Luke #20: Power of Hearing

My wife says I have selective hearing… but the truth is I’m not listening.

It’s not that I’m not listening to her, I’m not listening to anything. I’m in my own head.

How does she know? Because she can see my listening? No, because I’m not responding.

Responding shows our listening...

One of the best things we can do for one another is to listen. It really is the key to success and thriving in every relationship we have.

Marriages fail when two people who have shared the most intimate parts of their lives become unable to be heard at home.

Businesses, launched by the most passionate entrepreneurs fail when they become unable to hear their customers or their competitors.

Churches stop growing and begin to die when they refuse to listen to their community or God’s call.

Every year there are parents and children who will begin an irreparable breach because of feelings that can’t be put into words.

Family members speak past each other and relationships diminishes.

When relationships break down it leads to loneliness. Now we would think that the loneliest people would be we might think of widowed adults. But a recent research project at the University of Nebraska indicates that the loneliest group of people in our society are not the unmarried or the bereaved, but teenagers and young adults.

Listening is vital to healthy relationships.

So how do we improve as listeners?

Just a couple of things that you can do to improve at listening.

First make eye contact

Don’t interrupt

Rephrase… is that right? Do you mean…? Are you saying that…? - tell the hearer that you are listening

Listen to nonverbal cues.

You see… what we do as listeners communicates that we are hearing… not just listening.

Not just human relationships but spiritual ones as well.

This isn’t a new problem. Which is why Jesus spoke to it in today’s text.

We are in Luke 8.

Luke 8:1–3 NIV

1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

The Jesus tour and an awkward open.

Jesus begins to tour the villages around Israel. Teaching. The disciples are with him and also a group of women who were instrumental in the ministry.

Often times when we think of the essential ministries of the church, we think of the preacher, or the worship leader, or the kids ministry leader, or the small group leader. But let me tell you something, while the church is a nonprofit organization, we still have bills and it’s because of the financial giving of some of our more quiet members that make it all possible.

All that to say thank you to those of you who make our church and it’s ministries what they are. You are essential to the work of the church.

Just as those followers of Jesus made it possible for him to do what he did the way he did it.

Like we see here:

Luke 8:4–8 NIV

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Well known - 4 gospels

Agrarian economy

Parable to connect? NO… to conceal the truth

The point of parables: To hide the truth from those not looking for it.

Parable is to communicate a much deeper truth … to those who lean in.

For those who aren’t willing to lean in… parables have a culling effect. Seperating the ones who love Jesus from those who don’t.

Jesus says so:

Luke 8:9–10 NIV

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

Why we respond the way we do?

Luke 8:12 NIV

12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

Seed along the path - A Hardened Heart

Zechariah 7:11-13/ Hebrews 3:13/ Exodus 7:10-13/ 2 Corinthians 4:3-4/ Romans 1:18-32

Luke 8:13 NIV

13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

Seed on rocky ground - Shallow Commitment

Mark 4:16-17/ 1 Peter 1:3-9/ 1 Peter 4:12-17.

Luke 8:14 NIV

14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Seed among thorns - Misplaced Priorities

Matthew 6:25-34/ 1 Timothy 6:7-11/ Matthew 16:24-26.

Luke 8:15 NIV

15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Seed in prepared soil - An Open Heart

/ Mark 4:20/ John 15:1-4/ Galatians 5:22-23/ 2 Peter 1:3-11.

Luke 8:16–21 NIV

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” 19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Listen - your soil is the only one you can till

Began with some tips to help in listening in our relationships.

How can we prepare our soil for listening?

Look Back… to God and all He has done

Look Out… to world in need

Look IN… to a heart that needs to repent

Look Up… with awe

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THE GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR EASTER DAY OR SEASON --

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

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Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

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Let us give thanks to

the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

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It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

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You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.

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You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life.

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And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

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Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

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By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

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By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

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Once we were no people, but now we are your people, declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

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When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

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On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

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When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

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On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup.

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And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

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Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

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Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

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By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

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Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and for ever. Amen.