bring news from the front lines. When the battle was won, the messenger’s arrival meant relief, celebration, and life.
In ancient battlefields, a runner would bring news from the front lines. When the battle was won, the messenger’s arrival meant relief, celebration, and life.
That’s the imagery Paul uses.
That’s the imagery Paul uses.
The gospel messenger brings the announcement: the war with God is over because Christ has won it.
The gospel messenger brings the announcement: the war with God is over because Christ has won it.
Quote — Charles Spurgeon
Quote — Charles Spurgeon
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.”
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.”
Application
Application
The gospel spreads through people who speak.
The gospel spreads through people who speak.
God could have used angels but
God could have used angels but
He chose the church.
He chose the church.
Someone told you.
Someone told you.
Now someone needs to hear from you.
Now someone needs to hear from you.
Point 2 — Hearing the Gospel Does Not Guarantee Belief (vv. 16–17)
Point 2 — Hearing the Gospel Does Not Guarantee Belief (vv. 16–17)
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel.”
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel.”
Explanation
Explanation
Not everyone who hears the gospel believes it.
Not everyone who hears the gospel believes it.
Paul quotes Isaiah:
Paul quotes Isaiah:
“Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
“Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
The problem is not the message.
The problem is not the message.
The problem is the heart.
The problem is the heart.
Faith comes through hearing—but hearing does not automatically produce faith.
Faith comes through hearing—but hearing does not automatically produce faith.
Key Verse
Key Verse
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
The word of Christ is the instrument God uses to awaken faith.
The word of Christ is the instrument God uses to awaken faith.
Cross-References
Cross-References
Hebrews 4:2 — The message did not benefit them because it was not united with faith.
Hebrews 4:2 — The message did not benefit them because it was not united with faith.
John 12:37 — Though Jesus performed signs, many did not believe.
John 12:37 — Though Jesus performed signs, many did not believe.
Funny Illustration
Funny Illustration
A teacher once said to a class, “I’ve explained this five times already.”
A teacher once said to a class, “I’ve explained this five times already.”
A student replied, “Yes, but we’re listening for the first time.”
A student replied, “Yes, but we’re listening for the first time.”
Hearing sound is not the same as hearing truth.
Hearing sound is not the same as hearing truth.
Quote — John Stott
Quote — John Stott
“Faith is not a leap in the dark; it is a step into the light.”
“Faith is not a leap in the dark; it is a step into the light.”
Application
Application
The gospel must be heard—but it must also be received.
The gospel must be heard—but it must also be received.
The danger is familiarity without faith.
The danger is familiarity without faith.
You can sit near the truth for years and never surrender to it.
You can sit near the truth for years and never surrender to it.
Point 3 — God’s Invitation Has Been Clear (vv. 18–21)
Point 3 — God’s Invitation Has Been Clear (vv. 18–21)
“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Explanation
Explanation
Paul answers the objection: Did Israel not hear?
Paul answers the objection: Did Israel not hear?
Yes, they did.
Yes, they did.
Creation declared God’s glory.
Creation declared God’s glory.
Scripture proclaimed His promises.
Scripture proclaimed His promises.
The prophets warned them.
The prophets warned them.
The problem was not lack of information, but lack of submission.
The problem was not lack of information, but lack of submission.
God describes Himself as a Father holding out His hands.
God describes Himself as a Father holding out His hands.
It is an image of patience and mercy.
It is an image of patience and mercy.
Cross-References
Cross-References
Isaiah 65:2 — The passage Paul quotes
Isaiah 65:2 — The passage Paul quotes
Luke 13:34 — Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem
Luke 13:34 — Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem
Illustration – Moral Story
Illustration – Moral Story
A father stood at the end of a driveway watching his son learn to ride a bike. The boy wobbled, fell, and refused help.
A father stood at the end of a driveway watching his son learn to ride a bike. The boy wobbled, fell, and refused help.
The father kept his arms open saying, “Come on, try again.”
The father kept his arms open saying, “Come on, try again.”
The invitation was constant.
The invitation was constant.
The response was stubborn.
The response was stubborn.
Paul says God has been holding out His hands to Israel the same way.
Paul says God has been holding out His hands to Israel the same way.
Quote — C.S. Lewis
Quote — C.S. Lewis
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Your will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘Your will be done.’”
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Your will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘Your will be done.’”
Application
Application
God’s invitation is real.
God’s invitation is real.
The gospel has been spoken.
The gospel has been spoken.
The truth has been revealed.
The truth has been revealed.
The question is not whether God has reached out.
The question is not whether God has reached out.
The question is whether we will take His hand.
The question is whether we will take His hand.
Conclusion — The Message Must Be Heard
Conclusion — The Message Must Be Heard
Romans 10:14–21 teaches three truths:
Romans 10:14–21 teaches three truths:
The gospel must be proclaimed.
The gospel must be proclaimed.
Hearing does not guarantee belief.
Hearing does not guarantee belief.
God’s invitation is patient and persistent.
God’s invitation is patient and persistent.
God has chosen a simple method to save people:
God has chosen a simple method to save people:
Someone speaks.
Someone speaks.
Someone hears.
Someone hears.
Someone believes.
Someone believes.
Quote — D.L. Moody
Quote — D.L. Moody
“The gospel is not good advice; it is good news.”
“The gospel is not good advice; it is good news.”
Final Reflection
Final Reflection
You are part of the chain Paul described.
You are part of the chain Paul described.
Someone was sent.
Someone was sent.
Someone preached.
Someone preached.
You heard.
You heard.
You believed.
You believed.
Now the chain continues.
Now the chain continues.
Closing Line
Closing Line
“The gospel is only one generation away from silence unless someone speaks.”
“The gospel is only one generation away from silence unless someone speaks.”
Amen.
Amen.
