Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

For the next few weeks, we are going to be looking at various aspects of worship.

While in many other sermons we’ve gone from place to place, this morning we will be almost entirely in one verse.

This morning we will be in .

As you are turning to , let me continue the trend of recommending books.

This isn’t a book per se, but more of a document.

As many know, I have seen the beauty and benefit of holding to a historic confession.

So today I recommend reading the 1689 London Baptist Confession.

I think it’s great.

I literally have the T-Shirt!

Highland View Baptist Church officially subscribes to two different confessions of faith, one longer and more historic, and that’s the 1689, and the other much shorter but the same theology, called the New Hampshire Confession of Faith.

If you haven’t read the 1689, I highly recommend it.

Now, let’s read Colossians 3:16:

A Gospel-Saturated Life

Let’s look at the first section of the verse: “Let the message about the the Messiah dwell richly among you”.

Two applications flow from this: Know the Gospel, and surround yourself with the Gospel.

Know the Gospel

First, know the Gospel.

So many things in this world are peddled as the gospel.

So many little trinkets, so many little ideas.

False Gospels

Happiness is not the Gospel.

Abstract, unqualified Love is not the Gospel.

Money is not the Gospel.

Possessions are not the Gospel.

Personal Fulfillment is not the Gospel.

Career status is not the Gospel.

Popularity is not the Gospel.

Doctrine is not the Gospel.

Morality is not the Gospel.

Doctrine is not the Gospel.

Spirituality is not the Gospel.

Long life is not the Gospel.

Education is not the Gospel.

Environmentalism is not the Gospel.

Government is not the Gospel.

Peace is not the Gospel.

The True Gospel

The Gospel, pure and simple, is that despite the fact that we deserve nothing less than to rot in Hell, The Son of God paid an incredible price, and redeemed for Himself a people, a Church.

We, who could never truthfully worship God, can now draw to the Almighty King and offer acceptable worship.

It is not a message about us.

It is the message about the Messiah.

That is the Gospel.

Surround Yourself with the Gospel

So what are we to do with this Gospel?

Paul tells us: Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you.

We are to surround ourselves with the Gospel.

We are to live Gospel-saturated lives, lives that only make sense if Christ is risen for us.

Christian Sermons/Podcasts

Chris advised us to listen to good Christian sermons and podcasts.

I think that is wise.

Now, not everyone’s schedule or responsibilities allows them to pay attention to a 45 minute sermon or podcast throughout the week.

That’s one of the reasons why preaching is so essential to the corporate worship meeting.

But if you can make it work to listen to sermons, I highly recommend it.

Christian Books

Beyond that, read good Christian books.

Not everyone likes to read, and in today’s day reading is less and less valued.

But there is so many wonderful books to read.

Deep theology, deep practicality, there are great books for every step of the Christian walk.

We live in a world where one can have thousands of books available on a device less than half an inch thick.

My New Testament professor spent $10,000 transferring his library from Texas to Hannibal, MO.

I carry most of my library in my pocket.

And for those who just really don’t like to read, there are audiobooks available.

Take advantage of them.

Soak yourself in Gospel reading.

Now before we move on, there is one other book to talk about.

I love deep theological tomes.

I love books like Calvin’s Institutes.

I love the ancient creeds, as well as wonderful confessions of faith like the 1689 London Baptist Confession.

But you put all of that on one side of the scale, and the Bible on the other side, and it is clear who wins.

The Bible, the Word of God, is not just the Message about the Messiah, it is the Message from the Messiah!

The Pastor and I have gotten into a habit of recommending books.

There are so many books I recommend.

I today recommended the 1689 confession.

But most importantly, immerse yourself in Holy Scripture.

Read God’s Word.

If you can read it every day, do so.

It is so wonderful to get into the Bible, and even if you walk away from it feeling like it was a waste of time, it was not.

It is a means of grace.

As you read Scripture, God changes you and makes you more like Christ.

Christian Music

In addition to all that, I recommend listening to great Christian music, in all its various genres.

Now, we’ll be dealing a lot with this today.

But for right now, let me just encourage you to be wise in what you choose to listen to.

You become that which you consume.

Christian Company

Lastly, if you’re going to surround yourself with Gospel books, Gospel Music, Gospel Sermons, then surround yourself with Gospel people!

God did not institute His Church for no reason.

We, as a church, are to spur one another on to godliness.

How does this happen?

Well, let’s add in the next phrase of our verse this morning.

Reciprocal Teaching and Admonishing

“Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom”.

A major aspect of letting the Gospel dwell among us is through teaching and admonishment.

But look at what it says.

It doesn’t say “the Elders teaching and admonishing you in all wisdom.”

Of course, the church leadership should, and there is a kind of teaching that is not for everyone, which is why James says this:

But what does it say?

“Teaching and admonishing one another” While not everyone is a primary teacher, everyone is to teach.

We are to admonish one another, spurring one another on to greater godliness.