Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

How very condescendingly the Lord Jesus Christ sets himself forth!

The noblest figures of speech are not too lofty to describe his merits.

If we could speak with the tongues of poets and of angels, we could not adequately represent his loveliness; and though the writers of the Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Ghost, have used language which exceeds all other in majesty and beauty, even they are not able to tell all the excellence of the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yet, beloved friends, when he speaks of himself, he is pleased to use no lofty imagery, no far-fetched metaphors; but he talks of himself one day as water, and another day as bread; and here he deigns to call himself a door.

The illustration is exceedingly simple; who is there that will not understand it?

He means that, as by passing through a door we enter into a house, so by passing through Christ Jesus, by faith, we enter into eternal life, and enter into the true Church, and ultimately shall enter into heaven.

“I am the door.”

This metaphor is not only simple, but it is wonderfully commonplace.

The dealers in profundities will not like this expression.

The gentlemen who must have something new—something very striking—will hardly admire this kind of talk; but, then, our Lord does not court their admiration.

His object is not to win the applause of the wise and the poetical, but to win the souls of the poor and the needy, to bring to them eternal life; so he uses what I may call a child’s figure, a common-place figure, “I am the door.”

He has selected this emblem, I should think, partly that it may often come before our notice.

You will not go out of this place without seeing a door; you will not get into your own house without seeing a door; and when you are inside, you will not get into your parlour without seeing a door; and when you go up to bed, you must pass through the door.

When you rise, to-morrow morning, and start to go out to your work, you will have to open a door,—two doors probably; and, when you reach your work, there is pretty sure to be another door to be entered.

Doors meet your gaze almost everywhere, so our Lord Jesus Christ seems to say to you, “I will meet you wherever you are; anywhere and everywhere, I will speak with you, and plead with you.

I will make the door of every room in your house, and the door of every cupboard, too, to preach a little sermon to you, as you shall be reminded by it that ‘I am the door.’

” I am sure our Lord Jesus Christ does not want his ministers to deliver magnificent orations, spread-eagle sermons, with long and elaborate sentences in them.

He wants them just to come and talk as he talked, in all simplicity, so that the very poorest and most illiterate of their hearers may understand their meaning, embrace the truth they proclaim, and find everlasting life in him of whom they speak.

So shall I try to do at this time, keeping the style of my discourse congruous with the text.

We will begin by noticing first, the door; secondly, the users of it: “By me if any man enter in;” and, thirdly, the privileges of each of these users: “He shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

PRAYER

VIDEO: Monster’s Inc., (door chase) & Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe (Lucy discovering the Wardrobe door’s amazing destination)

Sully and Mike faced an impossible task…finding Boo’s door among thousands.

Of course, they found it.

When they opened it…it was a different world.

When Lucy opened the Wardrobe door and stepped through…she found herself in the land of Narnia.

When Linda was on Let’s Make a Deal, she chose between a box (iffy) and a curtain (sure thing).

People that choose the wrong door or curtain get zonked.

Going through correct doors in life is pretty important.

Wrong doors — wrong choices, can take us where we don’t want to go.

Last week we looked at some of the ways Jesus referred to Himself.

“I am…the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, ‘Before Abraham was born, I am!’, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth, the Life.

We also touched on the fact that Jesus referred to Himself as the Door of the Sheep and the Good Shepherd.

We also touched on the fact that Jesus referred to Himself as the Door of the Sheep and the Good Shepherd.

I ran across a sermon by Charles Spurgeon — it was preached on Sunday night June 15th, 1879 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington - London.

I loved his take on where Jesus says “I am the Door”

Jo

PRAYER

John 10:

Charles Spurgeon’s message made a great point: Jesus referred to Himself in a very condescending way: the Door (Gate).

The most noble words imaginable are not noble enough to describe Jesus.

The best poets, song-writers, and artists couldn’t come up with sufficient words or images to depict the true nature of Jesus.

Yet — when Jesus spoke of Himself, He used simple, everyday terms.

One day He referred to Himself as water, another day bread, and here…a Shepherd, and door (sheep gate)!

I will summarize Spurgeon’s take on this passage.

Jesus referred to Himself in a very condescending way: the Door (Gate).

The most noble words imaginable are not noble enough to describe Jesus.

The best poets, song-writers, and artists couldn’t come up with sufficient words or images to depict the true nature of Jesus.

Yet — when Jesus speaks of Himself, He has not use for lofty or fancy terms.

One days He refers to Himself as water, another day bread, and here…a door!

Who doesn’t understand the concept of a door?

Jesus’ meaning was clear: as a person passing through a door enters a house (or other place), when we pass through Christ, by faith, we enter into eternal life…the true Church…Heaven

Maybe Jesus chose this symbol to describe Himself because a doors are common to everyone.

We doors every day.

You can’t get into your house without passing through a door.

When you need to shower, you must go through the bathroom door.

When it’s time for bed…there’s a door leading to your room.

When you get to work in the morning…you guessed it…a door.

You see doors nearly everywhere you turn.

It’s like Jesus is saying “Child, I will meet you wherever you are, whatever you are facing — anywhere and everywhere.

I will meet you there and speak to your heart, plead with you.” “I am the door” — every time you open a door…there is a sermon to remember,

Jesus doesn’t want anyone confused about who He is and what He offers.

Everything you need is found behind one Door: His name is Jesus

Transitional: This passage in John gives life-changing information about the Door, the users of the Door, and their privileges

THE DOOR

THE DOOR

Jesus sort of mixes metaphors in this passage about the Good Shepherd: He refers to Himself as both Shepherd and Door.

Jesus sort of mixes metaphors in this passage about the Good Shepherd: He refers to Himself as both Shepherd and Door.

His words highlight the fact that His sheep can only receive protection from the wolves by entering into the place of protection.

There is only one way in: the Door (Gate).

We see a couple important truths about the door...

The Door is necessary

Illustration: Many cities have some shelters for the homeless to come in out of the elements: for food and shelter.

In a good shelter — there is no judgment, it is a place to clean up, have a meal, get some fresh clothes, and maybe an encouraging word.

But what if there was no door?

Only windows - they could look in and see the food, the warm beds, and all the comforts - but could not access them.

A door is necessary for those that need help (all of us)!

God’s Word tells us of the New Jerusalem — the pinnacles tower so high that the height of the city is as great as the breadth, and the breadth the same as the length.

The foundations are made of precious stones, the streets of gold, and 12 12 pearl gates.

It’s brilliance outshines the sun.

If you listen you can hear the angels worshipping in beautiful song.

Imagine with me that there is not door - and our spirits simply have to fly round and round, but never find a way in.

Here’s the truth — there is no door into that place without Jesus — He is the Door!

Another key to remember about the Door

The Door is Exclusive

“I am the Door”

You might say, “there has to be other doors we can go through to have fulfilment in our hearts and ultimately eternal life!”

I am the Door - if anyone enters by me, he will be saved...

Some might say — “Really? it doesn’t seem fair!”

Jesus was either Lord, liar, or lunatic, which one is it?

If He is truly who He claims to be then we must take Him at His word.

His Words breathe life

You can search the universe — all the philosophies and discoveries of man — every religious belief throughout history — you will only find one true Door.

You can’t get there through self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, through priests, rites, or rituals

There is no other name

Lord, how can I enter into your Kingdom?

You say you are the Door?

What does that mean?

It means what it says — “I am the Door”