Sermon Tone Analysis

Rip Current

A rip current is a strong, localized, and narrow current of water which moves directly away from the shore, cutting through the lines of breaking waves like a river running out to sea, and is strongest near the surface of the water.

Rip currents can be hazardous to people in the water.

Swimmers who are caught in a rip current and who do not understand what is going on, and who may not have the necessary water skills, may panic, or exhaust themselves by trying to swim directly against the flow of water.

Because of these factors, rips are the leading cause of rescues by lifeguards at beaches, and rips are the cause of an average of 46 deaths by drowning per year in the United States.

Rip currents can be hazardous to people in the water.

Swimmers who are caught in a rip current and who do not understand what is going on, and who may not have the necessary water skills, may panic, or exhaust themselves by trying to swim directly against the flow of water.

Because of these factors, rips are the leading cause of rescues by lifeguards at beaches, and rips are the cause of an average of 46 deaths by drowning per year in the United States.

Once I was caught in a rip current.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Who is it that overcomes the world?

Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

“Overcome” Grk.

Word that means “victory.”

Expresses victory in military and legal combat

§ Grk.

Goddess in mythology named Nike who was a symbol of personal superiority

Grk.

Goddess in mythology named Nike who was a symbol of personal superiority

A form of this word is used several times in the passage.

It’s translated victory and overcome in vss. 4 & 5. Also translated in other versions as surpass, be stronger than, to prevail and to conquer.

So what does it mean to “overcome the world”?

Very simply to conquer, prevail against and have victory over the world!

Very simply to conquer, prevail against and have victory over the world!

And who is it that is a world-conqueror?

Only the one who believes Jesus is God’s son.

The world can beat us down can’t it?

The world can make us feel stressed and strained.

Our responsibilities and obligations weigh upon us making us feel overwhelmed.

H.S. and relationships, college choices.

We struggle with sin and our walk with God, knowing him and discerning his will.

We can get caught in a rip current.

Maybe you feel like you’re drowning—your situation is beating you up and pulling you under.

Maybe you just feel like you’re not going anywhere.

You can’t get moving.

Not making progress, not growing or changing.

It’s good to be reassured that children of God—those who believe are indeed over comers.

But wait—children of God, Christians, are over comers??? Who does our world say is an over comer?

Who does our world say is an over comer?

People with a lot of money don’t have any problems!

People that live around here—it’s all good!

Super athletes and models don’t have any worries!

Super athletes and models don’t have any worries!

They have overcome the world!! (?)

No! Only the one that believes is an over comer.

Why is that I wonder?

(explain background of going to the cross)

32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home.

You will leave me all alone.

Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

The reason why the believer is an over comer is because Jesus himself is an over comer.

Jesus himself is victorious (and it ain’t the shoes!).

Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.”

Word “world” used more times here in John than any other book of the Bible.

“The World” comes to mean in many places: “all that which stands in opposition to God.”

So Jesus says in vs. 14, concerning the Spirit, the world cannot accept him.

In vs. 15 Jesus reminds his disciples the world hated him and therefore will hate them.

In vs. 16 Jesus says the world stands condemned.

Jesus doesn’t mean every person in the world or the whole entire world but rather all those people all those idea that stand opposed to God.

The world in John is the riptide.

It’s the current that flows through the ideas and the philosophies, it’s the attitudes and actions that pull us under and away from God.

And Jesus tells his disciples—that is what I have overcome.

Anything that stands opposed to me.

Don’t know what’s going on.

Feel stalled, feel stuck.

Not making any progress.

Need a strategy to rely on when you get in those places.

Need help.

Sometimes need a friend, a guide, a mentor to help you out.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with fury, because he knows that