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Jesus Speaks: Learning to Recognize and Respond to the Lord's Voice
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
-Jesus, John 10:27
Countless Christians are hungry to hear God’s voice. The trouble is, many don’t know how to. In a warm and practical way, Jesus Speaks teaches readers how to listen and recognize the voice of Jesus. Jesus Speaks explores the various ways in which Jesus Christ speaks today and how His sheep can grow in their ability to recognize and respond to His voice.
By exploring how the disciples interacted with the risen Christ—from the moment Mary discovers his body is gone to meeting him by the sea for breakfast to waiting in the upper room for the Spirit to descend—Sweet and Viola unpack the myriad ways God now speaks to his children.
In 2010, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola set out on a journey of discovery. They had one goal, to do their part in restoring the supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus Christ above all else in modern Christian society. Soon thereafter they released the bestseller, Jesus Manifesto. Two years later, they released Jesus: A Theography, beautifully establishing that all of scripture, from Genesis through Revelation is about one person—Jesus Christ. Now comes the long awaited third installment in the “Jesus” series, Jesus Speaks.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
-Jesus, John 10:27
Countless Christians are hungry to hear God’s voice. The trouble is, many don’t know how to. In a warm and practical way, Jesus Speaks teaches readers how to listen and recognize the voice of Jesus. Jesus Speaks explores the various ways in which Jesus Christ speaks today and how His sheep can grow in their ability to recognize and respond to His voice.
By exploring how the disciples interacted with the risen Christ—from the moment Mary discovers his body is gone to meeting him by the sea for breakfast to waiting in the upper room for the Spirit to descend—Sweet and Viola unpack the myriad ways God now speaks to his children.
In 2010, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola set out on a journey of discovery. They had one goal, to do their part in restoring the supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus Christ above all else in modern Christian society. Soon thereafter they released the bestseller, Jesus Manifesto. Two years later, they released Jesus: A Theography, beautifully establishing that all of scripture, from Genesis through Revelation is about one person—Jesus Christ. Now comes the long awaited third installment in the “Jesus” series, Jesus Speaks.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2016
183 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Sweet
158 books138 followersLeonard I. Sweet is an author, preacher, scholar, and ordained United Methodist clergyman currently serving as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School, in Madison, New Jersey; and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 23, 2023
This is an amazing book about how God speaks to us. It’s written in a very approachable, easy to read voice.
It kind of took a few chapters for it to really pick up and get to the heart of the matter. I also disagreed with one point - that when we hear from God, we feel peace/serenity. Many times in scripture, people felt more troubled or afraid after God spoke to them. I wish that was explained more,
It kind of took a few chapters for it to really pick up and get to the heart of the matter. I also disagreed with one point - that when we hear from God, we feel peace/serenity. Many times in scripture, people felt more troubled or afraid after God spoke to them. I wish that was explained more,
February 27, 2025
Almost reasonable but still a far cry from what is evident in the world today as it descends everywhere into autocracy and oligarchy all “under the guise of Christianity” as espoused by the Republicans party here and others in other nations. This book is not the answer to spiritual questions though there are some good points made in it. Spiritual seekers would do better with Conversations with God, Book One, by Neale Donald Walsch for answers to questions posed in this book and the other two in this trilogy.
August 12, 2017
Every morning I begin the day by writing in my journal and reading some books. Most of the time that includes the Bible and some books by spiritual mentors who speak to me about how to understand the Bible. I've been going through a little of this book since mid-June.
Leonard Sweet has been a spiritual mentor of mine (he doesn't know it, of course), for about a decade now. He takes complex intellectual ideas and simplifies them, challenging readers to see the world in new ways. Sometimes his clever word play annoys me, but most of the time I can set that aside because there are so many other good things. (No. We don't have to agree with our mentors every single time. They are human, just as we are.)
Sweet and his co-author Frank Viola challenged me to think of and consider spiritual matters all day long, not just in the morning when I start my day, but really, all day long. They challenged me to listen for God's voice throughout the day. They challenged me to take a second look at Scripture.
This book was a good way to start each day, and I will miss Sweet and Viola's voices in the morning.
On to another book to read.
(I feel like I am re-phrasing a line from HGTV. Oh my. Sweet has gotten into my head!)
Leonard Sweet has been a spiritual mentor of mine (he doesn't know it, of course), for about a decade now. He takes complex intellectual ideas and simplifies them, challenging readers to see the world in new ways. Sometimes his clever word play annoys me, but most of the time I can set that aside because there are so many other good things. (No. We don't have to agree with our mentors every single time. They are human, just as we are.)
Sweet and his co-author Frank Viola challenged me to think of and consider spiritual matters all day long, not just in the morning when I start my day, but really, all day long. They challenged me to listen for God's voice throughout the day. They challenged me to take a second look at Scripture.
This book was a good way to start each day, and I will miss Sweet and Viola's voices in the morning.
On to another book to read.
(I feel like I am re-phrasing a line from HGTV. Oh my. Sweet has gotten into my head!)
August 21, 2017
I am pleased that most of the reviewers favor this book. Maybe they are seeing something in it that I am not. I do not want to diminish that in any way.
I struggled with the book, frankly. At times I wished the authors were a little more careful about their choice of words. At other times I wish the logic was better. The complaints about "bad translations" in our English Bibles annoyed me. Has Mr. Sweet ever taken a translation class or worked on a translation? Does he know how difficult it is to translate abstract nouns? Does he know that such complaints could unsettle people from trusting their English translations?
The book is not one book but two. I knew that going in, but the difference in style was jarring. The second half is terse enough, but compared to the first half was especially so. Opinions are stated without reason. The author did give some insight, and that is the reason for the second star, but I was simply not satisfied with the book as a whole.
I struggled with the book, frankly. At times I wished the authors were a little more careful about their choice of words. At other times I wish the logic was better. The complaints about "bad translations" in our English Bibles annoyed me. Has Mr. Sweet ever taken a translation class or worked on a translation? Does he know how difficult it is to translate abstract nouns? Does he know that such complaints could unsettle people from trusting their English translations?
The book is not one book but two. I knew that going in, but the difference in style was jarring. The second half is terse enough, but compared to the first half was especially so. Opinions are stated without reason. The author did give some insight, and that is the reason for the second star, but I was simply not satisfied with the book as a whole.
August 17, 2017
"We listen to Christ not simply to comprehend Him or to communicate with Him but to be changed into His image.""Revelation is a slow burn that accompanies deeper and deeper immersion in the story.""The knowledge of God is greater, not lessor, than the knowledge of the sacred story of the Scripture.""To hear Jesus speak is to know the Scriptures.""The soul comes alive when Jesus moves in and lives in it.""Another critical ingredient in preparing our spiritual ear to hear the voice of the Lord ...is to do God's will.""The primary motive for hearing from the Lord is to glorify Him and benefit others.""...the Lord wants us to seek Him. He desires that we seek His face(His person) not just His hand (His blessing)."
September 15, 2024
This is really two books in one, with part one looking at each of the appearances of Jesus post resurrection to his disciples and drawing out what we learn from each one. This part of the book really drew me in and I loved it. Part two was all about getting practical today in hearing God's voice. The chapters were really short by design, and best read over many days. So I read this book fast, then slow.
Whilst the feel and tone of the two parts varied greatly, a single message is consistent throughout: that Jesus speaks today and if we attune our ears and hearts to him, we can and will hear him, and that the goal of hearing him is to know him and be transformed.
Definitely worth reading. This is one I'll be coming back to.
Whilst the feel and tone of the two parts varied greatly, a single message is consistent throughout: that Jesus speaks today and if we attune our ears and hearts to him, we can and will hear him, and that the goal of hearing him is to know him and be transformed.
Definitely worth reading. This is one I'll be coming back to.
June 30, 2017
The best way I can summarize this book is that it is not so much a book you read as it is a book you practice. I began reading it not long after beginning a discipline of early morning solitude and prayer and it really helped to inform and guide those mornings with God. It's a book I will definitely recommend to people.
March 20, 2018
PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR A SUBMITTED HEART
I love the practicality of the message in this book. I will read it again and glean even more from it. This is great for new believers. It is also encouraging for me as a seasoned believer because I have experienced some tough seasons in my walk but see that the Lord has used those to grow me. Many thanks!
I love the practicality of the message in this book. I will read it again and glean even more from it. This is great for new believers. It is also encouraging for me as a seasoned believer because I have experienced some tough seasons in my walk but see that the Lord has used those to grow me. Many thanks!
August 24, 2019
I especially enjoyed the first few chapters. Later the author seemed to get bogged down in language. The second half of the book is in a completely different style and tone, which just didn’t resonate with me, so I didn’t finish. However, the topic is wonderful and As a group Bible study with discussions, it would work well.
Read
February 10, 2020As always, Leonard Sweet makes Jesus so much more accessible. In this work, he helps us "hears" the voice, the love the wisdom and the power spoken through the life of Jesus. You don't need my words, you need Leonard's words to lead you deeper into understanding the divine life and lasting message of Jesus.
July 27, 2020
Loved it! Will return to it often. It may be helpful for some to, as the Authors suggest, read the second half (Viola) first. At least it helped me, as the second half is filled with practical helps and immediately usable steps, while the first part (Sweet) is written a lot more "poetic"-style (their own admission).
December 11, 2023
I enjoyed and benefitted far more in the 2nd half of the book (Viola's part). Maybe it's style and preference, but I didn't resonate with the 1st part as much. That said, there were several sections that were powerful and generated deep reflection. But I found the 2nd half to bring a lot of wisdom and cover a lot of needed ground on the topic in accessible and insightful ways.
June 10, 2018
A wonderful book, full of scriptural evidence and insight.
April 6, 2025
Needs a megaphone!
Spoke to my heart. May it pierce through to yours! Your words, Lord, are wisdom, truth and love. Come, live in my heart, lead me to your life!
Spoke to my heart. May it pierce through to yours! Your words, Lord, are wisdom, truth and love. Come, live in my heart, lead me to your life!
August 8, 2025
Passed the Sniff Test with flying colors and then some. Thank you my friend Abel for lending to me!
June 26, 2022
Refreshing read split in two parts. The first, written in more of a colorful prose by Sweet, documents the way Jesus some to his followers after his resurrection and the ramifications for us hearing him speak today. The second, written by Viola in a more informative analytic style, goes into how we can hear Jesus speaking to us. It provided a fresh, comprehensive perspective on cultivating our awareness and ability to hear Jesus so that ultimately, as is pointed out in the book, we can know Jesus more deeply and become more like him as we carry out his mission in the world (which is the primary goal).
September 2, 2016
Powerful and Practical
The authors do a masterful job at surveying ways God speaks and ways we can practice tuning our ears to the voice of the Good Shepherd. They not only address the ways God has spoken in the past but how God continues to speak today. This is the most well done and structurally grounded work on the subject of hearing God's voice that I have ever read!
The authors do a masterful job at surveying ways God speaks and ways we can practice tuning our ears to the voice of the Good Shepherd. They not only address the ways God has spoken in the past but how God continues to speak today. This is the most well done and structurally grounded work on the subject of hearing God's voice that I have ever read!
December 11, 2016
Amazing.
Great for a group study.
I'm rereading it. There's so much meat to devour!
Amazing.
Great for a group study.
I'm rereading it. There's so much meat to devour!
Amazing.
November 16, 2023
He does, find out why and how
March 15, 2019
This is a good source of information and encouragement to listen actively for Jesus' voice (even more, to practice his presence in your life). I found reading this along with Brad Jersak's excellent work on the same subject to be even more valuable, as the two interact to add to the overall experience.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews