Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Have you ever been so excited about something that you just had to tell everyone?

STORY

I have.

On November 22, 2005 Microsoft released the Xbox 360 in a second attempt to take over the industry that was dominated by Sony’s Playstation.

Everyone had to get one.

It was the next best thing.

And once you had one you had to show everyone.

In December of 2006, I got my Xbox and I had to show it off.

I had an awesome game called MechAssault that multiplayer, so I invited my friends and we played together.

For months, I wouldn’t shut up about my Xbox.

Both at school and in my neighborhood, everyone had to see what I had.

It was my most prized possession.

The one thing that had me completely consumed.

Even when I was asleep, I would think about my Xbox.

I would have dreams of playing it.

My Xbox was my everything.

And because it was my everything, I had to tell everyone about it.

What is your everything?

Do you have a most prized possession that you just can’t shut up about?

I had been given a treasure as a gift and it was truly my most prized possession.

Transition

Unlike my treasure, Jesus talks about another that is much greater than my old Xbox.

A real treasure that is actually worth much more.

Something so valuable that men all over the world over thousands of years have sacrificed everything for.

A gift so great and amazing that it has literally turned the world upside down.

That gift is a treasure beyond imagining.

That treasure is heaven.

You have a Treasure

Matthew 13:44

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.

Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Here Jesus is describing a great treasure to his best friends.

Jesus is describing Heaven to his 12 disciples.

12 guys who followed him everywhere.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven?

The Kingdom of Heaven is something so valuable that those who find it :

Move Quickly to Give up everything to Buy the discovery.

Give up everything

Buy the discovery

The Kingdom of heaven is something that is worth more than any of our other possessions and desires.

It brings a joy that comforts like no other possession we have.

It is absolutely EVERYTHING.

Matthew 13:45-46

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Kingdom of Heaven is something worth so much that everything else pales by comparison.

The Kingdom of Heaven is something worth so much that everything else pales by comparison.

These are parables.

signifies something cast alongside another thing to clarify it

In this parable, the merchant who finds the great pearl may seem like a a complete fool.

Why?

Because he sells everything all for this little shiny piece of jewelry.

You see, the average man, who knows nothing of the Kingdom of God, does not recognize the true worth of what is in front of him.

A treasure beyond imagining; a treasure so great that demands one drop everything to simply poses it.

In this parable, the merchant who finds the great pearl may seem like a a complete fool.

Why?

Because he sells everything all for this little shiny piece of jewelry.

You see, the average man, who knows nothing of the Kingdom of God, does not recognize the true worth of what is in front of him.

A treasure beyond imagining; a treasure so great that demands one drop everything to simply poses it.

This is what the Kingdom of heaven is.

A treasure so special and valuable, that it demands that you and I drop everything to attain it.

Transition

sd

You see, you have a treasure that is worth more than anything else you have.

You have the Kingdom of Heaven in your hands.

So what’s next?

What do you do when you have been given a treasure?

ILLUSTRATION

Handout money to three different students and to leaders.

Students have to multiply money that was given by asking around the room before the teacher comes back.

$5 - Multiplied & Becomes $10

$2 - Multiplied & Becomes $4

$1 - Hid it and did nothing with the $$$

Jesus later describes the Kingdom of Heaven’s worth:

Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.

Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.

Enter into the joy of your master.’

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.

Enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.

Here, you have what is yours.’

26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant!

You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance.