1. Are You Still Listening?
Many Jews never really listened to Jesus -- John 8:43

2. Listening up to a Point
Paul’s audience listened to a point they disagreed with. (Acts 22:22)
Jeremiah’s audience stopped listening after three or four pages (Jeremiah 36:23-24)
Stephen’s audience listened to the conclusion, but then stopped their ears (Acts 7:57)

3. Prejudice usually determines the place where a person stops listening!
An unbeliever will listen until you mention “God” (Genesis 1:1) or the “Bible” (2 Timothy 3:16)
A follower of a world religion will listen until you mention “Jesus” (Acts 4:12)
A devout denominationalist will listen until you mention “baptism“ (Acts 2:38), or “works” (James 2:26)
A liberal theologian will listen until you mention “miracle” (Acts 2:22).

4. Prejudice usually determines the place where a person stops listening!
An uncommitted religious person will listen until you mention “obedience” (Heb. 5:9) or “self denial” (Matthew 16:24).
Some churches of Christ will listen until you mention “pattern” (2 Timothy 1:13)
A miser will listen until you mention giving cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7) or covetousness (Ephesians 5:3).
An immodest dresser will listen until you mention “modest apparel” (1 Timothy 2:9) 4

5. Prejudicial Hearing: What is the Cause?
Tradition, custom
False teaching, error
Limited knowledge, ignorance
Pride, hardness of heart
Lack of Commitment
Ultimately it is a matter of loving darkness more than light! (John 3:19-20)

6. Do We Keep Our Ears Open To All of God’s Word? Are we…
Swift to hear (James 1:19-21)
Attentive (Nehemiah 8:3)
Ready to hear every command (Acts 10:33)

7. Are You Still Listening?
“ For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” Matthew 13:15 7