Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.09UNLIKELY
Joy
0.63LIKELY
Sadness
0.22UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.47UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.82LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.86LIKELY
Extraversion
0.3UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.88LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.72LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Revelation 2:1-7
Stephen Caswell © 2004
How To Hug
There is a story about a man who was walking down the street.
He passed a used-book store, and in the window he saw a book with the title /How to Hug/.
He was taken by the title and, being of a somewhat romantic nature, went in to buy the book.
To his disappointment, he discovered that it was the seventh volume of an encyclopedia and covered the subjects How to Hug.
Everyone knows that the church is a place where love ought to be manifested, and many people have come to church hoping to find a demonstration of love — only to discover an encyclopedia on theology.
Introduction
2 weeks ago we looked at the Church at Philadelphia.
We saw */Philadelphia/* means */brotherly love./*
Today we will see Ephesus; a Church that forgot the importance of love.
The Church of Ephesus describes the Church Age from Pentecost to about 100ad.
This Church was very evangelistic and therefore it grew quickly.
Ephesus was the largest of the seven churches in Asia.
We will see 4 things: */The Correspondent/*, (the writer and the readers), */The Commendation/*, */The Condemnation, The Counsel./*
1.
The Correspondent
*Rev 2:1:* /To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:/
/a.
The City/
Ephesus was probably the most important city in Asia with a population of around 225,000 people.
It was famous for trade and was at the hub of 4 major roads.
The city had an excellent harbor and a lot of merchandise passed through it.
The city was also known as the religious centre for the worship of the goddess Diana.
A huge temple to Diana was located in Ephesus.
People came from all over Asia to take part in the immoral worship of Diana.
All of these things made Ephesus an important city in its day.
/b.
The Church/
/ /
Paul passed through Ephesus at the end of his second missionary journey.
On his 3rd missionary journey Paul spent 3 years at Ephesus.
All of Asia heard the Word of God.
He exercised a powerful ministry there and performed many miracles.
He healed the sick and cast out evil spirits from those so oppressed.
God’s Word was the key to Paul’s ministry.
*Acts 19:19-20:* /Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.
And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver./
/So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed./
This upset the local silversmiths who thought their livelihood was in jeopardy.
/c.
Christ/
*/Christ describes Himself as the One Who holds the 7 stars in His right hand./*
This describes how Christ holds the pastors in His hand.
He guides them and places them where He wants them to be.
The */Apostle Paul/* planted the Ephesian Church.
*/Apollos/* also ministered at Ephesus with */Aquilla/* and */Priscilla/*.
Later Paul sent */Timothy/* to shepherd the flock there.
After these men died for Christ the */Apostle John/* pastored the Church.
*/Christ also says that He walks in the midst of the 7 Churches./*
He serves the Churches as Our Great High Priest.
He strengthens the 7 Churches and guides them.
He intercedes for us at God’s throne.
Jesus Christ also instructs them concerning their service for Him.
2.
The Commendation
*Revelation 2:2-3:* /I know your works, your *labor*, your *patience*, and that you *cannot bear those who are evil*.
And you *have tested* those who say they are apostles and are not, and *have found* them liars; and you have *persevered* and *have patience*, and *have labored* for My name’s sake and *have not become weary*./
/a.
Service/
Jesus Christ knows the works of all His Churches.
*/Firstly,/* He commends them for their */labor/* in verses 2 and 3.
The word labor, *κόπος**, *means */toil, hard work, weariness,/* */to engage in activity that is burdensome./*
Christ commended the Ephesian Church for their commitment to His /service./
They gave it their very best.
No doubt their weekly schedule was filled with activities.
It was also a /sacrificing/ church, for the word /labor/ means toil to the point of exhaustion.
The Ephesian Christians paid a price to serve the Lord.
They counted the cost of discipleship.
To reach the lost requires sacrifice and hard work.
We wouldn’t be here today without the sacrifice of our forefathers.
/We can’t win a crown without carrying our cross for Christ.
Jesus often spoke of the cost of discipleship./
The Chinese Church */is a living testimony/* to the sacrifice and service of committed people.
Paul labored for 3 years at Ephesus.
He overcame much opposition and persecution.
*/Are we working for the kingdom of God? Do you count the cost each day for Christ’s sake?/*
/b.
Steadfastness/
*/Secondly,/* the Ephesian Church was patient.
It says this twice.
The word */patient, /**ὑπομονή**,* means */endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance.
/*The word means*/ to abide under pressure./*
They were a */steadfast/* assembly, for the word /patience/ carries the meaning of endurance under trial.
They kept on going when the going was tough.
The word */persevere/*, *βαστάζω**, *means */to sustain a burden/**/.
/*They didn’t grow tired and quit.
Christ praised them that */they did not become weary/* but persevered in labor for His name.
This letter was written to Ephesus about 40 years after Paul planted the Church there.
That’s some testimony.
*/Are you patiently serving the Lord?
If Christ comes back today will He find you persevering in service or resting on the sideline?/*
/c.
Suppress Evil/
*/Thirdly, /*they didn’t tolerate evil people.
Although Christians are called to witness to the lost we must not behave like them.
*Psalm 97:10a:* /You who love the Lord, hate evil!/
The Church must maintain a separated lifestyle.
Job was commended as /an *upright man* that *hated evil*./
We are commanded to live holy lives because God is holy.
We are in the world but not of the world.
*/Tragically, compromise is the word for today./*
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9