Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Tone of specific sentences
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*The Great Battle*
*Text*: Revelation 12
*Big Idea*: We are in the middle of a battle.
*Purpose*: To help people understand the impact of God’s battle on their lives today.
*Introduction*:
“Look at her little, flat nose!”
Those were the first words that Bob uttered when he held his baby cousin.
Bob was 9 years old, and it was one of the first times he had ever seen a newborn baby.
Bob’s aunt, who had just given birth walked over, took her newborn daughter from Bob, and said in a rather perturbed manner, “She does not have a flat nose.”
Bob replied, “I’m sorry, I think she is very cute.”
Bob had not meant the comment as an insult.
In fact, he thought his new cousin was a cute baby.
He was not accustomed to seeing his aunt so perturbed – she was usually very good natured – so he felt the need to apologize and explain himself.
As Bob tried to explain himself and apologize for his offense, his aunt became visibly upset.
The more upset she became, the worse Bob felt.
Finally, with tears in her eyes, Bob’s aunt told him that he should probably leave.
As Bob walked back home, he wondered, “What happened?
I must have really messed up.
I didn’t mean to insult my aunt and my new cousin.”
His first reaction – was to try to make it better – only to make matters worse
In the next couple of days, he repeated the events in his head
-came to the conclusion that he hadn’t said anything that was terrible
-and started to blame his aunt
-even thinking that she wasn’t as nice as he had always believed she was.
Bob was unable to grasp all that was happening in that visit with his aunt and cousin.
-Being 9 years old, never heard of post-partum depression (baby blues)
If Bob had understood that there were factors that he did not recognize
-he would have avoided the problems of blaming himself, and anger at aunt
-Bob had to learn that he did not have all the information.
This morning, I want us to try to learn what Bob needed to learn
-that there are factors that affect our lives
-that we are not naturally aware of
-these factors explain many of our sad circumstances, tragedies, and struggles
We will see those factors unveiled
-as we take a glimpse of the story of Revelation 12.
*Sermon Body*:
Movement 1: ~*We have good reason the question the condition of our lives.
Purpose: To demonstrate that life is filled with events that are difficult to understand
Why do bad things happen to good people - long asked question.
We sometimes struggle to understand the world around us.
Christians are not allowed to speak at graduations from public school.
While military passes out Koran to terrorist captives.
On a personal level
-we face illnesses, loss of jobs, breakup of families
-and we wonder, why is this happening?
Our first response might be to take the blame on ourselves
-believing that if we were just a little more organized, better prepared, wiser
-then life would be much easier
However, once we face a few struggles, we start to see things differently
-our second response might be to simply blame or question God
-wondering why He doesn’t make things better
-we conclude this, because we miss the bigger picture – the picture of a battle
Even if you are not a Christian
-you really wonder what is going on
-the world believes in Karma - what goes around comes around
-but Karma doesn't work in a battle zone.
-Refer to Corrie TenBoom's book, Hiding Place
-father lost life, respect for protecting life
-that kind of justice will have to wait
The people who first read the book of Revelation – knew about struggles
-they lived under Roman authority
-they often faced persecution for their faith
-they were accused of cannibalism and orgies (because of the Lord’s Supper)
These people knew that Jesus was Lord
-they eagerly waited for His return
-but the longer they waited, and the more they were persecuted
-the easier it was to wonder about God’s plan
The book of Revelation helps them see their struggle from God’s perspective.
Movement 2: ~*Life makes more sense when we see it from God's perspective.
Purpose: To force the hearer to see the fallacy of trying to determine their own life's course.
The Book of Revelation gives us a clearer picture of Jesus Christ
-and in showing us Jesus, it shows us His perspective
As we have been studying this book together
-there have been many hard to grasp symbols
-angels that look like animals
-sea that looks like glass
-assortment of horse-riders
When we get to chapter 12 – we see in this Revelation of Jesus some familiar images
-a woman about to give birth to a child who would rule the nations
-this woman fleeing into the desert to be protected by God
-that child being raptured (snatched) to God’s throne
-This is a reference to Christ’s birth, flight to Egypt, and ascension
-and the people of Asia Minor who read this would begin to see that this vision of the end
-is a vision of things that are already in progress
-as we read this passage, we begin to realize that our lives
-are another chapter in an ongoing battle.
If we believe that we can make our own way – (The Karma principle)
-we are missing the cosmic battle that has been raging from the beginning of time.
Our well-being is not simply a function of acting better.
-If so, Mother Theresa would have had a great life.
The mess of this world and our lives is not simply a function of
-our sin and mistakes
-it is in no way due to God’s guilt
-there is a battle that rages
Movement 3: ~*The dragon continues to wage his war.
Purpose: To warn of the reality of the ongoing battle.
Describe the scene of the final verses of chapter 12
-the dragon is frustrated, unable to stop the child
-Satan was unable to stop Christ
-temptations, crucifixion
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