Take Care How You Hear

A sermon summary edited by Steve Fountain, originally preached April 21, 2013 called "Take Care How You Hear," from Luke 8:1-21.  

Luke teaches us about hearing and accepting God's Word and becoming a member of His family. While we are all God's creation, only those who accept Jesus as their savior become part of family.

Outsiders might not consider God's Family too impressive as Luke opens with Jesus traveling “through every city and village” sharing the Gospel. (8:1-3) With Him are the 12 disciples and three women (each of whom we see later at the cross and the tomb).

All are from various stations of life and, like all of us, have faults and made mistakes. The key is that each (except for Judas Iscariot) not only heard God's Word, but embraced it and saw it bear fruit in their lives.

Jesus illustrates not only the importance of hearing God's Word, but of taking it to heart through the Parable of the Soils (8:4-15).

Jesus uses a farmer sowing seeds to show how people react to God's Word.

Some seeds fall on the edge of the road, where they are either trampled by people or eaten by birds.  This shows people who hear the Word, only to have the Devil quickly take it from their hearts.  Some seeds fall on rocks, only to quickly sprout and wither due to lack of moisture. This shows people who happily receive the Word, but lack the roots to sustain their faith through tough times.  

Some seed falls in good ground, but shares that ground with weeds and thorns. This shows people who have their faith overtaken and choked out by material and fleshly desires.  But the seeds that fall on good soil have deep roots and produce much fruit. This shows us the kind of heart that hears and responds to the Word of God — for it alone holds the response that yields fruit. 

Jesus follows this with the Parable of the Lamp, illustrating how we should let the light of His Word shine brightly, not hide it away.

Verse 18 offers direct warning to those who turn away from, or even hide, the light: “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more with be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

In today's world, verses 19-21 might appear as Jesus disrespecting His earthly mother and brothers. After all, if you were in a crowded gathering and where told that your family was outside and couldn't get in, wouldn't you act to bring them to you?

Yet Jesus offers us a grand illustration, when he responds, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.”

While the words of Jesus are harsh for Mary and His brothers, the words of Jesus filled with hope for all who respond in faith.

Becoming a member of God's family does not come from a birthright, earthly inheritance and through a purchase of good deed. It comes from repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

This means anyone can become a member of God's family and enjoy eternal life in heaven.

There is no easy way around it — either you repent of all your other self-help pursuits and turn to God, or you ignore God, pull the covers over your head and go back to sleep — and wait for the rude awakening of the judgment of God.

If you can see the fruit of change, that is, if you see more love, more patience, more gentleness, and grace—you will reap the blessings of belief in the gospel.  If you cannot see growth in your life—you should not be so sure of your profession — maybe it is just a profession without substance.

Jesus encourages you to take care then how you hear — it makes the difference between stagnation and growth, between dream and reality, between death and life, between despair and joy.