The Art of Listening (Luke #41) - Bible Baptist Church

The Art of Listening

Text: Luke 10:38-42

The divine commandment is to hear Jesus Christ

Hearing means more than recognizing the sounds coming out of someone’s mouth. It means paying attention so you can listen to their heart.
The act of hearing vs the art of listening
The Father says Hear ye him…
- Hear Christ’s words
- Hear Christ’s life
- Chrisrt’s words became the apostle’s doctrine.
Sermon on the Mount Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Paul said to the Corinthians a similar thing, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

According to the LORD Jesus Christ, Mary chose something as a priority that needed to be at the top of Martha’s priority list. While Martha is in the kitchen preparing to be hospitable to care for her guest, Mary sits in the den seemingly uncaring about all the things Martha is worried about. The LORD says Mary has chosen to sit and hear what he has to say which is the most important thing.
Needful (10:42)
- Words of life are required
- Without light, you and I can’t see. Without hearing Jesus Christ, we can’t live.
Good
- We can feed our souls
- We find the will of God which is life eternal and good things.
Eternal (10:42)
- What’s rewarded

She is humble in that she knows she needs to hear what the LORD has to say.
God’s words aren’t magic spells. They are light to change who you are by changing how you act. The point is to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ in mind, heart, attitude, motivation, and behavior.
Listening brings about change. Learning to listen and being heard brings about change. And change is what you’re uncomfortable with. Change is the goal.
Many of you prove you’ve never listened to the LORD because nothing in your life has actually changed in accordance with what the LORD says. No change means you aren’t and may never have been listening.

Curiosity helps us survive. The urge to explore helps us remain vigilant and gain knowledge about our constantly changing environment.
Curious people are happier. Research has shown curiosity to be associated with happiness. Did you notice that Martha was troubled about stuff but Mary wasn’t?
Curiosity expands our empathy. When you’re curious about others, we become better able to understand those with lives, experiences, and worldviews different than our own. Have you ever tried to understand and listen to someone who didn’t think like you? And then truly care for them? Have you ever tried to empathize with the LORD?
Curiosity strengthens relationships. This is another research-based observation.
Some of you approach the word of God like you already know all the major things. You really believe any changes would be minor, insignificant things.
Replace criticism with curiosity.
Replace certainty with curiosity.

Deeyah Khan White Right Meeting the Enemy – She is a Muslim who met with white supremacists to interview them about what they believed about her and why. Over the course of her interviews, several of these white supremacists began trusting her because she wasn’t asking questions to make judgments about them. She was LISTENING. Many of them became introspective and instead of trying to defend their beliefs, they started to consider their beliefs and several of them abandoned the white supremacists’ group and mindset.
- People aren’t likely to change when told they need to change.
- But when people are heard and free to think through their own failures apart from competition and challenge, the threat is removed so a person is able to evaluate their own lives without having to defend themselves.
The truth is that trust is given to those who listen. The LORD will give you more if you listen to Him.
Mary chose that good part that won’t be taken away from her.

The art of listening