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
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Joy
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Analytical
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences

Tones
Emotion
Anger
Disgust
Fear
Joy
Sadness
Language
Analytical
Confident
Tentative
Social Tendencies
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Emotional Range
Anger
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INTRODUCTION
Saving money as a kid
Investing in the next generation is the same way.
(representative number of hours in a child’s day)
As a parent, I need you the teachers and coaches to invest in.
Time at church
2-4 hrs/wk
10 hrs/ month
312 hrs/yr
Parents have a certain amount of influence, but over time that becomes less and less.
All together (parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, church members)
168 hrs/ wk
168 hrs/ wk
168 hrs/ wk
700+ in month
700+ in month
700+ in month
8,760 in yr.
8,760 in yr.
8,760 in yr.
Time at church
2-4 hrs/wk
10 hrs/ month
312 hrs/yr
TRANSITION
Between parents, grandparents, teachers, faculty, coaches, and the church we are covering almost every hour of a child’s day.
Think of the influence upon a child’s life that is held in this building today.
Investing in the next generation…how are we going to spend those hours?
We must spend them on what counts the most.
EXPOSITION
Today, we are going to look at what it means to invest in the next generation
Read .
Investing in the next generations means...
1.
We should let children see Jesus.
(vv.
13-14a)
EXP: “Little children”- a child was considered between the ages of 0-12, but likely small children here (v.
16).
People brought their children so Jesus could bless them-
People brought their children so Jesus could bless them- perhaps to pray or speak over them regarding having good health, a long life, blessings from God, etc.
People wanted their children to meet Jesus.
Something amazing always happens when you meet Jesus.
Do you remember when you met Jesus?
Say point 1
APP: As parents, church leaders, and community leaders, we should want nothing more for children than for them to see Jesus.
In our actions, in our teaching, the way we treat them.
We should let children see Jesus in us.
We should bring our children to church.
Sometimes parents worry about their kids acting up in service, while we do want to teach children, kids will be kids.
ILL: A lady took her four-year-old granddaughter to “big church” for the first time.
She sat quietly taking in every aspect of the service and her attentive curiosity stayed in check until the pastoral prayer.
The pastor said, “We thank You, Lord, for Your presence.”
The little girl’s eyes flew open and she whispered to her grandmother, “Granny, we’re gonna get presents!”
APP: Kids are going to be kids, but we must let them see Jesus.
While they may not understand everything today, by letting children see Jesus, we are building a foundation for and investing in their spiritual future.
Prov.
EXP: “The disciples rebuked them”- the disciples turned the parents away, almost like bouncers or bodyguards.
They thought Jesus’ time was more valuable than to spend with children.
Society had a low view of children in this day.
While parents loved them, of course, the opinion toward children was that they were to be seen and not heard.
APP: While parents and leaders today love children and want them to succeed.
I’m afraid that sometimes we can have a similar attitude toward children when it comes to spiritual matters.
Adults are tempted to value their own spiritual development over their child’s spiritual development.
Parents bring children to church, perhaps only for free childcare and to have a break.
Children’s leaders are seen as babysitting only, and as a task for those who aren’t ready to do real ministry.
But Jesus believes otherwise (he was indignant at the disciples).
Jesus knew that children are important and children should be brought to see him.
These parents understood the importance, but the disciples didn’t.
In this situation, are you more like the parents in this story, doing everything you can for children to see Jesus in your place of influence, or are you more like the disciples thinking there are more important things to do?
There are plenty of distractions in our world, trying to keep our children from seeing Jesus.
Your children need you to do everything you can to bring them to him.
We see, investing in the next generation begins with letting children see Jesus.
Read v. 15
As we invest in the next generation, we find that…(Say Point 2)
2. We can learn from children.
(v.
14b-15)
Read vv.
14-15
EXP: “The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”-
Jesus isn’t primarily talking about children being saved, I do think he may be expressing that as a secondary point here.
APP: Statistics tell us that people are more likely to accept Christ before the age of 13 than at any other point in their lives.
ILL: The current Barna study indicates
One out of eight born again people (13%) made their profession of faith while 18 to 21 years old.
Less than one out of every four born again Christians (23%) embraced Christ after their twenty-first birthday.
Barna noted that these figures are consistent with similar studies it has conducted during the past twenty years.
before the age of 13 (43%),
(64%) before age of 18.
TAKE A POLL OF CONGREGATION TO SEE AGES OF SALVATION.
The main point Jesus is teaching, is found in verse 15...adults must be like a child to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
JOKE: Some of you wives may think your husbands have that down perfectly.
“like a little child”- children are dependent on adults for everything.
APP: My children come to Hillary or me for almost everything.
For help physically, be it food, clothing, or shelter.
Or things like...Can you open this?
Can you help me with this?
Can you show me how to do that?
Can you do this for me?
For knowledge…They ask ”Why?”
We are their providers, protectors, guides, teachers, examples, and role models.
ILL: A young pastor in Ohio also worked at a feed processing plant in order to make ends meet.
Each night when he went home, his boys would look at him and say, “Boy, Dad, you sure are dusty!”
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