The Bible is a precious book to us as Christians. It is more than just a history of Israel and a history of the life of Jesus and the early Christian church. It is more than a rule book which tells us what we are to do and what we aren't to do. It is more than a descriptive account of what God is like and what human nature is like. It is the Word of God through which God offers to us eternal life. Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God invites us to believe in his son and to receive the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. As Jesus tells us, "Search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life."

You would think that since this is the case, that everyone would respond to the invitation to faith in Jesus in the same way. You would think that everyone would say "Yes" and would jump at the chance to hear this word, to study it, to believe it, and to live it.

Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen immediately or even after time. Why that is has been the topic of many a doctrinal thesis and the cause of debate among theologians to this day. Why do some people allow the word of God to go in one ear and out the other? Why do some receive it at first with great joy only to fall away later? What leads some to believe it but to still be fraught with doubts and the cares and concerns of this world? What motivates some to believe the word and produce abundant fruit? (These are the responses Jesus gives in his parable of the sower and the seed.)

The purpose of the sermon today isn't to explore all the nuances of why some reject the word of God and others are filled with a new life through faith in the promises in that word. The purpose of today's sermon is to note what God wants us to do by the power of the Holy Spirit when the Word of God comes to us and we are invited to grow in our faith in Jesus.

How to Respond to the Word of God 

1. There are those who reject it.
2. There are those who honor it.

Context: Luke tells us about a time when Paul and Barnabas spoke the Word of God in a place called Perga which was in Pamphylia. (A small province in Asia Minor). The week before they had given this sermon to the people (Quote) 
"Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.
"After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'
23 "From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: 'Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'
26 "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
"'You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.'
34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:
"'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'
35 So it is stated elsewhere:
"'You will not let your Holy One see decay.'
36 "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 "'Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.'"

After being invited to return the next week, we are told that a large number of people came to hear.

We don't see that too often in our congregations any more in which a large number of people turn out to listen to a sermon. Why not? Human nature has a way of becoming bored with that which is familiar. For example, attendance at Milwaukee Brewer games is soaring. Why? For many, it is to experience Miller Park. But history shows that in a short time as the novelty wears off, those who only came to see the park will stay home and attendance will drop as well. 

This happens in churches too. A new pastor comes and attendance may rise for a short period of time. But when he is preaching the same thing the former pastor did, some soon find other things to do than to hear the Word of God. Jesus had predicted such a reaction in his parable of the Sower when he referred to the seed which fell on rocky soil which pictures those who at first receive the word with great joy only to fall away because they had no root. Jesus himself experienced such a response to his own ministry.

But for now, Paul and Barnabas faced a huge crowd.

But not everyone was there to accept the invitation to believe in Jesus or to live for him. Luke describes the opposition in this way (Quote)
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
Truth: There are those who reject the Word of God. Even though the Gospel offers a new life in Christ which will culminate in the new Jerusalem described in Revelation, there are those who want no part of it. Not only that, they also try to discredit those who bring the Gospel and to pull people away from them. 

Application: Although we may not reject the Word of God with the same ferocity as the Jews did, we too are at times guilty of such rejection of the Word. As Jesus warns in his parable of the sower, do we not at times . . .
· Choose not to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Word?
· Hear the word only to have it go in one ear and out the other?
· Have an initial enthusiastic spurt only to fizzle out because we didn't become rooted in the word?
· Let the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out our response?

The Bible warns against such folly. Romans 2:5ff.
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 

Transition: There are those who by their own fault reject the Word of God and therefore Jesus. But by God's grace, there are those whom the Holy Spirit works faith in their hearts so that they do believe.

2. There are Those Who Respond to the Word of God by Honoring It.

Note again how some of the people in Perga honored the Word of God. 
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

This is in keeping with what Jesus also said in his parable of the Sower. Recall also how the Psalmist described his love for the word of God in Psalm 119. 
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

We have an example again at this time of year of those who have responded to the Word of God by receiving it with joy and by honoring it. God has planted the seed of his word in the hearts of these young Christians who were just confirmed. They do believe in our God and that Jesus is their savior and that his word is true and that it is a guide for their lives. They do not throw rocks at their Pastor or go home questioning what the Word of God says. The Word of God has become a source of strength to them that they will rely on for years to come. And they are not alone. We do have many who by God's grace also receive that word with gladness and joy.

Conclusion: According to our sinful human nature, none of us would want to do that. But because the Gospel has not only invited us to believe in Jesus but also has brought us to faith, we do respond to the Word of God as the Gentiles did--by honoring it and gladly hearing and learning it. Amen.