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Sermon Transcript

Introduction: Good morning, lets pray. When people ask me to officiate their wedding, I typically take the couple through our pre-marital program we have here at Citylight. And in one of the sessions we do a listening exercise that my pastors in Philadelphia practiced with Megan and me before we got married.  Specifically, our pastor asked Megan how planning was going and she voiced she was frustrated that I hadn’t gotten my passport information in (long story). And then he asked me to restate what Megan said. Thinking I killed it, I said she was worried about the economy and finding a venue. Come to my surprise, I failed the exercise because I didn’t listen at all. And in most relationships, failing to listen could mean a delayed passport or even lack of growth in the relationship. But in our text this morning, Jesus is teaching us that failure to listen to His word has eternal consequences. Disciples of Jesus are created, sustained, and known for listening to Jesus word. Basically, our text shows us that listening to Jesus’s word is one of the practices that define a disciple!

Let’s look back at our passage. The passage opens with Jesus teaching 3 “parables” to a large crowd that has surrounded Him and his disciples. Now, a parable were these teaching-stories that Jesus used help highlight what the kingdom of God is like. They revealed who were close to the kingdom of God and who was far away! And vs. 18a shows us that the tension that the parables are meant to press on us: “Therefore take care how you listen.” Now, when we talk about listening to Jesus’s word, we are referring to the Bible’s entire message of Jesus’s perfect life, death for us, and victorious resurrection to free us from our slavery to sin; the gospel. And what Luke wants us to see is that there is a real danger of being near Jesus, but not listening to him. For us, we can come to church, go CG, GG, and help serve, and still completely miss what Jesus is saying. So, our big idea or challenge from our text this morning is this: “Listen to Jesus’s Word.” And if listening were easy, Jesus wouldn’t have the need to talk about it. But none of us are natural listeners, especially with Jesus’s Word, so we are going to see 3 general ways we listen to Jesus’s Word:

  • Hold on to His Word
  • Pay Attention to His Word
  • Obey His Word

Body:

  1. Hold on to His Word (8:1-15)
  2. First, hold on. So the text opens with describing supporters of Jesus’s ministry and then describes Jesus teaching a parable or teaching-story to a large crowd. And this story was about a farmer planting seed in multiple types of soil. And when his disciples don’t understand the story, Jesus is kind enough to explain what the story means. He says that the seed refers to the word of God, or the Bible’s central gospel message. And the soil represents people’s hearts and how they listen/receive that good news. Now, I want to point out two observations to help us understand what Jesus is trying to teach. First, do you notice that every time the seed interacts with the soil, something happens? What that shows is that God’s word is not a software update or idea you can just ignore. It is supernatural and living, when it hits our hearts, it either transforms you or exposes how cold you are towards Jesus. It is always working. Lastly, do you notice that Jesus doesn’t focus on the type of person, just on how the word is received. You see, the Bible teaches us that God’s word is for all types of people; men/women, rich/poor, all tribes/nations; what matters is our reception/listening to it. Basically, Jesus is teaching what authentic listening or reception to the word of God looks like.
  3. Jesus begins with showing 3 examples of what it looks like to not listen to His word. He points out:
    1. Uninterested: In the story Jesus mentions a road-soil that represents a hard heart that is preyed on by Satan. Years ago, Megan and I visited some friends who said that many of their friends were uninterested in God because their careers were going so well. They had prioritized/occupied their lives with so many other things, they were uninterested in Jesus. Do you feel that Jesus, the Bible, sin, Hell/Heaven are not pressing issues for you? One pastor said, if the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy. There is no neutrality with Jesus, to be too busy for Him is to not listen to Him.
    2. Shallow listening: Jesus also mentions rocky-soil that represents a heart that has a positive-emotional reaction to God’s word but that’s all. One of the best examples we see of this is the crowds that followed Jesus. They initially loved his message and the miracles, but when hard times came; specifically persecution; they left, and some were part of the party who wanted to kill Jesus. Family, when the emotional high of church, Jesus, and the Bible wear off; when it isn’t easy to be a Christian, where do you turn? The text is teaching that emotional excitement about Jesus, doesn’t equate to listening to Him.
    3. Divided Listening: Lastly, Jesus mentions thorny-soil that represents people who like Jesus’ message, but are distracted with worries, riches, and pleasures of this world. Family, how much of the world’s riches, pleasures, and worries fill our thoughts? Is there any space for reflection and awe over Scripture? Over the gospel? Phillip Ryken says, “The things we do may not be wrong in themselves, but they do not have to be wrong to get in the way of our spiritual growth. We make time for everything else except developing a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.” Divided listening doesn’t equate to listening to Jesus.
  4. But Jesus ends the parable with talking about “good soil” or authentic listening. He says that good soil is the one that holds on and produces fruit. Look at the examples of those who held on and bore fruit in vs. 1-3. Mary Magdalene (healed of 7 demons), Joanna, and Susanna (healed of evil spirits/sicknesses). We don’t know much about them, but we do know: Jesus liberated and healed them, they supported His ministry, and two of them were the first to believe and tell others about the resurrection of Jesus. They weren’t perfect but forgiven; they knew what Jesus had done for them and held on to His word. Maybe you have been “spiritual” or around church your whole life and haven’t seen any change; today is the day to hold on to the word. And all you need is to embrace Jesus’s word with a “honest and good heart.” An honest and good heart admits: My biggest problem is that my sin has separated me from God. But Jesus came to live, absorb the wrath we deserved, and resurrect to make us right with God. And now, I want to support the spread of the (serving, sharing, or giving to the local church)! For some of you, God might be calling you to hold on to the word for the first time in your life by repenting and believing in the gospel today; and we would love to pray with you if that is the case.
  5. Implication: And maybe you feel the tension of this parable and you are discouraged. If you are honest, you are uninterested in the gospel. Or you first loved it, but then now you realize the emotional high has worn off? Or maybe, you feel like it is impossible to love Jesus above other things in your life? But the goal of the parable is not to discourage you; its to push you to see your need and run to Jesus. My encouragement is that you can go to Jesus and say, “I am going to be honest, I just don’t see my need for you, help me! Honestly, I feel like the excitement has worn off, help me want you. Honestly, I just don’t want to give up this relationship, this website, or job; please help me!” Jesus is the only gardener that can bad soil health; make a heart receptive to his word! Citylight, lets carefully listen to Jesus word by holding on to it.
  6. Pay Attention to His Word (8:16-18)
  7. Next, we listen to Jesus’s word by paying attention to it. In this next section, Jesus tells another parable about lighting a lamp and not hiding its light. And if you want to understand what Jesus is saying, think about to Gen. 3. We learn that because of our first parents Adam and Eve’s failure to meet God’s standard or sin, we were separated from God and the world plunged it into moral darkness. And from that point on, humanity is naturally lost in the dark; its our natural tendency to reject God and not love each other. But John 1:5 says that Jesus is the light that shines and is not defeated by darkness. Do you see what Jesus is saying here? Think of it this way, no one installs a light in their house to never use it, right? Jesus is building on the last parable, showing that when Jesus’s disciples listen to His word, we reflect His light in this dark world. We aren’t the light this world needs, but in God’s infinite wisdom, He has chosen that the main way the light of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection is spread through this dark world, is through His disciples listening to His word. As Christians, we are invited in to be part of bringing light into this world through us listening to Jesus’s word.
  8. And because this is calling is so important, vs. 18 challenges us to “take care” or pay attention to how we listen to God’s word. Basically, you could define the challenge like this: “Do the hard work of listening to the Word.” And before we talk about what paying attention looks like, lets focus on the 2 warnings the section gives us. First, miss out on being a light. Vs. 18b talks about what someone has can be taken from them. There is a lot that can be said, but what He is warning is that if there is no commit to listen to the Word, there is a danger of missing out on enjoying and shining the light of the gospel. Pastor Jeremiah Morris says “If you do not move on from the basics, the danger is that you are missing out on the power and love of Jesus and what he has provided for you. Jesus is willing to walk with you throughout every moment of your life.” Second, Jesus warns that the truth will be revealed. Basically, “don’t play games with God!” If there is this constant rejection of studying the Word and how it applies to your life. There is a danger that it is a symptom that you are close to Jesus, but not rooted in him; that you never trusted in him. And no one may notice, but on the day when we stand before God and answer for how we lived our lives, He will know. Don’t ignore this warning family.
  9. So, what does it look like to pay attention to Jesus’s word? Well, think about anyone you know who learned a language or instrument, they say “use it or you’ll lose it.” Basically, the pay attention to Jesus word is to work hard in enjoying the truths of Scripture and letting them shape your life! Basically, enjoy the truth that God graciously chose to save a people for His glory by living with humility knowing that you don’t deserve His grace but He gave it to you. Enjoy the truth that Jesus has full paid your debt of sin by living free from trying to earn God’s love and forgiveness. Enjoy the truth that the Holy Spirit is making you look more like Jesus by fighting for holiness and being gracious with others as they struggle. And enjoy the truth that Jesus promises to make all things new by trusting that He is working when you can’t see what He is doing. Listening to Jesus’s word is paying close attention to it and being changed by it!
  10. Implication: And the truth is, no one wakes up paying close attention to the word on their own. But when we are intentionally take steps to do the hard work of learning and celebrating the truths of scripture; we are sitting down at Jesus’s feet and are listening to Him. Allow me to share a few steps we can all take: Pray before coming to church; ask God to work in your heart. Ask Him to not let you leave the same way you entered the room. 2. Commit to community; we pay attention together. Make it a priority to get to CG or GG, its there that we celebrate what God is teaching us and help each other apply it. 3. Invest in resources. A study Bible is a great tool for you to study the Bible and see what it meant. If you can’t get one, find me after service and Citylight will help you invest in one. Family, we listen to Jesus’s word by paying attention to it!
  • Obey His Word (8:19-21)
  1. Lastly, obey Jesus’s word. In this last section, we see Jesus leverage the announcement of his family’s visit to give one last parable and says that those who are his true family are those who hear and obey God’s word. You see, one of the beautiful aspects of Jesus message, is the good news that through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has made a way to set people free from the slavery of sin and bring them into the kingdom of God. And this new family of redeemed sinners is comprised of people from every ethnicity, tax bracket, and life experience; and together, they are loving and obeying king Jesus. And throughout his gospel, Luke gives many examples of this. Think about His first 12 disciples. Jesus called four fishermen, tradesmen, multiple brothers, a corrupt tax agent for the government, a political assassin, and someone who was stealing from and would betray Him. These men didn’t have anything in common, but they became family because Jesus saved them and commissioned them to spread His word. Family, we don’t obey to become a disciple of Jesus, we obey because Jesus has saved us and brought us into a family of disciples who are imperfectly obeying Jesus; this is a defining character trait.
  2. But I know that talking about family might sting for many for many of us in this room. For many here, you didn’t have the best Mom or Dad; you were abandoned or rejected by people who were supposed to be your family. Or maybe you are just mourning the loss of family members that were so close. I am truly sorry about that. And my prayer is that you gain some encouragement from the uniqueness of Christianity. You see, for all who have repented and put their trust in Jesus; you are given a new family that spans time and space. It doesn’t matter what you look like, done, what you have. You are loved and accepted into this family because Jesus first loved us. This family, which gathers as the church, is defined by imperfect people imperfectly love and obeying a perfect savior. You know, people say that blood is thicker water, well not when that water is baptism. We listen to God’s word by doing it; it’s what Christ’s family does.
  3. Implication: One last question: “What is your next step in obeying Jesus’s word?” Maybe as we have gone through Luke, you feel lead to forgive someone who has wronged you? Maybe you feel led to confess some sin you are struggling with in your GG? Or you feel led to utilize to begin regularly giving so that the gospel can continue to spread through Citylight? Whatever it is, please know that your church family is here to support you specifically in following Jesus. This is one of the reasons why we started Grow Groups. And if you aren’t sure what your next obedience is, come and receive prayer! We will cry out to God together and walk together as He shows you! You are not alone So come Citylight, lets obey the word together as an imperfect family created by Jesus.

Conclusion:

To finish, I just want to leave you with some encouragement. Our text has shown us that that part of following Jesus is to listen to His Word. Listen to the good news: that his life, death, resurrection was enough to make us right with God, listening to the fact that he is what will satisfy us, and that He has commissioned us as a family to show the light of the gospel to this dark world! I pray you listen and are comforted by Him! Citylight, lets be a family that listens to Jesus’s Word.