Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Have you noticed that Christmas is a time that really tends to magnify things.

If there's something good, the Christmas season tends to magnify it and makes things even better.

At the same time Christmas can also magnify the difficult times.

What might be a little painful during the year seems to be incredibly painful during Christmas-time.

In fact, I'm going to tell you what we're going to cover in the next few weeks.

Have you noticed that Christmas is a time that really tends to magnify things.

If there's something good Christmas season tends to magnify the good and makes things even better.

At the same time Christmas can also magnify the difficult times.

What might be a little painful during the year seems to be incredibly painful during Christmastime.

In fact, I'm going to tell you what we're going to cover in the next few weeks.

Next week were going to talk about something that most of us battle with at one degree or another.

We're going to talk about healing from shame.

Many of us, we internalize shame from something that we did and we think "because I did that I am bad".

We're going to look at God's Word as it speaks directly to our hearts to heal from shame.

Next week were going to talk about something that most of us battle with at one degree or another.

We're going to talk ab out healing from shame.

Many of us, we internalize shame from something that we did and we think "because I did that I am bad".

We're going to look at God's word as it speaks directly to our hearts to heal from shame.

And in week number three we're going to talk about overcoming labels, because let's be honest, all of us through life we pick up different labels.

Someone calls us something, we think something about ourselves and these labels tend to limit us.

With God's help we're going to overcome those labels.

Week number three is my favorite of t he message series.

We're going to talk about overcoming labels, because let's be honest, all of us through life we pick up different labels.

Someone calls us something, we think something about ourselves and these labels tend to limit us.

With God's help w e're going to overcome those labels.

Today what I want to do is talk about something very dear to my heart.

It's something that God has done a real work in my heart.

I want to talk to you about overcoming offenses.

How many of you know someone that's easily offended?

Would you raise you hand right now?

You know someone who's easily offended, if they knew you were raising your hand they would be so hurt.

They would be so offended.

How many of you would say quite honestly you might be offended more often than you should.

It's difficult to admit.

This was me for years and years.

I recognize that I was letting little things weigh me down.

Maybe you're like this, something insignificant weighing me down.

For example, if I'm driving in a car and I let someone in when it really wasn't their turn and if they didn't give me the courtesy obligatory thank you wave or just a simple nod like, I acknowledge that you're a very righteous and godly person for letting me in when I could've been waiting there for a long time, I get so irritated.

I just want to kind of remind them to say thank you.

Today what I want to do is talk about something very dear to my heart.

It's something that God has done a real work in my heart.

I want to talk to you about overcoming offenses, overcoming offenses.

At all of our churc hes, how many of you know someone that's easily offended?

Would you raise you hand right now?

You know someone who's easily offended, if they knew you were raising your hand they would be so hurt.

They would be so offended.

How many of you would say quite honestly you might be offended more often than you should.

It's difficult to admit.

This was me for years and years.

I recognize that I was letting little things weigh me down.

Maybe you're like this, something insignificant.

The same is true if I open someone's door for them and they just kind of walk right on, no even thank you.

I'm just sitting here all day long, this is my job.

I can let little things like that get to me.

For example, if I'm driving i n a car and I let someone in when it really wasn't their turn and if they didn't give me the courtesy obligatory thank you wave or just a simple nod like, I acknowledge that you're a very righteous and godly person for letting me in when I could've been wa iting there for a long time, I get so irritated.

I just want to kind of remind them to say thank you.

The same is true if I open someone's door for them and they just kind of walk right on, no even thank you.

I'm just sitting here all day long, this is my job.

I can let little things like that get to me.

Maybe for you you're talking to somebody and the whole time you're trying to have a conversation they're just on their phone just looking, looking, looking.

You're like, "Would you put the thing down?

Look at me right here."

Some of you that might get you, speaking of the phone, it's really easy now with technology to find new and creative ways to become offended.

For example, your friend doesn't follow you on Instagram and you like all of their posts.

It's like, "I'm not even worthy of being followed", or they do follow you and they don't comment, or even worse they follow you and then one day they don't.

"Oh, I'm unliking all of my likes on your page because you unfollowed me".

Maybe for you you're talking to somebody and the whole time you're trying to have a conversation they're just on their phone just looking, looking, looking.

You're like, "Would you put the thing down?

Loo k at me right here."

Some of you that might get you, speaking of the phone, it's really easy now with technology to find new and creative ways to become offended.

For example, your friend doesn't follow you on Instagram and you like all of their posts.

It' s like, "I'm not even worthy of being followed", or they do follow you and they don't comment, or even worse they follow you and then one day they don't.

"Oh, I'm unliking all of my likes on your page because you unfollowed me".

You text them and they slow respond, they wait a day.

"Oh, so I'm a 24 hour responder?"

The worst is when you text them and they start to respond and you see bubbles, "there are bubbles there, you see the bubbles, there are bubbles and then there's no text.

I saw the bubbles.

You started then you dumped me.

Why did you dump me in the middle of the text.

I thought we were quick".

I could get really offended by this.

I don't know if you're like this.

Maybe I just need counseling.

I get really, really offended.

Someone tells you "I don't like the way you're raising your kids", you make one comment about the kids it's game on.

I don't care if it is Christmas, baby, you just crossed a line.

It's so interesting how especially around the holidays the littlest things can often set us off in the biggest ways.

A time that is supposed to be Christ honoring often becomes very destructive in the relationships of the people that we love most.

honoring often becomes very destructive in the relationships of the people that we love most.

I talked about the little things.

Those are kind of little and annoying things.