Sermon Tone Analysis
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What The World Needs Now
Deep- Extending far from some surface or area.
What does it mean to be a deep person?
“I go through life as a transient on his way to eternity, made in the image of God but with that image debased, needing to be taught how to meditate, to worship, to think.”
-Donald Coggan
What are Spiritual Disciplines?
They are actions that are central to experiential Christianity.
They call us to move beyond surface living into the depths.
They are not only for those who are “spiritually mature”, but can be practiced by all.
It must be something desired...
Just going through the motions of spiritual disciplines mean nothing if our hearts are not involved.
Spiritual disciplines should not be turned into laws!
They should be used as a way to experience God on a deeper level.
If we change the inner person it will reflect outwardly.
Leading to lives more closely mirrored to that of Christ in addition to showing the world how to experience Godly peace.
The Discipline of Meditation
“True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace.”
-Thomas Merton
The Adversary majors in three things:
Noise
Hurry
Crowds
We must be willing to go into silence, slow down, and have some alone time with God.
Biblical Witness
In the Bible there are two different Hebrew words that convey the idea of meditation.
They are used 48 times.
Their meanings are:
Listening to God’s word.
Reflecting on God’s works.
Rehearsing God’s deeds
Rumination on God’s law
and more
“Repentance and obedience are essential features in any biblical understanding of meditation.”
If you know how to listen to God you can help others learn how.
Jesus being 100% God and 100% man needed meditation time...
What is Christian Meditation?
“Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word.”
God desires to be in close relation with His creation.
From the relationship with Adam and Eve in the garden, to Cain, Abel, Noah, and Abraham.
God continues to reach out to a fallen people to be close to us.
When we take the time to listen to God and obey his command, our actions will reflect the will of God.
Jesus gives us an example while he is on this earth.
Both Peter and Stephen point to Jesus as fulfillment of this prophecy.
We see that God sent Jesus to fulfill prophecy.
We must hear and obey his voice.
The Purpose of Meditation
Do you want to be a friend of Jesus?
“In meditation we are growing into what Thomas a Kempis calls “a familiar friendship with Jesus.””
When we meditate it “allows Christ to construct an inner sanctuary in the heart.”.
This was written to believers not unbelievers.
This inward fellowship with Christ in your heart is transformative.
It is impossible to remain the same person when Christ takes up residence in your heart.
This relationship inwardly will cause you to desire and aspire to be in His way.
It will cause us to be more spiritual people!
Understandable Misconceptions
pic of rafiki from lion king meditating
Eastern Religious Meditation Vs Christian Meditation
Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind.
Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind.
In Eastern forms of meditation there is an emphasis upon losing personhood and individuality and merging with the Cosmic Mind.
A longing to be freed from the burdens and pains of this life.
There is no God to be attached to or to hear from.
Detachment is the final goal of Eastern religion.
In Christian meditation detachment is needed.
But it is dangerous to only detach from this world.
“Detachment is not enough; we must go on to attachment.”
God must be in the picture (our lives).
Another misconception: Meditation is too difficult, too complicated.
Misconception: Meditation is useless and leads us to be distant from the world.
“True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.”
-William Penn
Desiring the Living Voice of God
What happened here?
What happened here?
God’s people had rejected a theocracy in exchange for a monarchy and wanted an earthly ruler.
Someone to speak on their behalf for them to God.
This culture still exists and is a preference for many today.
Many people want a mediator over meditation.
Meditation is a desire to have a one on one relationship with God.
A desire to hear the voice of God.
A desire to meditate must begin first with prayer.
Preparing to Meditate
“We learn to meditate by meditating”
Time?
It is good to make time for meditation, but do not get swept up in thinking that it must be a set time daily.
We must grow towards being able to have meditation to happen in the business of our daily lives.
Place?
Find a quiet place.
No phones, distractions, or people who distract.
It is best to have one designated place.
Posture?
How you sit, stand, lie down all matters.
Choose a posture that doesn’t put you to sleep or break your focus.
Forms of Meditation
Meditation of Scripture
“The study of Scripture centers on exegesis (bringing out the meaning of the original text), the meditation of Scripture centers on internalizing and personalizing the passage.”
“…just as you do not analyze the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart, as Mary did.
That is all.
That is meditation.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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