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Listen, Listen, Speak: Hearing God and Being Heard in a Noisy World
We live in an age of noise and it’s deafening. Here, learn how to hear God and speak Good News in a way that can be heard.
The effects of social media and the news are felt deeply in our day-to-day lives. The countless voices—the pundits, the influencers, the personalities—offering opinions and spewing vitriol nonstop have created a cacophony of chaos. It’s difficult to know what’s true or who to trust. It’s difficult to hear God and be heard.
In this book, pastor and author Jay Kim offers thoughtful, concrete guidance for how to listen amidst the noise, hear God, and then speak Good News so to be heard. Drawing on Scripture, social science, and cultural exegesis, Kim helps Practical, biblical, and eminently wise, Listen, Listen, Speak is an indispensable guidebook for Christians living in our culture today. It will equip you to not just speak into the chaos with the love of Jesus but more importantly to listen, to one another and to God.
The effects of social media and the news are felt deeply in our day-to-day lives. The countless voices—the pundits, the influencers, the personalities—offering opinions and spewing vitriol nonstop have created a cacophony of chaos. It’s difficult to know what’s true or who to trust. It’s difficult to hear God and be heard.
In this book, pastor and author Jay Kim offers thoughtful, concrete guidance for how to listen amidst the noise, hear God, and then speak Good News so to be heard. Drawing on Scripture, social science, and cultural exegesis, Kim helps Practical, biblical, and eminently wise, Listen, Listen, Speak is an indispensable guidebook for Christians living in our culture today. It will equip you to not just speak into the chaos with the love of Jesus but more importantly to listen, to one another and to God.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 16, 2024
4 people are currently reading
1589 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 30, 2024
Listen Listen Speak is a call to live in contrast to the speed and noise of our fast paced digital culture. To listen to God intentionally and relationally, to listen to the hurting and displaced world around us with compassion and understanding, and then to speak with the grace and truth of God that we have experienced and heard in the stillness ourselves. Great book, Jay Kim is well read, culturally astute, and biblically grounded. Some key quotes that I found significant and give a synopsis of the books message:
“We expect volume. But there is a difference between volume and clarity. Just because something is loud does not mean it’s clear. And though loudness often grabs our attention, it’s clarity that holds our attention. Grabbing attention is transactional. Holding attention is relational. Our social media feeds grab our attention because of their offer of momentary escape. But God longs to speak to us clearly, not loudly, because he longs to hold our attention, not simply grab it; he desires relationship with us, not transaction.”
“Hearing is not enough. God does not speak for us to be inactive or idle. God speaks in order to send us back into the world with something to say…
This is the challenge and opportunity before us. Followers of Jesus are called to do the difficult and beautiful work of carving paths of belonging through all the outrage and tribalism, paths paved by grace and truth, and made accessible to the lonely, isolated, and all those in despair. Together as Christians, we must declare loudly and clearly, boldly and beautifully, that belonging is possible—deep, meaningful belonging, to God and his people.”
“We expect volume. But there is a difference between volume and clarity. Just because something is loud does not mean it’s clear. And though loudness often grabs our attention, it’s clarity that holds our attention. Grabbing attention is transactional. Holding attention is relational. Our social media feeds grab our attention because of their offer of momentary escape. But God longs to speak to us clearly, not loudly, because he longs to hold our attention, not simply grab it; he desires relationship with us, not transaction.”
“Hearing is not enough. God does not speak for us to be inactive or idle. God speaks in order to send us back into the world with something to say…
This is the challenge and opportunity before us. Followers of Jesus are called to do the difficult and beautiful work of carving paths of belonging through all the outrage and tribalism, paths paved by grace and truth, and made accessible to the lonely, isolated, and all those in despair. Together as Christians, we must declare loudly and clearly, boldly and beautifully, that belonging is possible—deep, meaningful belonging, to God and his people.”
May 17, 2024
I was sent an e-book (in pdf format) version of this book to review in advance of his publication date. I enjoyed this new book by Jay Kim just as much as his book, "Analog Church." I really appreciated what he had to say in his first book and found it so full of teaching material that is valuable in ministry. His new book, "Listen, Listen, Speak" for me goes right along with his "Analog Church." I think it expands on his previous book, and gives more insight into the digital side of things. One of the things that really led me to read the book, has to do with the issue of silence and hearing. This is something that really involves me personally in away, because I have tinnitus in both ears, and the sound is different in each ear. And for me it is often a constant presence. So I do not readily identify with having silence or no noise. And if you are wondering, yes it can be very frustrating at times. Anyway that is one of the reasons I was intrigued about Kim's new book. That being said, I will address my views on the book and what I got out of it.
One of the things that I appreciated the most about Jay's book was the amount of Scripture he used, and that he did not just quote the verses he put them in context of what he was writing about. The biggest take away for me in that regard is Jay's emphasis that the primary way we hear God is through His written Word. I have a real problem when people that God spoke to them, and when I ask them how, often no Scripture is involved, instead it is more feeling oriented. It is important how we hear God and I would say even how we listen harmonizes with His written revelation to us (i.e. the Bible).
The second thing is that really hit home for me is that we so desperately need to relearn how to listen and care for one another. We need to step back and evaluate how our digital communication interferes with doing that very thing. This indeed involves the idea of "Who can I neighbor?" I really believe that is ultimately hard to do in a digital way. Although it is not impossible, I do not believe that it is the best way. Finally, I agree with Jay that we need to "see one another with clarity, detail and depth." There were so many things that I found valuable in this book that it is hard to list them all. One of my convictions and passions is spiritual transformation. I emphasize and teach this a lot in my ministry. This new book of Jay's will help tremendously in that regard. It is my firm belief that every church leader should read this book and pass it onto others. I cannot wait to get the hard copy of the book so that I can highlight and actually mark the pertinent pages that I found so helpful. Kudos to the author for such a well done book. This is a book to be read and read again, and discussed with others. I think that it would make for a great small-group discussion.
One of the things that I appreciated the most about Jay's book was the amount of Scripture he used, and that he did not just quote the verses he put them in context of what he was writing about. The biggest take away for me in that regard is Jay's emphasis that the primary way we hear God is through His written Word. I have a real problem when people that God spoke to them, and when I ask them how, often no Scripture is involved, instead it is more feeling oriented. It is important how we hear God and I would say even how we listen harmonizes with His written revelation to us (i.e. the Bible).
The second thing is that really hit home for me is that we so desperately need to relearn how to listen and care for one another. We need to step back and evaluate how our digital communication interferes with doing that very thing. This indeed involves the idea of "Who can I neighbor?" I really believe that is ultimately hard to do in a digital way. Although it is not impossible, I do not believe that it is the best way. Finally, I agree with Jay that we need to "see one another with clarity, detail and depth." There were so many things that I found valuable in this book that it is hard to list them all. One of my convictions and passions is spiritual transformation. I emphasize and teach this a lot in my ministry. This new book of Jay's will help tremendously in that regard. It is my firm belief that every church leader should read this book and pass it onto others. I cannot wait to get the hard copy of the book so that I can highlight and actually mark the pertinent pages that I found so helpful. Kudos to the author for such a well done book. This is a book to be read and read again, and discussed with others. I think that it would make for a great small-group discussion.
May 23, 2024
I read Jay Kim’s “Analog Church” during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was helpful, despite the irony of the timing! “Listen, Listen, Speak” is a great continuation of the conversation on the noise of our increasingly online world and how to listen for God’s voice.
I loved the mix of research-based data with scripture! As a virtual high school teacher, I’m a big fan of Twenge and Haight’s research on tech use in teens and young students, so I appreciate tying this info into our increased need to listen more careful and speak life. I’m glad Jay Kim doesn’t stop with the Listening sections, but encourages us to use our voices to proclaim Good News!
I loved the mix of research-based data with scripture! As a virtual high school teacher, I’m a big fan of Twenge and Haight’s research on tech use in teens and young students, so I appreciate tying this info into our increased need to listen more careful and speak life. I’m glad Jay Kim doesn’t stop with the Listening sections, but encourages us to use our voices to proclaim Good News!
May 16, 2024
We want to be heard and understood. More often than not, people tend to mistake one for the other. In this social media culture, visibility is often linked to those who can speak the loudest, share the most, and attract the most attention. That is not always true. In fact, once the dust settles, we can see that there is more than meets the eye. Our world tends to be filled with all kinds of noises. Many clamour for attention but few bother to listen. In a wonderful push-back against the temptations of a noisy world, author Jay Kim has written an important book about learning to listen doubly hard before speaking. He calls us to distinguish "clarity" from "volume" by saying: ".. loudness often grabs our attention, it’s clarity that holds our attention. Grabbing attention is transactional. Holding attention is relational." Wise words. Listening is a key spiritual discipline. Elijah practices it. Jesus lives it. We are all called to do the same. Unfortunately, there are many barriers to listening. The author begins by helping us take down these barriers.
In Part One, he shows us the pitfalls of the lack of listening. With the rise of fake news and the malicious use of AI technology by scammers, we all need to learn the basics of discernment. The ability to listen well is essentially a way to meaningful prayer, which is about listening to God's voice. Otherwise, we not only risk being misled by the world, we risk reacting more from individualism and selfishly putting our own interests above others. Using many stories from the past and the present, Kim points out the follies of human predictions based on worldly standards, the futility of social media fame, and the tendency toward rapid uncontrolled outrage. Only true humble listening can we practice helpful speaking. Part Two shows us what that looks like. Kim shows us the "Why," "How," and "Where" in speaking. In the "How," he points out the need to be mindful of our gospel responsibility. When believers speak, they are instruments of the gospel. Good news is more than social justice. It is a call to others to listen to the voice that speaks eternal truth. We speak as voices of God. The two phrases that often help reduce outrage and vitriol are "I'm sorry," and "Tell me more." These five words are most helpful in a noisy world, which are covered in greater detail in Part Two of the book.
Part Two begins with the "Why" of speaking. Using the five words mentioned above, we are mindful of choosing helpful words when speaking, to overcome all manner of evil with good. We overcome the common social media tendencies toward anger, vitriol, and skepticism. For we speak as agents of good news, of a gospel that the world needs to hear. We speak not to win arguments but to save souls. This is a big distinction. The former is about winning while the latter focuses more on spreading the good news, regardless of arguments. Gospel people do not simply comment or critique. They communicate with love and a desire to change society for the better. In the "How," Kim guides us through speaking biblically. While many Christians would deem such an attitude acceptable, there are those who would consider biblical counsel as "offensive." Using a seemingly innocent tweet from Tim Keller about the most important thing is to read the Bible through at least once a year, Kim notes that not all would see such an advice kindly. One David Dark even calls such a tweet as "violence!" To each his own we may say, but Kim also points out an important Truth: The Bible is inherently "offensive" to a world of sin. Chapter 7 is about the "Where" of speaking. Here, Kim looks at the challenge of speaking in the midst of a "placeless age." In a transient economy, we are increasingly feeling a need for home. In such an environment, two things ultimately suffer: Belonging and Community. With the move to online world, this is becoming more common. This chapter is worth the price of the book as it deals with an underlying problem about the rise of hostility and a subsequent loss of community in an online world. He also gives us five ways to speak online, ranging from a simple task of listening, to a deeper part of revealing hidden hurts.
My Thoughts
What are the barriers to constructive online interactions? How do we relate better online? How can we communicate more effectively as a people of God? How can we respond biblically in a godless world? What are the changing contexts that we need to know in modern communications? These questions are all dealt with in this one book. The basic advice is to be quick to listen and slow to speak. In fact, this book could easily be adapted as a sermon series on deeper listening and better speaking. Let me share three thoughts about this book.
First, it is an important reminder about our tendency to speak off the cuff in a way that increases anger, vitriol, and skepticism. This is something that social media platforms are dealing with in a daily basis. Many people have had their comments or postings banned from FaceBook, Google, Reddit, Twitter, etc, because they had contravened the "terms of use" by the various platforms. Online rage is everywhere. We all know the divisions happening politically and social circles when discussing about different points of view. Even an innocent click on the "Like" button could degenerate into all kinds of abuses. By learning to listen first and to study the contexts before replying, one can reduce the tendency to add fuel to fire. The title of the book emphasizes this tip. Like having two ears and one mouth, we are reminded of the need to listen doubly hard before speaking.
Secondly, Kim reminds us on our gospel responsibility to participate as salt and light of the earth. It is easy for any believer to become like any other individual in the world, just giving their two cents of comments without due regard to contexts and concerns of the other parties. We are called to be different from the world, and one way of doing that is through constructive participation. Along with this responsibility is the reality of the risks of speaking biblically. When others criticize us for sharing anything from the Bible, remember that it is not us but God they are against. We do not need to feel defensive. God is more than able to defend himself. Winning souls is more important than winning arguments.
Thirdly, I find the wise tips on why, how, and where of speaking highly practical. A key strength in this book is Kim's insights on the background behind each behaviour. In the area of compulsive communications, he notes the inherent militant mode of communication due to misunderstanding and extreme individualism. His antidote is the use of five words: "I'm Sorry" and "Tell me more." This remarkably simple way is more powerful than we could ever imagine. In the area of respecting authority, he points out why there is a trust problem because of the influence of media, technology, and the increase of personal autonomy which renders everyone an authority in themselves. The solution: Community. In the area of boundaries, he shows us that there are many different ways to understand how we relate to one another. There are the spaces of intimacy, personal, social, and public that require us to adjust our way of communicating. Once we understand our own world of boundaries, we can better understand others.
Overall, I am impressed by the clarity of Kim's cultural understanding and his deep sensitivity to the changing society we are in. If we learn to listen doubly hard to what Kim is saying to us in this book, not only could we train our minds and hearts to listen more to God's prompting, we can be guided toward better speaking in general. This book is a must-read in an increasingly online world.
Jay Y. Kim serves as lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley. He is the author of Analog Church, winner of the Gospel Coalition’s First-Time Author Award, and the follow-up Analog Christian, winner of Outreach Magazine’s Leadership Resource of the Year award. Jay also serves on the leadership team of the ReGeneration Project and hosts the Digital Examen podcast and Barna’s Making Space podcast. He lives in the Silicon Valley with his wife, Jenny, and their two children.
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Faithwords without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
In Part One, he shows us the pitfalls of the lack of listening. With the rise of fake news and the malicious use of AI technology by scammers, we all need to learn the basics of discernment. The ability to listen well is essentially a way to meaningful prayer, which is about listening to God's voice. Otherwise, we not only risk being misled by the world, we risk reacting more from individualism and selfishly putting our own interests above others. Using many stories from the past and the present, Kim points out the follies of human predictions based on worldly standards, the futility of social media fame, and the tendency toward rapid uncontrolled outrage. Only true humble listening can we practice helpful speaking. Part Two shows us what that looks like. Kim shows us the "Why," "How," and "Where" in speaking. In the "How," he points out the need to be mindful of our gospel responsibility. When believers speak, they are instruments of the gospel. Good news is more than social justice. It is a call to others to listen to the voice that speaks eternal truth. We speak as voices of God. The two phrases that often help reduce outrage and vitriol are "I'm sorry," and "Tell me more." These five words are most helpful in a noisy world, which are covered in greater detail in Part Two of the book.
Part Two begins with the "Why" of speaking. Using the five words mentioned above, we are mindful of choosing helpful words when speaking, to overcome all manner of evil with good. We overcome the common social media tendencies toward anger, vitriol, and skepticism. For we speak as agents of good news, of a gospel that the world needs to hear. We speak not to win arguments but to save souls. This is a big distinction. The former is about winning while the latter focuses more on spreading the good news, regardless of arguments. Gospel people do not simply comment or critique. They communicate with love and a desire to change society for the better. In the "How," Kim guides us through speaking biblically. While many Christians would deem such an attitude acceptable, there are those who would consider biblical counsel as "offensive." Using a seemingly innocent tweet from Tim Keller about the most important thing is to read the Bible through at least once a year, Kim notes that not all would see such an advice kindly. One David Dark even calls such a tweet as "violence!" To each his own we may say, but Kim also points out an important Truth: The Bible is inherently "offensive" to a world of sin. Chapter 7 is about the "Where" of speaking. Here, Kim looks at the challenge of speaking in the midst of a "placeless age." In a transient economy, we are increasingly feeling a need for home. In such an environment, two things ultimately suffer: Belonging and Community. With the move to online world, this is becoming more common. This chapter is worth the price of the book as it deals with an underlying problem about the rise of hostility and a subsequent loss of community in an online world. He also gives us five ways to speak online, ranging from a simple task of listening, to a deeper part of revealing hidden hurts.
My Thoughts
What are the barriers to constructive online interactions? How do we relate better online? How can we communicate more effectively as a people of God? How can we respond biblically in a godless world? What are the changing contexts that we need to know in modern communications? These questions are all dealt with in this one book. The basic advice is to be quick to listen and slow to speak. In fact, this book could easily be adapted as a sermon series on deeper listening and better speaking. Let me share three thoughts about this book.
First, it is an important reminder about our tendency to speak off the cuff in a way that increases anger, vitriol, and skepticism. This is something that social media platforms are dealing with in a daily basis. Many people have had their comments or postings banned from FaceBook, Google, Reddit, Twitter, etc, because they had contravened the "terms of use" by the various platforms. Online rage is everywhere. We all know the divisions happening politically and social circles when discussing about different points of view. Even an innocent click on the "Like" button could degenerate into all kinds of abuses. By learning to listen first and to study the contexts before replying, one can reduce the tendency to add fuel to fire. The title of the book emphasizes this tip. Like having two ears and one mouth, we are reminded of the need to listen doubly hard before speaking.
Secondly, Kim reminds us on our gospel responsibility to participate as salt and light of the earth. It is easy for any believer to become like any other individual in the world, just giving their two cents of comments without due regard to contexts and concerns of the other parties. We are called to be different from the world, and one way of doing that is through constructive participation. Along with this responsibility is the reality of the risks of speaking biblically. When others criticize us for sharing anything from the Bible, remember that it is not us but God they are against. We do not need to feel defensive. God is more than able to defend himself. Winning souls is more important than winning arguments.
Thirdly, I find the wise tips on why, how, and where of speaking highly practical. A key strength in this book is Kim's insights on the background behind each behaviour. In the area of compulsive communications, he notes the inherent militant mode of communication due to misunderstanding and extreme individualism. His antidote is the use of five words: "I'm Sorry" and "Tell me more." This remarkably simple way is more powerful than we could ever imagine. In the area of respecting authority, he points out why there is a trust problem because of the influence of media, technology, and the increase of personal autonomy which renders everyone an authority in themselves. The solution: Community. In the area of boundaries, he shows us that there are many different ways to understand how we relate to one another. There are the spaces of intimacy, personal, social, and public that require us to adjust our way of communicating. Once we understand our own world of boundaries, we can better understand others.
Overall, I am impressed by the clarity of Kim's cultural understanding and his deep sensitivity to the changing society we are in. If we learn to listen doubly hard to what Kim is saying to us in this book, not only could we train our minds and hearts to listen more to God's prompting, we can be guided toward better speaking in general. This book is a must-read in an increasingly online world.
Jay Y. Kim serves as lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley. He is the author of Analog Church, winner of the Gospel Coalition’s First-Time Author Award, and the follow-up Analog Christian, winner of Outreach Magazine’s Leadership Resource of the Year award. Jay also serves on the leadership team of the ReGeneration Project and hosts the Digital Examen podcast and Barna’s Making Space podcast. He lives in the Silicon Valley with his wife, Jenny, and their two children.
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Faithwords without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
April 12, 2024
Excellent book. The best part is the exegetical insights from Scripture. This book will help you reflect on various aspects of the Christian life in a chaotic age. And unlike other books these days, none of it was written by AI.
Jay Kim has written two books focusing on digital technologies and social media, and this book continues in that vein. He leverages insights from both secular and Christian sources and then contrasts our contemporary moment with Scripture.
Kim flexes his pastoral muscles by providing scholarly historical definitions of various words alongside compassionate applications. This becomes repetitive at times. I almost rolled my eyes as I came to page 144, when Kim says, "Some linguists think that the word sorry originates from the old Norse word sarr, meaning "sore or wound..." But then I kept reading. He says that sar meant "painful, aching, wounding," in Old Engish which gave rise to the words sore and sorrow today. He notes that I'm sorry, therefore, traditionally has had a sense of empathy. Kim says that saying this phrase, "is a way of leaning into the pain, ache, and wound of another."
I will never receive or give an I'm sorry in the same way. I see far more emotional connection to those words now. And I'm thankful to Kim for that.
I'm also thankful for other key insights. Like the value of saying, "Tell me more" (pg 144-146). Or the difference between acting like in a theatre in a play and praying like Jesus wanted us to, or clanging your tithe into a tin like a trumpeter or giving to the poor out of gratitude (pg 74-77). Or the model of Paul in Acts 17 in responding to distress with close friends while speaking publicly with reason (pg 134-139). Or the difference between fixating on the future and praying for the future; of a heart of control vs a heart of surrender (pg 47-50).
Altogether, there are a ton of individual insights that make this a valuable book not only for an individual Christian trying to grow in their faith but also for the pastor who is looking for stories and word definitions to help prepare a sermon.
Unlike other books on "hearing God," such as John Eldredge's Walking With God, this book emphasizes how God has spoken to us in Scripture. Yes, we should be silent more than we are. But Jay Kim encourages us to fill our minds with Scripture, rather than simply assume that our inner thoughts are the Holy Spirit thinking. I'm glad this wasn't a book that kept saying we should slow down and sit in silence as if that was the solution to our restless age. But Jay Kim wants to be clear: God is not a cosmic vending machine (pg 224). Instead, "The reason such an approach never works is because God isn't interested in giving us answers. God is only interested in giving us himself" (pg 225). Amen! And there is no better gift!
All that said, I wish the book leaned more into the "listen before you speak" idea. The introduction and conclusion indicate that the book is about listening and speaking. But as you read the bulk of the book, these two themes recede to the background, as each of the eight chapters has a theme unto itself. For example, chapter one is titled God's Timeless Voice amid the Rage of Personalities, and raises questions of expressive individualism, social media algorithms, AI deep fakes, and prayer. Each of these topics is helpfully discussed in relation to biblical principles, but it can feel scattered at times.
After reading most of Jay Y. Kim's last two books, I was expecting more of a cohesive theme. But this one has more of a devotional, or, perhaps a biblical-reflections kind of feel. Frequently, Kim illustrates his concepts from his own life.
There's nothing wrong with that kind of book. And I think this book will help people grow. But if I'm going to recommend believer to read a book on how they should respond to the chaos of our internet age, I'm going to recommend Jay Kim's other book, Analog Christian or a book by Samuel James called Digital Liturgies.
This book could easily have gotten five stars for me, but I've decided I'm going to try to reserve that for the best two or so books I read each year. My guess is that this one will be in my top ten, but not my top two.
I was given a e-book version of this book in advance of its public release for the podcast I cohost, What Would Jesus Tech.
Jay Kim has written two books focusing on digital technologies and social media, and this book continues in that vein. He leverages insights from both secular and Christian sources and then contrasts our contemporary moment with Scripture.
Kim flexes his pastoral muscles by providing scholarly historical definitions of various words alongside compassionate applications. This becomes repetitive at times. I almost rolled my eyes as I came to page 144, when Kim says, "Some linguists think that the word sorry originates from the old Norse word sarr, meaning "sore or wound..." But then I kept reading. He says that sar meant "painful, aching, wounding," in Old Engish which gave rise to the words sore and sorrow today. He notes that I'm sorry, therefore, traditionally has had a sense of empathy. Kim says that saying this phrase, "is a way of leaning into the pain, ache, and wound of another."
I will never receive or give an I'm sorry in the same way. I see far more emotional connection to those words now. And I'm thankful to Kim for that.
I'm also thankful for other key insights. Like the value of saying, "Tell me more" (pg 144-146). Or the difference between acting like in a theatre in a play and praying like Jesus wanted us to, or clanging your tithe into a tin like a trumpeter or giving to the poor out of gratitude (pg 74-77). Or the model of Paul in Acts 17 in responding to distress with close friends while speaking publicly with reason (pg 134-139). Or the difference between fixating on the future and praying for the future; of a heart of control vs a heart of surrender (pg 47-50).
Altogether, there are a ton of individual insights that make this a valuable book not only for an individual Christian trying to grow in their faith but also for the pastor who is looking for stories and word definitions to help prepare a sermon.
Unlike other books on "hearing God," such as John Eldredge's Walking With God, this book emphasizes how God has spoken to us in Scripture. Yes, we should be silent more than we are. But Jay Kim encourages us to fill our minds with Scripture, rather than simply assume that our inner thoughts are the Holy Spirit thinking. I'm glad this wasn't a book that kept saying we should slow down and sit in silence as if that was the solution to our restless age. But Jay Kim wants to be clear: God is not a cosmic vending machine (pg 224). Instead, "The reason such an approach never works is because God isn't interested in giving us answers. God is only interested in giving us himself" (pg 225). Amen! And there is no better gift!
All that said, I wish the book leaned more into the "listen before you speak" idea. The introduction and conclusion indicate that the book is about listening and speaking. But as you read the bulk of the book, these two themes recede to the background, as each of the eight chapters has a theme unto itself. For example, chapter one is titled God's Timeless Voice amid the Rage of Personalities, and raises questions of expressive individualism, social media algorithms, AI deep fakes, and prayer. Each of these topics is helpfully discussed in relation to biblical principles, but it can feel scattered at times.
After reading most of Jay Y. Kim's last two books, I was expecting more of a cohesive theme. But this one has more of a devotional, or, perhaps a biblical-reflections kind of feel. Frequently, Kim illustrates his concepts from his own life.
There's nothing wrong with that kind of book. And I think this book will help people grow. But if I'm going to recommend believer to read a book on how they should respond to the chaos of our internet age, I'm going to recommend Jay Kim's other book, Analog Christian or a book by Samuel James called Digital Liturgies.
This book could easily have gotten five stars for me, but I've decided I'm going to try to reserve that for the best two or so books I read each year. My guess is that this one will be in my top ten, but not my top two.
I was given a e-book version of this book in advance of its public release for the podcast I cohost, What Would Jesus Tech.
May 19, 2024
(4.5) Overall, I once again find Kim to be a thoughtful and articulate pastoral voice. Although I only know Kim from his previous book Analog Church (which I thought was excellent) and through following him on Twitter, I find him to be a compassionate disciple of Jesus who is genuinely trying to foster the peace of God in a hostile world. On one hand, this book is about communication. In much of the same spirit of Craig Detweiler’s iGods and Chris Bail’s Breaking the Social Media Prism, Kim aptly addresses the problem of how our combined surplus of information and need for recognition has fostered an inability to communicate rationally, what Sanders referred to as “the private death of public discourse” twenty-five years ago. Yes, we have become an increasingly violent culture, although our violence is rendered passively through Twitter takedowns and Facebook rants where we play for likes and clicks. This reveals something troubling about the humanity condition of the moment—an ironic sense of loneliness.
On the other hand, this book is about connection. Herein lies the irony. The slacktivism that I addressed a decade ago has morphed into what Ashley Charles calls “clicktivism,” a movement that is spreading like wildfire across the internet but is not really about anything that being mad about what everyone else on your timeline is mad about. We are so desperate to belong that we will align with a tribe that “thinks” like we do just so we can feel connected. In the words from a song from Mean Girls: The Musical, who will we hate today? The only problem is that most of those we are aligning with (aka, tribalism) are just as confused and lonely as we are. And the rest are just spam and bot accounts recycling content provided by the algorithms.
Kim offers an alternative—community found in God through belonging to a group of Christians. Sadly, this can be problematic. Yet, it does not have to be. Christians should be known for being good listeners—good listeners of God, the Spirit, scripture, and those around us. Christians should not be disseminators of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, or hate speech. Christians, when they speak, should be known for speaking truth from scripture—truth that drips with peace, love, joy, and mercy. On one hand, this book reminds me of Michael Hyatt’s Platform, which seeks to offer an approach to communicating clear and compassionately. On the other hand, this book reminds me of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic Life Together, written during another time of great social upheaval that the church unwittingly participated too much in. There is an invitational sense to the conversation that is offered in this book—something that is much needed in our decimation-oriented (Christian) culture. I think Kim would honestly admit to not having all the answers, yet humbly advocating that what he offers here—peaceful community with God and with one another—is certainly better than the alternative.
My critiques are minimal at best (i.e., a couple of illustrative citations were from, personally, questionable sources, I think the chapters could have been arranged differently to capitalize on the title as an organizational pattern, and I prefer footnotes to endnotes), with my only major critique being that I wished that he had offered some form of guided practice in his chapters on prayer, scripture reading, and community (worship, hospitality). However, the writing is thoughtful, the material is researched well, the problem is addressed critically yet carefully, and solutions (albeit generally abstract) are offered from a place of reasoned hope—hope both in God and what God can do through the church. To anyone troubled by all the fearmongering or the handwringing that has engulfed so much of western Christianity over the last few years, this book offers a helpful third way approach.
On the other hand, this book is about connection. Herein lies the irony. The slacktivism that I addressed a decade ago has morphed into what Ashley Charles calls “clicktivism,” a movement that is spreading like wildfire across the internet but is not really about anything that being mad about what everyone else on your timeline is mad about. We are so desperate to belong that we will align with a tribe that “thinks” like we do just so we can feel connected. In the words from a song from Mean Girls: The Musical, who will we hate today? The only problem is that most of those we are aligning with (aka, tribalism) are just as confused and lonely as we are. And the rest are just spam and bot accounts recycling content provided by the algorithms.
Kim offers an alternative—community found in God through belonging to a group of Christians. Sadly, this can be problematic. Yet, it does not have to be. Christians should be known for being good listeners—good listeners of God, the Spirit, scripture, and those around us. Christians should not be disseminators of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, or hate speech. Christians, when they speak, should be known for speaking truth from scripture—truth that drips with peace, love, joy, and mercy. On one hand, this book reminds me of Michael Hyatt’s Platform, which seeks to offer an approach to communicating clear and compassionately. On the other hand, this book reminds me of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic Life Together, written during another time of great social upheaval that the church unwittingly participated too much in. There is an invitational sense to the conversation that is offered in this book—something that is much needed in our decimation-oriented (Christian) culture. I think Kim would honestly admit to not having all the answers, yet humbly advocating that what he offers here—peaceful community with God and with one another—is certainly better than the alternative.
My critiques are minimal at best (i.e., a couple of illustrative citations were from, personally, questionable sources, I think the chapters could have been arranged differently to capitalize on the title as an organizational pattern, and I prefer footnotes to endnotes), with my only major critique being that I wished that he had offered some form of guided practice in his chapters on prayer, scripture reading, and community (worship, hospitality). However, the writing is thoughtful, the material is researched well, the problem is addressed critically yet carefully, and solutions (albeit generally abstract) are offered from a place of reasoned hope—hope both in God and what God can do through the church. To anyone troubled by all the fearmongering or the handwringing that has engulfed so much of western Christianity over the last few years, this book offers a helpful third way approach.
June 11, 2024
How can we learn to listen to God’s voice in a world that seems to get louder and louder? How can we clearly speak truth when the world can’t keep quiet? In Listen Listen Speak, Jay Y. Kim writes on hearing God and being heard in a noisy world. Through Biblical reflections and personal stories, Kim helps anchor our faith when God’s voice seems to be drowned out in the world.
Listen
Part 1 starts the book by championing God’s timeless voice. I was most moved when Kim wrote about his personal background. Having been born in South Korea and moved to the United States as a toddler – English was his second language. Kim confesses that at his worst, in his most shamed and unseen state, his career in communication – talking, reading, writing – is a way for him to feel and be seen. I was convicted by the fact that no amount of money can buy God’s attention. The church has the gift of showing God to the world.
Kim remembers at the age of 6 feeling judged for the kimbap his mom had packed for his lunch. He explains that we judge others to position ourselves above others and to protect ourselves from being exposed. We hide from others – and we hide from our own selves. I don’t want to spoil it, but Kim goes on to share a poignant story about how friendship can calm our fears of judgement and belonging.
Speak
Part 2 of the book begins with why we speak the gospel to others. “To speak good news in a noisy world, we must see the possible good within those we engage with, which in turn helps us to see the good in them now.” He continues: “To do so also demands acknowledgement of our own past and present foolishness. Speaking good news begins on even ground, where we are all sinners in need of grace. And this even ground reveals itself to be solid ground, build on Christ our cornerstone, who does indeed save us from our sin and our foolishness.”
Kim shares a season in his life where he deconstructed his faith, reflecting on a hard life growing up as the only child of an immigrant mother, causing him to question the love of God. Older friends, those whom he casted aside, reached out to him – and Kim specifically cites their careful and confident use of Scripture to restructure and shape his faith. I was reminded of the strength and sufficiency of Scripture to reach and refresh our souls.
Cut Through the Noise
The book concludes with the call to be in constant communication – communion – with God. “God is interested in relationship, not reciprocal transaction.” I am challenged to stay attuned to hearing God’s voice amidst a noisy world. And I am encouraged to speak with boldness and love, knowing that his Word of Christ is enough – a sword that can cut through the noise.
I received a media copy of Listen Listen Speak and this is my honest review.
Listen
Part 1 starts the book by championing God’s timeless voice. I was most moved when Kim wrote about his personal background. Having been born in South Korea and moved to the United States as a toddler – English was his second language. Kim confesses that at his worst, in his most shamed and unseen state, his career in communication – talking, reading, writing – is a way for him to feel and be seen. I was convicted by the fact that no amount of money can buy God’s attention. The church has the gift of showing God to the world.
Kim remembers at the age of 6 feeling judged for the kimbap his mom had packed for his lunch. He explains that we judge others to position ourselves above others and to protect ourselves from being exposed. We hide from others – and we hide from our own selves. I don’t want to spoil it, but Kim goes on to share a poignant story about how friendship can calm our fears of judgement and belonging.
Speak
Part 2 of the book begins with why we speak the gospel to others. “To speak good news in a noisy world, we must see the possible good within those we engage with, which in turn helps us to see the good in them now.” He continues: “To do so also demands acknowledgement of our own past and present foolishness. Speaking good news begins on even ground, where we are all sinners in need of grace. And this even ground reveals itself to be solid ground, build on Christ our cornerstone, who does indeed save us from our sin and our foolishness.”
Kim shares a season in his life where he deconstructed his faith, reflecting on a hard life growing up as the only child of an immigrant mother, causing him to question the love of God. Older friends, those whom he casted aside, reached out to him – and Kim specifically cites their careful and confident use of Scripture to restructure and shape his faith. I was reminded of the strength and sufficiency of Scripture to reach and refresh our souls.
Cut Through the Noise
The book concludes with the call to be in constant communication – communion – with God. “God is interested in relationship, not reciprocal transaction.” I am challenged to stay attuned to hearing God’s voice amidst a noisy world. And I am encouraged to speak with boldness and love, knowing that his Word of Christ is enough – a sword that can cut through the noise.
I received a media copy of Listen Listen Speak and this is my honest review.
June 6, 2024
I have enjoyed Jay Y. Kim's other books about Christian spiritual formation in the digital age, and this one builds on the previous books' themes in a different way, focusing on what it truly means to hear God, listen to others, and speak with God's truth, grace and love. Kim explores biblical teaching, secular research, and experiential stories as he addresses different issues, and he highlights how important it is for individual Christians and their church communities to cultivate good listening skills in a world full of outrage, division, and loneliness.
Kim has a gift for explaining contemporary issues in a calm, gentle, and biblical way, focusing on timeless truths and macro issues. He gets to the heart of societal problems, showing how the same issues apply to people on both sides of the political aisle, such as when pundits make biased predictions and people look to those pundits instead of God to provide them with certainty, reassurance, and meaning. Kim never makes potshots at anyone, and he explores the deeper spiritual fractures behind attitudes and behaviors that are contributing to rage, loneliness, and societal breakdown.
Kim explores how core spiritual disciplines such as Bible-reading and prayer can help Christians better attune to God's voice and love others, helping them become healing presences in a hostile world. Even though Kim's advice often feels like a basic church answer, he doesn't just tell his readers what they should be doing, but explains how these practices can change us at a fundamental level. He also shares inspiring examples of how individuals and churches can break cycles of hostility and outrage, and he delves into Scripture throughout the book, exploring what different passages mean in context and how they apply to contemporary issues.
This is a great book for Christians who want to process their own reactions to society and people they disagree with, recognizing ways that their digital habits and behaviors may be distracting them from God's voice, preventing them from truly listening to others, and causing them to speak in ways that are not constructive or Christlike. This book shows how timeless truths apply to contemporary problems, and will encourage readers to keep growing in their Christian lives, even when it requires extra effort to go against the tides of digital culture. This book is winsome, thought-provoking, and encouraging, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Kim has a gift for explaining contemporary issues in a calm, gentle, and biblical way, focusing on timeless truths and macro issues. He gets to the heart of societal problems, showing how the same issues apply to people on both sides of the political aisle, such as when pundits make biased predictions and people look to those pundits instead of God to provide them with certainty, reassurance, and meaning. Kim never makes potshots at anyone, and he explores the deeper spiritual fractures behind attitudes and behaviors that are contributing to rage, loneliness, and societal breakdown.
Kim explores how core spiritual disciplines such as Bible-reading and prayer can help Christians better attune to God's voice and love others, helping them become healing presences in a hostile world. Even though Kim's advice often feels like a basic church answer, he doesn't just tell his readers what they should be doing, but explains how these practices can change us at a fundamental level. He also shares inspiring examples of how individuals and churches can break cycles of hostility and outrage, and he delves into Scripture throughout the book, exploring what different passages mean in context and how they apply to contemporary issues.
This is a great book for Christians who want to process their own reactions to society and people they disagree with, recognizing ways that their digital habits and behaviors may be distracting them from God's voice, preventing them from truly listening to others, and causing them to speak in ways that are not constructive or Christlike. This book shows how timeless truths apply to contemporary problems, and will encourage readers to keep growing in their Christian lives, even when it requires extra effort to go against the tides of digital culture. This book is winsome, thought-provoking, and encouraging, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2024
I have to admit, this was a tough read as a locked PDF. I was approached to read and review this because I had already read Jay Kim’s earlier books. I was blessed to have been able to hear him speak at my church and was excited to see what he was again offering. I often read Christian books to gain more insight into how I can be a better person, advocate and disciple.
With that said, I was definitely taken with Jay’s approach to “listening”. Funny that I had just days before been at a study at church when my husband on the ride home told I should really let people finish before I jump in. Note taken! Then I heard a woman on a tv show quote from Proverbs 18 from the Message. “Answering before listening is both stupid and rude!”
This was a book I was meant to read. And it was amazing to see how many references Jay brought to the table to support his beliefs. I know people say you can find a defense for almost anything in the Bible. But he found defense from everyone from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Tim Keller to support his approach to listening before speaking. Only when we are quiet can we hear God’s voice!!
I am excited to hear so many others chose to wait quietly and listen for the truth God has for us. Jeremiah 29 tells us “He has a plan for us.” I have to relinquish my plans and wait for Him to show me the steps to take.
I am thankful for authors like Jay Kim who put in writing the lessons worth adopting. I look forward to eventually having a hard copy that I can highlight and scribble notes into the margins!
With that said, I was definitely taken with Jay’s approach to “listening”. Funny that I had just days before been at a study at church when my husband on the ride home told I should really let people finish before I jump in. Note taken! Then I heard a woman on a tv show quote from Proverbs 18 from the Message. “Answering before listening is both stupid and rude!”
This was a book I was meant to read. And it was amazing to see how many references Jay brought to the table to support his beliefs. I know people say you can find a defense for almost anything in the Bible. But he found defense from everyone from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Tim Keller to support his approach to listening before speaking. Only when we are quiet can we hear God’s voice!!
I am excited to hear so many others chose to wait quietly and listen for the truth God has for us. Jeremiah 29 tells us “He has a plan for us.” I have to relinquish my plans and wait for Him to show me the steps to take.
I am thankful for authors like Jay Kim who put in writing the lessons worth adopting. I look forward to eventually having a hard copy that I can highlight and scribble notes into the margins!
April 29, 2024
I was sent an pdf copy of this book so that I could provide a review. I had read Kim’s “Analog Church” and appreciated his insights. I also found a lot to appreciate in this book. He has a way of presenting different ideas and approaches to listening to God without those approaches seeming to be prescriptive (you HAVE to listen in this way).
Although there were many things in the book that were helpful, I found chapter 7, which explores the concepts of “Speaking in Place in a Placeless Age” to be particularly important for me. Kim explores the idea of moving versus staying where you are. He readily admits that there are times when we should move to a new place but that there are also times when staying put is important. He connects these ideas with how to most effectively be heard by those around us. I am currently navigating a change of career while planning to continue living in the same community so these concepts struck close to home and helped me think through the next stages of my life and work.
In the conclusion Kim writes about how the idea of actually being able to hear/listen to a transcendent God seems absurd. I’m thankful for his thoughts on how such an absurd pursuit is, in fact, possible for each of us.
Although there were many things in the book that were helpful, I found chapter 7, which explores the concepts of “Speaking in Place in a Placeless Age” to be particularly important for me. Kim explores the idea of moving versus staying where you are. He readily admits that there are times when we should move to a new place but that there are also times when staying put is important. He connects these ideas with how to most effectively be heard by those around us. I am currently navigating a change of career while planning to continue living in the same community so these concepts struck close to home and helped me think through the next stages of my life and work.
In the conclusion Kim writes about how the idea of actually being able to hear/listen to a transcendent God seems absurd. I’m thankful for his thoughts on how such an absurd pursuit is, in fact, possible for each of us.
March 24, 2024
This was a book that really spoke to me as a growing believer. As someone who has been part of Generation X I have seen how technology has influenced our world. I like how Pastor Jay encourages not to give up on social media but to read it with daily prayer, Bible reading, and balance of social media to reach others in our world. It is definitely a book with new statistics that will challenge your thinking , guide you in ways to pray for others and seek how we win others for Christ.
April 1, 2024
I'm fortunate to have Jay Kim as my pastor, and enjoyed reading a preview copy of his book as my Holy Week read. There is SO much wisdom here. Jay exposes our addiction to the noise and intentional unsettling nature of social media and online news. He helps us consider how to turn away from that noise and allow God's voice to shape our relationships and actions. His message is both simple and profound. And applying these truths will be challenging but life-changing.
May 21, 2025
I thought this was a lovely and thought provoking book!
Loved the reflection on 1 Thess. 5:17 “pray without ceasing” as a way to maintain peacemaking in the rage-filled, tribalistic world that social media has fostered.
I also was grateful for the reflection on the Good Samaritan story and how we ought to be seeking out neighbors instead of trying to figure out who is our neighbor.
Loved the reflection on 1 Thess. 5:17 “pray without ceasing” as a way to maintain peacemaking in the rage-filled, tribalistic world that social media has fostered.
I also was grateful for the reflection on the Good Samaritan story and how we ought to be seeking out neighbors instead of trying to figure out who is our neighbor.
December 31, 2024
Really good book. Jay’s thoughts on scripture and culture are very insightful
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