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
0.09UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.12UNLIKELY
Joy
0.61LIKELY
Sadness
0.17UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.26UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.57LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.85LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.94LIKELY
Extraversion
0.49UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.78LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.81LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Qualified
God chooses and raises up Judges to lead his people back to him.
God chooses and then uses what is unique about them to accomplish His purposes.
"The Spirit of the LORD was upon them".
That same Spirit is upon you.
You are chosen and equipped to lead those around you into relationship with God.
Are You Qualified
I met a new neighbor yesterday.
Kind of diagonal from my house.
We were helping another neighbor clear branches from their house and she asks me what I do for a living.
I talk about being a pastor, and I talk about working from home as a software engineer.
And she asks “what qualifies you to do that?”
Umm… nothing, I guess.
I mean they tried to determine as best they could before-hand that I would be good at my job and actually work when I’m home… but it certainly isn’t a sure thing of any kind.
What qualifies you to do what you’re doing?
I don’t think God lets us stay comfortable.
He calls us to next steps that stretch us and test our faith and push our boundaries.
Some of you are already in the midst of that.
Comfortable?
You don’t know what comfortable even looks like, you are stretched and maxed to capacity!
Some of you, maybe, have already heard the edges of a call.
A new ministry, a new responsibility, a whole new role or task or phase of life.
And one barrier, anytime we face something new or challenging: am I up to it?
Am I qualified?
Am I ready?
Am I smart enough, good enough, old enough, wise enough?
Am I up to it?
Three stories from of some of the most qualified men, heroes in their day.
Three Stories from Judges Three
Shamgar
How bizarre?
What were the circumstances that led to this situation?
How bizarre?
What were the circumstances that led to this situation?
Caravan trade had come to a halt (we hear later in the Song of Deborah and Barak) and here comes Shamgar.
I like to picture him whipping the ox goad around like Jackie Chan (while juggling a baby).
An ox-goad was an 8 foot long metal tipped pole used to goad (or poke and irritate) the ox.
Was this guy even an Israelite?
Shamgar is a non-Semitic name, this guy could have been a Canaanite that God used… or even a Philistine.
What qualified him?
Perhaps it was his epic bo staff skills.
Othniel
How did he save Israel?
No idea.
Othniel went out to war… and he won.
What qualified Othniel to lead the people of Israel?
What do we know?
Well, he Caleb’s younger brother, so perhaps it is family connections.
What qualifies you?
Bo-staff skills and family connections.
Here comes our third hero.
Ehud
Ehud.
Parental Advisory warning, this story gets graphic and gross.
This book of the Bible is rated R.
Once again the Israelites are enslaved, this takes place after the time of Othniel.
They are in bondage to the Moabites: the guys on the East side of the river which today would be Kingdom of Jordan.
Judges 3:
And
He made his own sword.
Awesome.
They are in bondage so likely not allowed to keep weapons for themselves… so he made his own.
A Cubit is about 18”, so this 18” knife, he straps his right thigh.
Then, as part of being in bondage, they have to bring a portion of everything they make and earn as tribute to the king.
So Ehud is in charge of taking the tribute and he gathers up the stuff and leads the procession to the king.
18” knife strapped to his right thigh.
And this king, Eglon, he was a fat man.
How do I know the King was a fat man?
Judges 3:
Your king is SOOOoooo… fat!
How fat is he?
I’ll tell you.
They present the tribute: “King, here is your tribute!”
And the king probably says “oh, thank you that is great.”
And Ehud dismissed the other people in his crew “Ok, guys, job done” and says to the King “I have a secret message for you.”
And the king kicks everyone else out so he can hear the secret message.
And Ehud walks up to him “as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber.”
*This place is cool.
And Ehud says.... this is an action movie right here.
This is John McClane dropping out of the air event saying Yippee Kay yay...
Ehud says “I have a message from God for you” and the king arose from his seat.
I picture him leaning forward, so on the edge of his seat that now he is up and off his seat.
TMI?
Just wait.
Judges 3:21-24
TMI?
Just wait.
He’s… taking awhile in there.
This is getting ridiculous… Maybe someone should check on him?
You do it.
Rock paper scissors.
Judges 3:24
And meanwhile Ehud escapes, he sounds the trumpet for his clan, and they, joined by other tribes, they were waiting… and they stream down after him
Judges 3:28
Left-Handed
What is Ehud’s defining characteristic.
What is the one thing we know about Ehud?
He is left-handed.
Left-handed does usually mean good things.
Left-handed compliment.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9