After the Sermon Part 1

Driving home: Understand and lay to heart and I express that concern this way that having heard the word preached it ought to be our most crucial concern to retain that word in our hearts and to experience its appropriate influence up…

The illustration of a man given a costly diamond is used to show that true estimation of an object's worth is manifested in efforts to preserve and protect it, applying this to treasuring the preached Word.

And then we concluded by considering this concern illustrated and applied. And with the very crude illustration of the man given a very costly diamond. We sought to capture the principle that our true estimation of the worth of an object is manifested in our effort to preserve and protect that object from loss or from harm. And if we truly treasure the word we have received in preaching.

10:41 - 11:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin establishes repetition as an observable fact of general revelation, a powerful means for the mind to retain thoughts. He illustrates this with teaching children to say…

A personal anecdote about teaching his youngest grandchild, Melissa, to say 'please' through relentless repetition, demonstrating how ideas are retained in the mind.

When you parents are teaching your child to say please and thank you. How do you do this? By repetition ad nauseam. We've been watching our little youngest grandchild Melissa learn to say please.

15:34 - 15:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin establishes repetition as an observable fact of general revelation, a powerful means for the mind to retain thoughts. He illustrates this with teaching children to say…

The example of top gun pilots learning high-tech maneuvers through repetition is used to show how proficiency and instinct are developed through repeated practice.

When they say numma numma. To those top gun pilots learning high tech maneuvers with airplanes flying at twice the speed of sound. They learn proficiency in what they're doing by repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition. Until it becomes so much a part of the mental furniture that triggers the physiological reactions.

17:35 - 18:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It was this truth held before the eyeballs of his soul in that moment. How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

The story of Joseph resisting Potiphar's wife is used to illustrate that it's not abstract knowledge of God's omnipresence but the present, vivid picture of truth before the soul that enables one to stand in temptation.

archived and put away somewhere in the dark, dusty cobwebs of the file drawers of the human mind and soul. But it is the truths that stand out before us in bold relief in any given situation that determine what we will do. You see, it wasn't Joseph's abstract confession of the absolute omniscience, omnipresence of God and his moral obligations to walk with integrity before God that kept him when Potiphar's wife got the hocks for him.

24:32 - 25:08 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But nails driven clean to the hilt.

The metaphor from Ecclesiastes 12:11 of 'nails well fastened' is used to describe the preacher's task of deeply implanting God's truth into the minds and hearts of people, not just superficially.

The words of the wise are as goads. And as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies. Which are given from one shepherd. A wise preacher will not only seek to see the word of God become goads.

34:03 - 34:23 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin offers concrete suggestions for practicing sanctified repetition: repeating sermon truths on the way home, engaging children in repeating points, discussing sermons at meal…

A personal anecdote about his wife leading prayer after the Sunday morning service, reiterating the sermon's thrust, illustrates how repetition in prayer helps assimilate spiritual food.

But one of the precious rituals in our home. Is when we go back home and have our meal. My wife usually has my meal ready at two o'clock. Sunday morning we bring separate cars.

41:34 - 41:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin offers concrete suggestions for practicing sanctified repetition: repeating sermon truths on the way home, engaging children in repeating points, discussing sermons at meal…

The analogy of the sluggard who hunts but doesn't roast his game is used to illustrate the tragedy of putting effort into hearing the Word but failing to process and assimilate it through repetition, leading to its loss.

To use the imagery of. Solomon to begin to roast that which he took in hunting. It says the slugger does not roast that which he takes in hunting. He spends all the time and effort to prepare his hunting gear.

42:30 - 42:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Make it your central concern to retain the truth in your heart and seek its appropriate manifestation in your life, using repetition as a divinely established means.

A personal anecdote about 'victory gardens' during World War II, where seeds were carefully planted and covered, is used to illustrate the need to push the 'seed' of the preached Word deep into the heart for germination and fruit-bearing.

And World War Two was related we are at war and so if you had any gum you separated the tin foil from the piece of paper and you rolled in a little ball until you had a ball this big and you took it to a collection center you were at war we were at war and there was that sense we're all involved in this and so when they urge people to raise their own vegetables so there'd be more food to send to our troops it wasn't just called a patriotic garden it was called a victory garden.

52:59 - 53:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Make it your central concern to retain the truth in your heart and seek its appropriate manifestation in your life, using repetition as a divinely established means.

A quotation from an old Puritan is used to address the objection that hearing the Word well is too costly, arguing that God's great work for man demands man's whole being in spiritual duties.

a man like Togelis literally studied himself blind in his devotion to seeking to ascertain what God's word is what God really said in the original letters and portions of the word of God what has it cost others that we might have a Bible to be preached and a word to which to take heed and we have the promise of God I can do all things through him who strengthens me I give you the words of an old Puritan who faced apparently this objection in addressing

58:41 - 59:25 Read in full sermon