Sermon Tone Analysis

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intro
I saw a video this week released by “It is Written’s” John Bradshaw where he talked about the evolving definitions of words.
He was more specifically talking about slang words and even how some even probably know the slang word definitions more than the actual or original definitions.
Its funny, growing up and being into snow sports and water sports its not uncommon to hear phrases like “dude that was sick”....(translation, that was a great job!)
As i say that now from the pulpit, it sounds odd, but when you have just landed a big jump somehow describing it as sick somehow comes out naturally.
I remember the puzzled even slightly offended look on mothers face when my attempts to fit in with others, my new found slang had entered into the house.
My mom asked me how my day had been out wakeboarding: I answered something like “Oh mom it was ridiculous, so crazy” What I thought I had said was, “It was really fun, I had a good time.”
In Bradshaw’s video, I had to chuckle because he used words and phrases that were not (to my knowledge) even being used when I graduated college only 6 years ago.
Words like
-woke: to be aware or enlightened
-litt: is to be cool (which is already a slang word for “neat” or “awesome”)
-turnt: growing excitement
-squad: your crew or closest companions
-savage: “throwing “shade” which is slang or hurling insults
Heres one thats been around most of my life, was “chill or chill out” meaning relax
All these slang words can sound a bit ridiculous, and by ridiculous, I mean the actual definition of the word and not the slang version.
But you know I got to thinking.
As Christians we can and are even guilty of evolving words beyond their original intent.
Some words in the greek and hebrew will mean something with different and at times more complicated nuances than how it reads in English.
For instance a few weeks ago we discussed in one of my previous sermons about the greek and hebrew words translated as “forever” or /eternal/everlasting as used in scripture has broader meaning than the english words.
It may describe (1) something or someone existing without beginning and without end (in connection with God); (2) or something or someone with beginning but without end (the eternal life of the redeemed as described in ; ); and (3) something or someone with beginning and with end in the sense of “for some time.”
This helped us arrive at the conclusion that the forever burning hellfire of revelation is not a fire that burns forever, but is one which its effects last forever and always.
Now there is a greek word on the screen.
Is there anyone here who can tell me the english translation of this word Ecclesia?
Most people will say church.
But depending on your understanding of what church is defined as…we can miss the mark.
You see defining church as it is originally intended would be a gathering or community of God’s people.
Unfortunately what many will picture in their head, whether you are frequent active member of a church or someone who hasn’t ever been a part of a church, is the picture of a gathering place or a community center: Basically what many are picturing is the building.
They are picturing that building with a steeple and a sign outside with a catchy phrase on it.
Today we are going to examine how we the church can once again be known as the church and change the new narrative or the slanged one and be the church God has called us to be.
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Before we go further lets take a moment to pray
The church was a new movement that arose after Jesus’ resurrection.
The members of the early church sought to adhere to the confession of Jesus as Lord in the midst of an idolatrous, pluralistic culture.
As family members who had been included in the new “church of God,” early Christians strove for unity around the gospel, which was portrayed vividly in the Lord’s Supper.
); and (3) something or someone with beginning and with end in the sense of “for some time”
Words Matter
The church was a new movement that arose after Jesus’ resurrection.
The members of the early church sought to adhere to the teachings of Jesus and worshipping Him as Lord in the midst of an idolatrous, pluralistic culture.
As family members who had been included in this new “church of God,” early Christians strove for unity around the gospel.
Greever, J. M. (2016).
Church.
In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.),
The Lexham Bible Dictionary.
Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
In its earliest beginnings: the church was not stationary…it was a movement.
The church was moving.
It was like a sports car ready for take off.
There is a model of Porshe that can go from 0-60 miles an hour in 2.2 seconds.
That is mind boggling fast!
The church in its beginning with the Holy Spirit fueling it was moving from town to town, province to province.
It was accelerating fast.
The picture of the church was only the people.
The church was Jesus’ own prophecy!
In order to know what or who the church is.
We have to look back at Jesus’s earthly ministry.
During his time, ministering as a human on earth, there was a constant debate about His identity.
Was he a teacher, a rabbi, a prophet?
Was he actually divine or simply granted divine power.
He had shown he had authority over nature, but where was the source of his power?
Whether it was from Nicodemus or the woman at the well, the question kept coming up… “who in the world is this guy?”
Jesus asked this question to the disciples?
“Who do the people say I am?”
If he was talking in slang, maybe he said, “so whats the word on street about me?”
We have to give the disciples a little credit.
They answered the question that was asked.
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Jesus responds to this: “Who do you say I am?”
Peter responds without hesitation
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
and here is Jesus prophetic statement.
17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Andy Stanley likes to say this is his favorite prophecy, because it is here, Jesus predicted us!
Every time we gather as believers to worship and learn, we are a present day fulfillment of Jesus words over 2000 years ago!
In Stanley’s book “Deep and Wide” he writes concerning this text:
“This is the first time the term church shows up in our english NT.
The church is referenced within the context of a prediction.
Jesus predicted he would build it and that nothing, including death, would stand in his way.
Furthermore, he states that the “rock” or cornerstone of the church would be this inspired statement that peter made regarding Jesus identity.”
Church family: if you can write this down: “Words matter”
Before the invention of concrete, builders used stones to lay a foundation for a new building.
They gathered different types of rocks from quarries such as marble, limestone, and granite and would chisel them down into giant brick shaped blocks.
Then they selected one particular stone and designated it the “cornerstone.”
—the reference stone that would determine the placement of every other stone in the foundation.
As they laid other stones end to end to form the outline of the building’s foundation, they made sure each one was level and square with the cornerstone.
(deep and wide pg.59)
The cornerstone or foundation for this new entity called the church would be the belief that Jesus is the Christ Messiah, the Son of the living God.
Looking at the Christian church today, belief in Jesus Christ the Messiah appears to be about the only 100% unifying factor within the church.
There is more to be taken away from this exchange between Jesus and the disciples.
Just simply looking at the English translations, we can miss something rather important.
I mentioned the english translations for Ecclesia is often church, but gathering is really the more appropriate translation.
The reason being is that Ecclesia is not truly a religious term.
An ekklessia was simply a gathering or an assembly of people called to a specific purpose.
It never referred to a specific place, but only a specific gathering.
Interestingly, when the Hebrew people were scattered all around the world, they were still known collectively as an ecclesia, an “assembly, gathering, comunity, congregation.”
While dispersed, the people of Israel gathered in close-knit communities and established synagogues.
Each community of God’s people called its synagogue an ekklesia, understanding it to be a local, literal gathering of people who were members of the broad, spiritual gathering of israel.
In both secular and sacred literature, ekklesia always referred to a gathering of people united by a common identity and purpose.
So when Jesus used the term, his disciples understood him to say, “i am going to build my own assembly of people and the foundation for this new assembly will be me.”
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