Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

If you are joining us for the first time this week you’ll want to know that we are in the middle of a 10-week series on the Old Testament called “The Story Before.”

Now, if you look at a Bible you realize that there is no way we can cover all of the Old Testament in 10 weeks, so we’ve carefully selected 10 of the most important stories from the Old Testament.

The first three weeks, Pastor Ryan covered the creation of all things, including humans, he covered how Adam and Eve then rebelled against God by disobeying Him, and then he looked at how God’s heart was grieved by how sin had completely corrupted His once beautiful creation, and so He flooded the world but spared a man named Noah and his family and started over with them.

Unfortunately it doesn’t take long for humans to mess things up again, though.

They begin disobeying God and instead of being stewards of God’s creation and starting families that love Him and serve Him, they decide they want to, once again, be like God and make a name for themselves.

So they build a city with a tower that is a monument to their greatness, rather than God’s greatness.

But this wasn’t God’s plan for them, so Scripture says He “confused their language” meaning they couldn’t talk to one another because they were now speaking different languages.

Of course, the work to an abrupt end and the people scattered across the face of the earth.

At this point, we are given a genealogy from which all of the nations of the world had started.

By the end of , we are introduced to a guy by the name of Abraham.

And God has some very specific plans for Abraham and his descendants, but before we dive in to the His story, let’s pray.

Pray

Illustration

So its still January and just a couple of weeks ago we were at that time of year when we set out to have a New Year’s Resolution.

Did any of you make a resolution?

I know a few people that were talking about eating more healthy.

Some people resolve to be more healthy this time of year, right?

I know this is true because I walk into Walmart and all of the exercise equipment is out and on sale, right?

And you think to yourself, “Ah - I wonder if that really works?

Maybe it would help me reach my goal...”

Well, here’s where it get’s really embarrassing.

Did you know that most people, by this point in the year, have already given up on their resolution?

Now that’s kind of a downer, but you know that its true because chances are good that you or someone you know has already given up on your resolution.

Most people don’t set out to fail, but the problem, I think, is this: they give just a little bit on one of the mini-steps that are a part of a larger goal.

When you set out to do something good and mess it up,

For example, if you your goal was to to be more physically active, you would probably say, “Ok, that means 3-4 days of 30 minute sessions in the gym.”

But, what typically happens is this: you miss a day or two.

You get busy and you say, “No problem, I’ll just pick up where I left off.”

So, you might do well for another week or so, but then you miss another day.

And you know the thoughts that set in:

Here are some thoughts that creep in:

“Oh man.

This is a lot harder than I thought.”

“Well, I’m so far behind and so messed up now that there is no way I can catch up.

I might as well give up.”

“Well, I’m so far behind and so messed up now that there is no way I can catch up.

I might as well give up.”

“Maybe I’ve overreached and my goal is simply out of reach for me.”

“Maybe I’m just a person that can’t follow-through.”

“Maybe I’ve overreached and my goal is simply out of reach for me.”

“Maybe I’m just too messed up to accomplish much of anything or do anything good.”

“Maybe I’m just a person that can’t follow-through.”

And I would say that, many times, that is how we view life in general, even in regards to how valuable and useful we are to God.

We begin to think like this:

“Maybe I’m just too messed up to accomplish much of anything or do anything good.”

I’M JUST TOO MESSED UP - NOTHING GOOD CAN COME OF ME.

Abraham (

I’ve had those thoughts too.

But you know what?