Sermon Tone Analysis

*Thanks* for helping me grow and learn

 

*I’d like to share a recent experience - *

 

Maybe you know – *I’m a lawyer by trade*.

This world trains “us” - lawyers

To argue~/win – usually money

One wins~/another loses

 

And, I know JESUS is LIFE

So, every day, *living* in this world

I need to lay down~/give up – *sacrifice*

among other things – /my self/

my win - lose “worldly” trained attitude

 

But, this is easier said than done

With Him though – all things are possible.

*Ex.

recent call from really bitter man – *

wanted to sue in an employment matter.

Complaining - not getting paid enough, felt disrespected, entitled to a better title, jealous of millionaire brother who wouldn’t help, etc.

On and on.

He didn’t have a “legal” case; it was a spiritual battle.

Just when I was inclined to tell him good bye and get on with “billable” work.

I was otherwise prompted to listen and talk about his family, college educated kids, wife, steady income, stable home, his trust~/faith in Jesus, and his “rich” brother who didn’t know Jesus.

I asked if he’d trade knowing the Lord, for all his brother’s money~/stuff?

He came to his own precious conclusion.

Together we celebrated the Lord and prayed.

He went from complaining to rejoicing in those thirty minutes.

I received no money, but sure was greatly “enriched.”

Is not this our work – to believe in Him? John 6:29  AMEN!

*/Lord, thanks, for helping me here/*

*/NOT conform to the patterns of this world, /*

*/and for transforming me and renewing my mind./*

Process - Brook 

\\  

*The Apostle Paul was a *

*Jewish, Roman citizen, tentmaker* by trade

 

But, his life was a servant of the Lord

*Jesus, whom Paul came to know* *is ALIVE*

 

!!

The Lord radically transformed Paul’s life

On the road to Damascus

 

When Paul personally met the Lord

!!

He was already religious - zealous

Steeped in his tradition

Persecuted Christians - followers of “the Way”

 

His Jewish name was “Saul” of Tarsus.

He was well trained, educated and ambitious

And, had it all - “in this world”

 

When Saul met Jesus

He asked - “who are you, *Lord*?”

!!

He knew - he was meeting the Lord

 

!! And, he learned

“*I am Jesus*, whom you are persecuting”

 

In that instant, flash, Saul knew

Jesus of Nazareth - The Crucified One

Is ALIVE – WAY - TRUTH - Lord of All

 

He recounts (Philippians 4) –

/If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised … the tribe of Benjamin, … Hebrew of Hebrews; … a Pharisee; … as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

/

/ /

/7 //But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

8 What is more, *I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord*, for whose sake I have lost all things.

I consider them *rubbish*, that I may gain Christ./

So, wherever we are, let’s recognize 2 things -

 

1.           Jesus is the LIVING Lord of ALL; and

2.           We’re all here now, very much still in this world.

\\ Knowing the Truth didn’t make Paul’s life “in this world” – easier

 

Actually, Paul’s life “in this world” became harder –

 

Can we relate?

Ours does too

 

Paul was beaten, persecuted, and executed

For proclaiming to the world

Jesus Christ is The LIVING Lord of ALL

 

*So, let us not be deceived* in thinking,

knowing Jesus will make our lives - “in this world” - easier

 

We do know, and so did Paul -

*Life “in this world” is temporary* – so fast

 

/Coming back from an *Uncle’s funeral* – /

/A friend asked/

/If I knew how much time there is between/

/The ages of 20 and 60 – /

/I answered 40 years/  - good at math

/He said, about 20 seconds – /

/As we age, we understand how right this is/

 

 

\\ So, let’s consider (i) living “in this world,” and (ii) knowing Jesus Christ – the TRUTH

 

Paul, early Christians (and we) are in an obvious struggle & battle every day

As we live “in this world.”

They viewed themselves, and were seen as “*alien citizens*” –

 

We are */in, but not of,/* this world -

 

In a *letter written* by an unknown author *in the 2nd century* responding to pagan curiosity about Christianity as a so called “cult.”

Christians are described as /those who “set…little store by this world, and even make light of death itself” while displaying a “warm fraternal affection” for one another.

While in most respects no different from others, they renounced widespread practices of the Roman world and exemplify the Pauline paradox of strength perfected in weakness /(II Cor.

6:1-10; 12:5-10) 

 

“Though they are /residents at home/ in their own countries, their /behavior /there is more /like that of transients/; they take their /full part as citizens/, but they also /submit/ to anything and everything /as if they were aliens/.

For them, /any foreign country is a homeland, and any homeland a foreign country/.

They were - we are – “alien citizens”

We are *living sacrifices*  - a paradox

Daily giving up old worldly ways

beliefs, thoughts, mind, body

And our natural born self - SAUL

And it was - is *hard*

 

*As a 1st Century Jew* – Pharisee

 

Paul struggled with

many traditions~/rules he learned

many “religious leaders” he knew

His own past - persecuting the Way

 

*As a 1st Century Roman* citizen