This book recovers the lost messages of Mark, Matthew, Luke-Acts, and John for people today. The words of the gospels were meant to be heard. While we can still appreciate the construction and grasp some understanding when we read, we miss much of the message because we're working in the wrong medium. In this book, the authors offer the keys to recovering the radical, relevant messages of each gospel as they were first heard. The shaping of the gospels for oral performances, which would have been obvious to ancient (mostly preliterate) listeners, is lost on even the best contemporary reader. With careful analysis of the gospel writers' particular voices within their own ancient literary context, the authors equip readers to read as if hearing, focusing on overlapping patterns of hearing cues that shape each text and embed theological perspective.