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
0.13UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.11UNLIKELY
Fear
0.16UNLIKELY
Joy
0.58LIKELY
Sadness
0.46UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.65LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.31UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.9LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.33UNLIKELY
Extraversion
0UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.24UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.49UNLIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
SERMON NOTES: 9~/10~/06
JAMES 1:1-4:
I. Introduction to James
a. Author and Date:
i.
James the younger half brother of Jesus
1. James was a prominent leader in the early church
2. Initially did not believe the claims of Jesus until after the resurrection of Jesus
3. Was martyred in AD 62 according to the Jewish historian Josephus.
ii.
James is possibly the earliest book of the New Testament penned sometime in the mid-40’s (44-46 AD).
b.
Recipients
i.
Jewish believers who had been scattered or dispersed probably due to the persecution of Herod Agrippa I around AD 44 (Acts 12).
ii.
Because of their relocation and the many references in the letter to the poor it is quite likely that these believers were impoverished.
c.
Major Themes
i.
Eschatology: Teachings about the last things (i.e. return of Jesus, end of life, God’s future judgment etc)
ii.
Faith and Deeds: That good works demonstrate faith
iii.
Ethical teachings: Speech, Trials, Wealth, Mercy
iv.
Wisdom
v.
Human Nature: Created in the image of God yet can be a source of evil.
vi.
God: Creator of all things, generous, etc
vii.
Jesus: Shares the glory of God
d. Slave: James identifies himself (v. 1) not as the brother of Christ but as a slave.
i.
Jesus is not his older brother but his master.
He went from believing Jesus was the son of Joseph to knowing that He was Jesus the Son of God.
ii.
Theology has shifted to God being our servant, available when we call.
II.
Consider it all joy.
a.
A command to act in a way contrary to human nature
b.
The most important word
c. Types of trials
i.
Various: multi-colored, varied
1.
Not so much “many” troubles, but a wide range of challenging circumstances.
Diversity (family, relatives, disappointment).
ii.
Trials are not temptations.
These are not a solicitation to evil
1. Testing=an examination.
To learn the nature of something
a.
To put to the test (John 6:4-6).
b.
To discover the genuineness of your faith.
2.
Not identified.
Could be persecution and poverty
a. External situations may introduce the trial but it is when it becomes internal that the testing begins.
i.
Disappointment, unfulfilled dreams, unmet expectations, loneliness, fear.
b.
It is in this situation James gives this command.
iii.
Consider it all joy
1.
What it is not
a.
A superficial sentimentality that merely covers up pain
b. Lemonade from lemons, “don’t worry be happy.”
2. What it is
a.
A command given based upon something much deeper
i.
That in the hands of Almighty God, trials become an instrument that will reveal characteristics that you were unaware of and that God takes pleasure in.
b.
Notice the theological basis
III.
Trial’s Product.
a. Trials are not haphazard accidents of fate, nor the cruel dealings of a capricious God.
b. Trials produce endurance.
Lit: “remaining under”
i.
It is not passive
1.
Not so much that quality that allows you to sit quietly in traffic as it is the quality that helps you finish a marathon.
ii.
Endurance is a necessary quality if one is to successfully complete a lengthy and difficult task. (Like life).
1. ILL> 17 mile climb
c. Testings do not produce faith, they reveal it.
i.
That climb did not produce anything it merely revealed what was already present.
1. James teaches that trials show where there is but an empty profession, a dreamy sentiment not based upon firm intelligent convictions of truth.
a.
Where there is affliction it should lead to deep wrestling’s w~/ God in such a weak state.
2. (Macarthur) Put a false believer through a test and it will blow him away, burn him up.
Put a true believer to a test and it will drive him to despair his own weakness, driving him to prayer to lean upon Almighty God.
IV.
The Goal
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9