Sermon Tone Analysis

Last Week… We got pretty serious about Peace!

— I hope that you took some time this week just be at Peace.

— I hope that you took the time to talk to God as your father, as your Daddy as well as your Savior.

— I heard from a couple of you about this exercise.

It’s not easy to be quiet for even 2 minutes.

Think about speeding days, week, months, really a lifetime have QUIET TIME with God.

— That thought may leave you exhausted

— But in reality… All of our striving, working, all of our efforts really get us NOTHING!!!

What’s missing...Jesus!

— We considered all of the possibilities of peace.

And there are many peaceful resolutions.

— Be true PEACE comes only a relationship with God through Christ.

— We have Hope and we are at peace, we have been made whole by Faith alone in Jesus Christ.

— Because of that work once for all we have “Joy”

— There are NO other exceptions.

BY “FAITH” ALONE YOU HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED

— IF your familiar with anyone of the “Televangelist” shows that seem to be everywhere.

— He or she might come yelling at you, personally and as a group, about your faith and how little your Faith is.

— If you had Faith in God, a strong faith, You wouldn’t need to connect with Him.

Because you would be healthy, wealthy and of course wise.

and by the way… I need a new airplane… Please give to me!!!

— The “PROMISE” given is completely EMPTY!!

Here is the only promise that’s necessary.

— Focus for a minute on the last phrase… “gift of God.”

What do think about “gifts?”

— I love them

— I like the surprise, I like the unknown,

— I like to see the “thoughtfulness” that the giver has put into the gift.

— This is especially true of getting gifts from children or grandchildren that are young.

— They have crafted a rock, or a handprint, or a picture especially for you.

Receive The Gift!

— Our grandson, Malachi whose just turned three called Gaga the other day.

— He asked, “Do you have a Christmas Tree?” OR should I pack mine in my suitcase and bring it to Gaga’s House.

— Jill said, “Of course we do.” and you can bring some favorite ornaments to put on our tree.

And he was satisfied

— Malachi… 3 years old, get’s it.

— He has at his house in Indianapolis a Christmas Tree.

— He equates Christmas Tree’s with JOY, Joy, Joy.

— If we didn’t have one… He was willing to give us his tree.

This whole thing warmed our hearts and caused moisture to leak from our eyes.

God is ANXIOUS to give us the gift of salvation...

— There is nothing better than waking up the day after you have accepted Christ.

— The whole world looks different when the Holy Spirit has come to indwell you.

Joy, Joy, Joy

— All of this talk about gifts, giving and receiving… Leads us, well for me.

— JOY!!!

— joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a result of choice.

— One of the fruits of the spirit.

— Having joy is part of the experience of being a Christian.

Don’t miss it

— Don’t be the grump on the side of the road.

— Whatever you have to do, fake it until you are happy!

— Your family, your children, your grandchildren will respond in ways you haven’t seen.

— We also need to acknowledge the giver of that joy.

— Jill and I slide into the ditch last weekend.

It was quite the ride.

— Truck is broke but will be fixed, Jill has stopped shaking for the time being.

— Soooo… Here is the Joy that i experienced.

— I needed a ride to and from the repair shop.

I asked and Gallo was there!

Thank you Gallo

— I came back from the shop and another church member pulled in beside me at church.

— He just wanted to see if we where OK and he wanted to look at the damage.

— We talked for a bit and he went his way.

MY HEART WAS FULL OF JOY

— A couple of people, went out of their way...

— I regularly go to lunch with another church member when he is town.

— Our conversation is always lively and confidential.

He is my friend!! — And my heart was full of joy.

Turn in your Bibles or on your app to the Book of James, Chapter 1 Verse, 2

— It is really easy be joyful when life is going well in your estimation

— In your little world, that you can control and manipulate

When Your Faith is Tested??

— The ultimate goal of trials that believers meet with confidence in the Lord is not simply maturity but perfection.

— Of course this goal is not one that we will reach in this life: it is ultimately an gift—something towards which Christians are constantly to strive with all their power, but which will not in fact be attained until the culmination of the salvation

— That becomes a sticky situation.

— We know “the right” answer...

— But sometimes that is most difficult to express.

While keeping your JOY!

— Sometimes the JOY is not to be found...

— In a death

— Word that you or someone you know, has cancer

— Loss of friendship

Look at Verse 3 again

— These joy killing events in our lives are killing us!

— James calls it “testing of your faith.”

— We will produce “steadfastness” as a result of our trials

— And the results of that...

Growing Up in Christ

— I want to grow up in Christ...

— I haven’t arrived

Listen to Verse 4

— Ah, finally, going through life sometimes Joyful.

— Sometimes just shaking our heads and wondering

— BUT… Scripture says

James 1:4 (ESV)

4 “...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

— There is a reward

— That you and I may be “perfect!”

Perfect!