Sunday Sermon

Hearing Aids Dave Shaner June 1, 2003

Introduction: We all know people that we consider to be hard of hearing. Is it possible that God thinks we have the same problem? James tells us how to improve our hearing.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.  - James 1:19-25

I. Good hearers are not ____________ but ____________.

A. They have intentionally developed the discipline of listening.

B. Types of hearing problems:

1. The ____________________

2. The ____________________

3. The ____________________

4. The ____________________

C. Do you have any responsibility to receive the Word?

Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.  - Matthew 13:12-16

II. What keeps people from hearing?

A. ... A mind that is not teachable because of ____________.

B. ... A heart that is impenetrable because of ____________.

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  - James 1:21

C. ... A will that is not observable because of ______________.

1. The goal is not ____________ but ____________.

2. Matthew 28:19-20; James 1:26-27

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  - Matthew 28:19-20

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  - James 1:26-27

III. How to check your hearing:

A. What do you say "____________" to?

B. What do you say "____________" to?

C. What are you __________ ______________ at all?

Conclusion: Ezekiel 33:30-32

As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

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