Sermon for September 2nd, 2012 - Revision history

Iraneal: 17 revisions

2013-10-14T01:29:55Z

17 revisions

Iraneal at 07:09, 2 September 2012

2012-09-02T07:09:26Z

Iraneal at 07:04, 2 September 2012

2012-09-02T07:04:30Z

Iraneal at 06:37, 2 September 2012

2012-09-02T06:37:17Z

Iraneal at 06:23, 2 September 2012

2012-09-02T06:23:21Z

Iraneal at 06:18, 2 September 2012

2012-09-02T06:18:26Z

Iraneal at 05:57, 2 September 2012

2012-09-02T05:57:00Z

Iraneal at 05:56, 2 September 2012

2012-09-02T05:56:17Z

Iraneal at 05:52, 2 September 2012

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Iraneal at 05:36, 2 September 2012

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 But at the end of the day, I think there really has to be something more than just obedience or self-interest.  Every day, thousands of television commercials, billboards, and online advertisements make desperate appeals to my self interest, and attempt to solicit my unquestioning obedience.  Buy this...because I said so...because it will make you faster and smarter and better.  The empty advertisements of the world promise happiness and self-gratification, but then leave us with empty wallets, houses full of junk, and extra pounds in places we don't need or want them...then they advertise diet programs, storage units, and money-making schemes to perpetuate the vicious cycle.
-I come to church to get away from all that. I come to church to hear and proclaim God's word because God's word--Jesus Christ--is ''good news''!  From our passage in Romans: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!...So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." We proclaim and hear the Word of God because it gives us faith, and hope, and love, and these are the things that matter, the things that last longer than any extended warranty ever could.  We proclaim and hear the Word of God not just because it offers these things to us, but because it offers these things to everyone.  The world tells me to compete with my neighbor.  The Word of God tells me to love my neighbor.
+I come to church to get away from all that. I come to church to hear and proclaim God's word because God's word--Jesus Christ--is ''good news''!  From our passage in Romans: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!...So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." We proclaim and hear the Word of God because it gives us faith, and hope, and love, and these are the things that matter, the things that last longer than any extended warranty ever could.  We proclaim and hear the Word of God not just because it offers these things to us, but because it offers these things to everyone.  The world tells me to compete with my neighbor.  The Word of God tells me to love my neighbor.  That's good news, a recipe not just for a better life, but for a better world.
 [[First Presbyterian Church]]

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 In our text from 2nd Timothy, we find the famous verse which says that "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." That's downright practical.  We proclaim and hear God's word because it's useful.  So we can be proficient.  We like being proficient.
+I come to church to get away from all that. I come to church to hear and proclaim God's word because God's word--Jesus Christ--is ''good news''!  From our passage in Romans: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!...So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." We proclaim and hear the Word of God because it gives us faith, and hope, and love, and these are the things that matter, the things that last longer than any extended warranty ever could.  We proclaim and hear the Word of God not just because it offers these things to us, but because it offers these things to everyone.  The world tells me to compete with my neighbor.  The Word of God tells me to love my neighbor.
-−
 [[First Presbyterian Church]]

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	When my children ask me simple but difficult questions, I start by giving long-winded, complex answers. You can probably imagine how well that works. They usually just look up at me, blink, and respond, "Why?" So I start over again, a little shorter this time, and after we've gone through this routine about five times, I throw up my hands and say..."Because I said so, that's why!" For the question "Why do we proclaim and hear God's word?" that answer might not be far off: Because God said so. In the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites to "put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)" In other words, just do it. In the New Testament, Jesus' last words to his disciples as he was ascending to heaven were "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." Why? Because I said so.		When my children ask me simple but difficult questions, I start by giving long-winded, complex answers. You can probably imagine how well that works. They usually just look up at me, blink, and respond, "Why?" So I start over again, a little shorter this time, and after we've gone through this routine about five times, I throw up my hands and say..."Because I said so, that's why!" For the question "Why do we proclaim and hear God's word?" that answer might not be far off: Because God said so. In the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites to "put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)" In other words, just do it. In the New Testament, Jesus' last words to his disciples as he was ascending to heaven were "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." Why? Because I said so.

−	Obedience is good,	+	Obedience is good, but as any parent knows, it doesn't work nearly as well as more intrinsic motivations. The next level up from "Because I said so" is when you can get your children to start asking the question, "What's in it for me?" You can accomplish a lot with that one. And, to be honest, this approach--what's in it for me?--also answers the question "Why do we proclaim and hear God's word?
		+
		+	In our text from Deuteronomy, we read "If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess." And later, we read "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days." What's in it for me? Apparently long life, lots of grandkids, and blessings along the way. Not a bad deal, really.
		+
		+	In our text from 2nd Timothy, we find the famous verse which says that "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." That's downright practical. We proclaim and hear God's word because it's useful. So we can be proficient. We like being proficient.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:23, 2 September 2012
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	Hopefully (if you haven't fallen asleep!) we now have a good understanding of ''what'' we mean when we say that "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word." I'd like to turn now to my favorite sermon preparation question: So What!?! Or, in other words, ''why'' do we proclaim and hear God's word? That may seem like an obvious answer--I'll admit it's at least a pretty fundamental one. But I said at the beginning of this sermon series that we would be "going back to the basics" and perhaps there is no more basic question than this one: Why are you here? And if we can't get this one question right, we probably shouldn't expect the world to beat a path to our door and join on Sunday mornings. So...why do we proclaim and hear God's word?		Hopefully (if you haven't fallen asleep!) we now have a good understanding of ''what'' we mean when we say that "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word." I'd like to turn now to my favorite sermon preparation question: So What!?! Or, in other words, ''why'' do we proclaim and hear God's word? That may seem like an obvious answer--I'll admit it's at least a pretty fundamental one. But I said at the beginning of this sermon series that we would be "going back to the basics" and perhaps there is no more basic question than this one: Why are you here? And if we can't get this one question right, we probably shouldn't expect the world to beat a path to our door and join on Sunday mornings. So...why do we proclaim and hear God's word?

−	When my children ask me simple but difficult questions, I start by giving long-winded, complex answers. You can probably imagine how well that works. They usually just look up at me, blink, and respond, "Why?" So I start over again, a little shorter this time, and after we've gone through this routine about five times, I throw up my hands and say..."Because I said so, that's why!" For the question "Why do we proclaim and hear God's word?" that answer might not be far off: Because God said so. In the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites to "put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." ~~Just~~ do it. In the New Testament,	+	When my children ask me simple but difficult questions, I start by giving long-winded, complex answers. You can probably imagine how well that works. They usually just look up at me, blink, and respond, "Why?" So I start over again, a little shorter this time, and after we've gone through this routine about five times, I throw up my hands and say..."Because I said so, that's why!" For the question "Why do we proclaim and hear God's word?" that answer might not be far off: Because God said so. In the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites to "put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)" In other words, just do it. In the New Testament, Jesus' last words to his disciples as he was ascending to heaven were "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." Why? Because I said so.
		+
		+	Obedience is good,

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:18, 2 September 2012
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	But I shouldn't worry too much about that. The reformers also taught that the Holy Spirit works even through the words of a bad preacher, transforming what was said into what needed to be heard. I can think of plenty of times when I've preached what I thought was my worst sermon ever, only to have someone come up to me and say "you said exactly what God needed me to hear today." Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit! Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, not just by the work of the preacher, or the work of the Holy Spirit, but by the work of the one who hears. One of Jesus' favorite sayings was "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Hearing God's word is not a passive thing -- it's active. If ''proclaiming'' involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring, then ''hearing'' involves listening, searching, reflecting, receiving, and also connecting. Hearing God's Word...is hard work!		But I shouldn't worry too much about that. The reformers also taught that the Holy Spirit works even through the words of a bad preacher, transforming what was said into what needed to be heard. I can think of plenty of times when I've preached what I thought was my worst sermon ever, only to have someone come up to me and say "you said exactly what God needed me to hear today." Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit! Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, not just by the work of the preacher, or the work of the Holy Spirit, but by the work of the one who hears. One of Jesus' favorite sayings was "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Hearing God's word is not a passive thing -- it's active. If ''proclaiming'' involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring, then ''hearing'' involves listening, searching, reflecting, receiving, and also connecting. Hearing God's Word...is hard work!

−	We proclaim and hear God's Word. So what is God's Word? Now we're at the very heart of worship! Remember that God's word is not merely the bible (although that is an important aspect of God's Word!). Primarily, God's word is Jesus Christ, the living Word. And the living Word--Jesus--is reflected in God's written word, the Bible. The living Word is reflected in ~~the~~ God's proclaimed word, the Sermon. And finally, the living Word is reflected in God's enacted word, the sacraments (We'll hear more on that from Neal Presa, who will preach next week's sermon, Part II of "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word). Three important aspects to God's Word, Jesus Christ, all at the heart of our worship service.	+	We proclaim and hear God's Word. So what is God's Word? Now we're at the very heart of worship! Remember that God's word is not merely the bible (although that is an important aspect of God's Word!). Primarily, God's word is Jesus Christ, the living Word. And the living Word--Jesus--is reflected in God's written word, the Bible. The living Word is reflected in God's proclaimed word, the Sermon. And finally, the living Word is reflected in God's enacted word, the sacraments (We'll hear more on that from Neal Presa, who will preach next week's sermon, Part II of "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word). Three important aspects to God's Word, Jesus Christ, all at the heart of our worship service.
		+
		+	Hopefully (if you haven't fallen asleep!) we now have a good understanding of ''what'' we mean when we say that "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word." I'd like to turn now to my favorite sermon preparation question: So What!?! Or, in other words, ''why'' do we proclaim and hear God's word? That may seem like an obvious answer--I'll admit it's at least a pretty fundamental one. But I said at the beginning of this sermon series that we would be "going back to the basics" and perhaps there is no more basic question than this one: Why are you here? And if we can't get this one question right, we probably shouldn't expect the world to beat a path to our door and join on Sunday mornings. So...why do we proclaim and hear God's word?
		+
		+	When my children ask me simple but difficult questions, I start by giving long-winded, complex answers. You can probably imagine how well that works. They usually just look up at me, blink, and respond, "Why?" So I start over again, a little shorter this time, and after we've gone through this routine about five times, I throw up my hands and say..."Because I said so, that's why!" For the question "Why do we proclaim and hear God's word?" that answer might not be far off: Because God said so. In the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites to "put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Just do it. In the New Testament,

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	We proclaim and hear God's Word. So what is God's Word? Now we're at the very heart of worship! Remember that God's word is not merely the bible (although that is an important aspect of God's Word!). Primarily, God's word is Jesus Christ, the living Word. And the living Word--Jesus--is reflected in God's written word, the Bible. The living Word is reflected in the God's proclaimed word, the Sermon. And finally, the living Word is reflected in God's enacted word, the sacraments (We'll hear more on that from Neal Presa, who will preach next week's sermon, Part II of "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word). Three important aspects to God's Word, Jesus Christ, all at the heart of our worship service.		We proclaim and hear God's Word. So what is God's Word? Now we're at the very heart of worship! Remember that God's word is not merely the bible (although that is an important aspect of God's Word!). Primarily, God's word is Jesus Christ, the living Word. And the living Word--Jesus--is reflected in God's written word, the Bible. The living Word is reflected in the God's proclaimed word, the Sermon. And finally, the living Word is reflected in God's enacted word, the sacraments (We'll hear more on that from Neal Presa, who will preach next week's sermon, Part II of "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word). Three important aspects to God's Word, Jesus Christ, all at the heart of our worship service.
		+
		+
		+
		+
		+
		+	[[First Presbyterian Church]]

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	But I shouldn't worry too much about that. The reformers also taught that the Holy Spirit works even through the words of a bad preacher, transforming what was said into what needed to be heard. I can think of plenty of times when I've preached what I thought was my worst sermon ever, only to have someone come up to me and say "you said exactly what God needed me to hear today." Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit! Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, not just by the work of the preacher, or the work of the Holy Spirit, but by the work of the one who hears. One of Jesus' favorite sayings was "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Hearing God's word is not a passive thing -- it's active. If ''proclaiming'' involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring, then ''hearing'' involves listening, searching, reflecting, receiving, and also connecting. Hearing God's Word...is hard work!		But I shouldn't worry too much about that. The reformers also taught that the Holy Spirit works even through the words of a bad preacher, transforming what was said into what needed to be heard. I can think of plenty of times when I've preached what I thought was my worst sermon ever, only to have someone come up to me and say "you said exactly what God needed me to hear today." Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit! Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, not just by the work of the preacher, or the work of the Holy Spirit, but by the work of the one who hears. One of Jesus' favorite sayings was "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Hearing God's word is not a passive thing -- it's active. If ''proclaiming'' involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring, then ''hearing'' involves listening, searching, reflecting, receiving, and also connecting. Hearing God's Word...is hard work!

−	We proclaim and hear God's Word. So what is God's Word? Now we're at the very heart of worship! Remember that God's word is not merely the bible (although that is an important aspect of God's Word!). Primarily, God's word is Jesus Christ, the living Word. And the living Word--Jesus--is reflected in God's written word, the Bible. The living Word is reflected in the God's proclaimed word, the Sermon. And finally, the living Word is reflected in God's enacted word, the sacraments (We'll hear more on that from Neal Presa, who will preach next week's sermon, Part II of "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word). Three important aspects to God's Word, Jesus Christ	+	We proclaim and hear God's Word. So what is God's Word? Now we're at the very heart of worship! Remember that God's word is not merely the bible (although that is an important aspect of God's Word!). Primarily, God's word is Jesus Christ, the living Word. And the living Word--Jesus--is reflected in God's written word, the Bible. The living Word is reflected in the God's proclaimed word, the Sermon. And finally, the living Word is reflected in God's enacted word, the sacraments (We'll hear more on that from Neal Presa, who will preach next week's sermon, Part II of "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word). Three important aspects to God's Word, Jesus Christ, all at the heart of our worship service.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:52, 2 September 2012
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	We proclaim and hear God's Word. Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, especially in our text from Romans this morning: "How are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?" The Oxford English Dictionary gives a rather straightforward definition of the word ''proclaim'': "To declare publicly; to make known aloud or openly; to publish." But especially in our Presbyterian tradition, proclaiming is so much more than just reading from the scriptures--proclaiming involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring. If you have fallen asleep by the end of the sermon, we have obviously not connected with each other, and there's a good chance that we are ''both'' to blame for that. The reformers of the 16th century felt so strongly about the importance of preaching, they taught that proclaiming the Word of God '''IS''' the Word of God. They (and we as their descendants) accorded the Preached Word of God equal status with the Written Word of God. Far from being an ego-booster, this is a great and terrible responsibility for whomever stands in this pulpit. The words I speak to you right now are not my own--they are God's, and if my words ever veer away from his words, then I pray that you do actually fall asleep, rather than listening to me ramble.		We proclaim and hear God's Word. Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, especially in our text from Romans this morning: "How are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?" The Oxford English Dictionary gives a rather straightforward definition of the word ''proclaim'': "To declare publicly; to make known aloud or openly; to publish." But especially in our Presbyterian tradition, proclaiming is so much more than just reading from the scriptures--proclaiming involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring. If you have fallen asleep by the end of the sermon, we have obviously not connected with each other, and there's a good chance that we are ''both'' to blame for that. The reformers of the 16th century felt so strongly about the importance of preaching, they taught that proclaiming the Word of God '''IS''' the Word of God. They (and we as their descendants) accorded the Preached Word of God equal status with the Written Word of God. Far from being an ego-booster, this is a great and terrible responsibility for whomever stands in this pulpit. The words I speak to you right now are not my own--they are God's, and if my words ever veer away from his words, then I pray that you do actually fall asleep, rather than listening to me ramble.

−	But I shouldn't worry too much about that. The reformers also taught that the Holy Spirit works even through the words of a bad preacher, transforming what was said into what needed to be heard. I can think of plenty of times when I've preached what I thought was my worst sermon ever, only to have someone come up to me and say "you said exactly what God needed me to hear today." Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit! Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, not just by the work of the preacher, or the work of the Holy Spirit, but it's ~~also work (~~and hard work!~~) to truly~~ hear God's ~~word~~. ~~One~~ of Jesus' ~~favorite sayings was "Let him~~ who ~~has~~	+	But I shouldn't worry too much about that. The reformers also taught that the Holy Spirit works even through the words of a bad preacher, transforming what was said into what needed to be heard. I can think of plenty of times when I've preached what I thought was my worst sermon ever, only to have someone come up to me and say "you said exactly what God needed me to hear today." Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit! Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, not just by the work of the preacher, or the work of the Holy Spirit, but by the work of the one who hears. One of Jesus' favorite sayings was "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Hearing God's word is not a passive thing -- it's active. If ''proclaiming'' involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring, then ''hearing'' involves listening, searching, reflecting, receiving, and also connecting. Hearing God's Word...is hard work!
		+
		+	We proclaim and hear God's Word. So what is God's Word? Now we're at the very heart of worship! Remember that God's word is not merely the bible (although that is an important aspect of God's Word!). Primarily, God's word is Jesus Christ, the living Word. And the living Word--Jesus--is reflected in God's written word, the Bible. The living Word is reflected in the God's proclaimed word, the Sermon. And finally, the living Word is reflected in God's enacted word, the sacraments (We'll hear more on that from Neal Presa, who will preach next week's sermon, Part II of "We Proclaim and Hear God's Word). Three important aspects to God's Word, Jesus Christ

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	And since we're putting in plugs, another place where I'd like to eventually see more "we" develop is in the scripture readings. I have been part of services where the entire congregation will stand and read one of the scripture readings together in unison. At the very least, they don't always have to be read by Rev. Lynette or me. So if you have a strong voice, and are not intimidated by names like King Cushanrishathaim of Aram-Naharaim (Judges 3:8), Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1), or Zaphenathpaneah (Genesis 41:45), then please see me sometime about being a lay liturgist on Sunday mornings, so you can help us proclaim God's word to God's people (and I promise I won't preach on any of those three texts anytime soon!).		And since we're putting in plugs, another place where I'd like to eventually see more "we" develop is in the scripture readings. I have been part of services where the entire congregation will stand and read one of the scripture readings together in unison. At the very least, they don't always have to be read by Rev. Lynette or me. So if you have a strong voice, and are not intimidated by names like King Cushanrishathaim of Aram-Naharaim (Judges 3:8), Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1), or Zaphenathpaneah (Genesis 41:45), then please see me sometime about being a lay liturgist on Sunday mornings, so you can help us proclaim God's word to God's people (and I promise I won't preach on any of those three texts anytime soon!).

−	We proclaim and hear God's Word. Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, especially in our text from Romans this morning: "How are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?" The Oxford English Dictionary gives a rather straightforward definition of the word ''proclaim'': "To declare publicly; to make known aloud or openly; to publish." But especially in our Presbyterian tradition, proclaiming is so much more than just reading from the scriptures--proclaiming involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring. If you have fallen asleep by the end of the sermon, we have obviously not connected with each other, and there's a good chance that we are ''both'' to blame for that. The reformers of the 16th century felt so strongly about the importance of preaching, they taught that proclaiming the Word of God '''IS''' the Word of God. They (and we as their descendants) accorded the Preached Word of God equal status with the Written Word of God. Far from being an ego-booster, this is a great and terrible responsibility for whomever stands in this pulpit. The words I speak to you right now are not my own--they are God's, and if my words ever veer away from his words, then I pray that you do actually fall asleep.	+	We proclaim and hear God's Word. Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, especially in our text from Romans this morning: "How are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?" The Oxford English Dictionary gives a rather straightforward definition of the word ''proclaim'': "To declare publicly; to make known aloud or openly; to publish." But especially in our Presbyterian tradition, proclaiming is so much more than just reading from the scriptures--proclaiming involves explaining, teaching, persuading, connecting, and inspiring. If you have fallen asleep by the end of the sermon, we have obviously not connected with each other, and there's a good chance that we are ''both'' to blame for that. The reformers of the 16th century felt so strongly about the importance of preaching, they taught that proclaiming the Word of God '''IS''' the Word of God. They (and we as their descendants) accorded the Preached Word of God equal status with the Written Word of God. Far from being an ego-booster, this is a great and terrible responsibility for whomever stands in this pulpit. The words I speak to you right now are not my own--they are God's, and if my words ever veer away from his words, then I pray that you do actually fall asleep, rather than listening to me ramble.
		+
		+	But I shouldn't worry too much about that. The reformers also taught that the Holy Spirit works even through the words of a bad preacher, transforming what was said into what needed to be heard. I can think of plenty of times when I've preached what I thought was my worst sermon ever, only to have someone come up to me and say "you said exactly what God needed me to hear today." Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit! Proclaiming and hearing are interconnected, not just by the work of the preacher, or the work of the Holy Spirit, but it's also work (and hard work!) to truly hear God's word. One of Jesus' favorite sayings was "Let him who has