Sermon Tone Analysis

Thesis: We need to learn the boundaries God has created around us in order to grow in Christ and thrive.

For Kids: Kathy - how she learns from God

Me

The Terror of the Blank Page

I work 10x faster and better with specific parameters to my writing.

We

We need separations, boundaries, parameters in our lives

And we aren't born knowing what they are.

We need help learning them so we can live in a way that helps us grow and thrive.

If we don't learn them we are stuck trying to guess our way through life... which was not what God intends for us.

We have more responsibility than that.

It's not just about getting through life ourselves.

We are called to serve others and help our community thrive.

God

Genesis 1:6-

Water is difficult to separate

6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it.

And it was so.

8 God called the vault “sky.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

Water is difficult to separate

Ice is easy

Fog, mist, and steam are not impossible.

But water is a huge challenge.

If darkness was the first symbol of chaos, water was the second because water never stays under our control

We react to it.

New life comes from separating water.

Red Sea

River Jordan

Birth

Children are not considered "born" until they are separated from their mother's body.

Genesis 1:9

A foundation to stand and build upon

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.”

And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.”

And God saw that it was good.

A foundation to stand and build upon

Salvation without Foundation

Kewanee Assembly of God

Big youth group

Closed 3 times since I left

What's in your foundation?

Who do you want to be like?

Who do you see Jesus in?

Are those characteristics and attitudes working their way out in you?

Are they spreading to those around you?

Genesis 1:11-

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.”

And it was so.

12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.

And God saw that it was good.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

The the land can produce sustainable food

What does sustainable spiritual food look like

In one ear and out the other is not eating

You don't eat with your ears

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.”

And it was so.

16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.

He also made the stars.

17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.

And God saw that it was good.

19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

Place and time for everything

Celebrations

Birthday parties are good

Not if we celebrate them 5 or 6 times a year

They lose meaning without being set aside as special times

Spending or saving money

Sex

Chocolate

Madilyn's first chocolate milk

13th, 24th, 73rd time we probably won't remember.

Tithing your time

2 hours 20 mins

1 hour in the morning

1 hour at night

20 minutes in the middle

Can you do it?

What would you have to give up?

That's your TV time

Separating your time

Is there a difference between TV time and God time?

Is there a difference between God time and work time?

Is there a difference between God time and family time.

Where these blur together, God ends up losing you and you lose your witness

Not alone

You don't have to have God time alone though

You can bring friends, family, coworkers along

You just have to let God be in charge of the agenda.

What would it look like to invite friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers into your personal time learning from God?

That'd be the best evangelism and witnessing ever!

You

Are you learning the parameters God has for your life in Christ?

Are you practicing and living them out?

Are you noticing your growth?

We

When we stop learning we stop growing

Newsletter Article from 4th Avenue UMC, one of the biggest churches of the former Louisville Conference - in Louisville.