Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.16UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.09UNLIKELY
Fear
0.11UNLIKELY
Joy
0.62LIKELY
Sadness
0.24UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.71LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.26UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.81LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.8LIKELY
Extraversion
0.23UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.82LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.71LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Text
Main Point
Paul’s first recorded address to Christians in Acts is an encouragement in authentic Christianity
Introduction
Eutychus
Paul preached past midnight!
Eutychus fell asleep
Paul is now in his way back to Jerusalem
Ephesus -> Macedonia -> Troas-> Miletus ->
Addresses Ephesian elders
An encouragement in authentic Christianity and leading the church
Pray for your elders
example for us to follow
1.
Live by Example (Lead the Flock)
Acts 20:18-21
Paul reflects on the example of his own ministry
Follow
1a) Serve the Lord
a servant
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus”
a servant of the Lord
every trial, every plot, every point of suffering,....he did it for God
its not about you, its not about this church - we serve God
everything you do - you do for the Lord - motivation
Eph
1b) Serve with humility
there is a way in which we can serve sinfully - by being prideful (serving our own ends)
we serve with humility not pride
If Paul was self-serving, there’s no way he would have endured
People pull out of ministry all the time for selfish reasons - (I was hurt, offended)
Authentic Christianity is serving the Lord not just when its easy
Serving is a joy - but sometimes its done with tears and with trials
Sometimes the very people you’re serving for Jesus sake don’t want it
Eph 4:1
1c) Serve with courage
1c) Serve with courage
Sometimes humility is confused with being spineless
Being humble doesn’t mean
running from a challenge,
or backing down from confrontation,
or avoiding controversy
In spite of the trials and plots, Paul did not shrink from his mission
or from declaring the whole counsel of God
It takes courage to minister to people who are opposed to you
It takes courage to stand up for truth
It takes courage to declare things are biblical when they are offensive to people
Paul suffered because he stuck courageously to his mission among people who denied the gospel of grace
1d) Serve with love
We don’t only serve among those in opposition - but also in equipping the saints
Paul taught in public and house to house
You don’t go house to house unless you love, and you can’t enter a house without love
Home visits will continue to be a major role in pastoral care
1d) Serve with focus
Testified to both Jew and Greek repentance and faith in Jesus Christ
Paul’s main focus wasn’t to be a servant, or to be humble, or to be courageous, or to be loving
Keep the main thing the main thing - remember your why
Your why for everything is the glory of God
We should desire that the Lord receive the glory and worship due
That is our why for everything
The goal that motivates our service - why we serve him, with humility, with courage, with love
Because the gospel is our focus
We are here to give testimony - to be his witnesses
2. Testify to the Gospel (Teach the Flock)
Acts
2a) A Spirit-inspired Compulsion
Constrained - a compulsion - also carries a sense of accountability
One does not desire to become an elder unless you feel this sort of compulsion
a Spirit given desire to glorify God
to see His kingdom grow
To teach true doctrine
to testify to the truth
So much so that you can’t rest…
… and nothing - not even the imminent threat of suffering - can stop you from finishing your course
Such resolve and constraint can’t come from love of self or even love of people
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;”
… he went ahead anyway
2b) A Precious Testimony
The compulsion that every elder (and every Christian) should feel is a compulsion to spread a message - a testimony
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
An authentic compulsion to be an elder and to serve God can never be self-serving or to elevate yourself...
… if that were the case you would stop at the first hurdle, first threat, first offense
But Paul counts his life of no value nor as precious, compared to the need to serve Christ by testifying to the gospel and God’s grace
Acts
NOT saying his life has no value and not precious - but in comparison
2c) A Serious Stake
2c) A Serious Stake
There is something serious at stake - elders are called to a serious task with great responsibility
“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”
“I am innocent of the blood of all.... because I didn’t shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God”
Elders will be held accountable for the flock that has been placed under their care
The eternal destination of souls is at stake
3. Beware of Wolves (Protect the Flock)
Acts 20:
Paul’s message to the elders thus far:
Follow my example as I follow Christ’s example
Serve the Lord with humility, courage and love
Teach truth
When you shine a light, the things that were covered by darkness become exposed
When you teach truth, error and danger is exposed
The responsibility given to elders by the Holy Spirit is not only to teach truth but to protect the flock from error
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9