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
0.14UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.15UNLIKELY
Fear
0.13UNLIKELY
Joy
0.52LIKELY
Sadness
0.47UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.76LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.78LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.92LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.81LIKELY
Extraversion
0.52LIKELY
Agreeableness
0.82LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.74LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Introduction:
Attention Getting: Have you ever used a flapper, a tow sack, or stomped on a grass fire?
I have, and I learned that there is a right way and a wrong way.
A flapper looks like this: (show slide).
If you take it and lean way back like you are casting a fishing line and then slap it down on the fire, you do NOT get the desired effect!
Instead of putting out the fire, it shoots sparks in all directions and can spread the fire.
If on the other hand, you drag it across the fire, it smothers the flames.
Textual Segment: In this morning’s text, , we see the Jewish leaders, and Saul in particular, start persecuting the church.
This leads first to the believers scattering across the region.
However, as they go, the preach the gospel and it leads to the church becoming churches through multiplication.
Relational Segment: We need to be as dedicated to following our Lord.
We need to keep the faith and obey even when times get tough for us and we need to be intentionally engaged in proclaiming the gospel as we encounter people.
1.
The Church is Scattered
Acts 8:1-
If on the other hand, you drag it across the fire, it smothers the flames.
EX: Through trying to smother the church, Saul and the other persecutors ended up spreading it.
They used the death of Stephen as a springboard to begin persecuting the Christians in earnest.
A. General Persecution:
Persecution against the church at Jerusalem
They sought to stomp out the Christ followers
It had been threatened before when the disciples had been warned to quit preaching the name of Jesus
Now the Sanhedrin directly attacked the church.
B. Saul’s persecution:
Specifically, Saul made havoc of the church
His brutal tactics:
Entered every house
None were spared from his hostility
The rage against Stephen’s sermon spurred him on to seek others and he went door to door to find them.
Probably invaded suspected house churches where believers would be meeting.
Dragging off men and women
He arrested both men and women
Again, his zeal to stomp out Christianity was on full display.
Committing them to prison
They were put in prison
C. The effect
Believers scattered.
All but the apostles fled Jersualem to the surrounding regions.
They remained in Jerusalem.
What they meant to bad, actually accomplished the work of God.
The young church left the nest and sent out emissaries to neighboring towns.
These believers who were scattered went preaching the word, which we will now examine
AP:
AP: God turned the bad circumstance into something good
1.
Remember that God is in control.
1. Remember that God is in control
Nothing which happens on earth surprises Him!
IL:
He isn’t tripped up by our actions and attitudes
2.
He has a plan and is working it out in this world.
Just has He turned the negative of persecution into an opportunity to reach more people, God can turn our seemingly “bad times” and use them for greater good.
He may be working to move us.
He may be working to prune us.
He may be doing anything!
Our challenge is to:
a. Keep trusting Him
b.
Pray and seek His face
c.
Keep doing His will as He reveals it.
2. The Gospel is Shared Everywhere
EX: The gospel spread as they preached everywhere
EX: The gospel spread as they preached everywhere
EX: The gospel spread as they preached everywhere
When the church was persecuted, they scattered
That is what happened when the church was persecuted.
Acts 8:4-
Perhaps some were pilgrims who had become believers on the day of Pentecost and they returned home.
They scattered
Perhaps believers moved back home
Perhaps some fled to family and friends in other towns.
EX:
Others may have run as refugees.
When the scattered, they:
Preached the Word
They shared the gospel of Jesus!
They shared the gospel of Jesus!
Though they were on the run, they still carried the gospel everywhere they went.
The preached Christ and repentance of sins
They were carrying out Jesus’ last words:
AP: We too are supposed to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere we go.
Going:
As we go through everyday life and interact with others at work, at home, in our hobbies, etc.
We are to be:
Making disciples
Baptizing Them
Teaching Them
IL: BEARING WITNESS
In court, bearing witness is telling the truth about what you've seen and heard.
John the Baptizer was doing the same about Jesus.
If we witness, we can tell others about something the Lord has done in our lives, whether relating to Salvation or some other matter of His provision.
We can witness to others about His healing, His sustenance (He gets us through things), His grace, etc.
The purpose of bearing witness about Jesus is so that others may find Him and believe to eternal life.
'Wit-ness' literally refers to having a knowledge about something, and we need to share what we know about Jesus!
In court, bearing witness is telling the truth about what you've seen and heard.
John the Baptizer was doing the same about Jesus.
If we witness, we can tell others about something the Lord has done in our lives, whether relating to Salvation or some other matter of His provision.
We can witness to others about His healing, His sustenance (He gets us through things), His grace, etc.
The purpose of bearing witness about Jesus is so that others may find Him and believe to eternal life.
'Wit-ness' literally refers to having a knowledge about something, and we need to share what we know about Jesus!
Application: Do we bear witness of the Light?
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9