Not Void: Hard of Hearing

The sermon explores the division caused by the hard teachings of Jesus in John chapter six, emphasizing that the gospel inherently scandalizes and separates the truly believing from the superficial crowd. It argues that offense at divine truth is a sign of spiritual hardness, while true faith recognizes Jesus as the sole source of eternal life despite the offensive nature of substitutionary atonement. The preacher contrasts the visible church, which often abandons Christ when teachings become difficult, with the invisible church of the elect who remain steadfast through divine grace. Using illustrations of hearing aids and cochlear implants, the text highlights the necessity of the Holy Spirit to illuminate hearts so they can receive the life-giving power of God’s Word. Ultimately, the message calls listeners to embrace the scandal of grace without apology and to rely on Christ alone for spiritual sustenance.