Sermon Tone Analysis

*INTRODUCTION:*

1.      *((illus))* *"What’s in a name?

That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."*

2.      These words from Shakespeare’s play, */Romeo and Juliet/*

a.    not only ask an important question,

b.    but also imply an interesting answer.

3.      The answer which Shakespeare assumed is probably the same answer you would find prevalent today.

a.

Most people would say that there is really not much in a name.

b.

After all, a rose would smell as sweet no matter what you called it.

4.      So, what’s in a name?

a.    Do names matter then?

b.

Or are they unimportant?

c.    *((illus))* One summer, my daughter taught the 4-year-olds at vacation Bible school.

The first day she gave everyone yarn necklace nametags to wear around their necks.

After the recreation time, one little girl, whose name tag had slipped behind her, came running up to my daughter and excitedly proclaimed, "Teacher, Teacher, I lost my price tag!" Sandra Hanson, Rosemont, MN.

5.      Re*gardless of what some may think, there is much, Biblically speaking, involved in names.*

a.

As we open the pages of the Old Testament, we find that *names are very significant*.

b.    Names mean something.

c.

Here in our text, *we come upon a name by which we are all known today as believers in Jesus*.

6.      Acts 11:19-26 (NLT) (page 938)

*/19 Meanwhile, the believers who had fled from Jerusalem during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria.

They preached the Good News, but only to Jews.

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*/20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.

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*/21 The power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

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*/22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

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*/23 When he arrived and saw this proof of God’s favor, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord./*

*/24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith.

And large numbers of people were brought to the Lord.

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*/25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to find Saul.

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*/26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch.

Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching great numbers of people.

(It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)/*

7.      What is the name by which we are all known as believers in Jesus?

a.

It is the name */Christian/*.

b.

Our text says, :26 -  */(It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)/*

8.      What does it mean to you to be called a Christian?

a.    Do you understand the significance of bearing the name of Christ?

b.

Does it mean the same thing to you as it did to those early believers.

c.

Is it a badge of honor or an embarrassment?

9.      In order for us to know what it means to be a *CHRISTIAN* we must understand:

 

*WHAT’S IN A NAME?*

*Acts 11:26 (page 938)*

* *

1.      *A CENTRAL TRUTH*

a.

We need to understand that in the Bible, *NAMES ARE SYMBOLIC*

i)        Scripture, names have meaning for the individual.

ii)      The essence of the individual was captured in the name.

¨      When God created */Adam/*, He gave him that name because it means "man."

* *

¨      */Eve/* was created.

Her name means "mother of all living."

¨      God brought the animals to Adam and his task was to name them all.

I’m sure their names had something to do with the characteristics of each creature.

iii)    In the Old Testament we see parents choosing names for their children in order to reveal a nature.

¨      */Jacob/* was so named because he had his hand on his brother Esau’s heel.

Jacob literally means "heel-catcher."

¨      His brother */Esau/* (hairy)was so named because he was red and hairy.

¨      */Judah/* means "praise."

*/Samuel/* means "asked of God."

iv)    We find God changing the names of certain people in the Old Testament.

¨      Why did He do this?

¨      He did it to show that their lives now had a new direction, a new meaning, a new nature.

(a)    */Abram/* was changed to */Abraham,/* which means "the father of a multitude.

(b)   */Sarai/* was changed to */Sarah,/* which means "princess."

(c)    Jacob’s name was changed to */Israel/* because he was a "prince with God."

(d)   Simon’s name was changed to */Peter,/* which means "rock."

(e)    Saul’s name was changed to */Paul/*, perhaps in honor of his first convert, Sergius Paulus.

v)      In the Bible, God’s names are revelatory of His character.

¨      God is revealed to us in Scripture by His names.

They show us His nature.

¨      He is */El Shaddai/*, the Strong One.

¨      He is */El-Elyon/*, God Most High.

¨      He is */El-Olam/*, the Everlasting God.

¨      He is */Jehovah Jirah/*, the God Who Provides.

¨      He is */Jehovah Rophe/*, the God Who Heals.

¨      He is */Jehovah Shalom/*, the God of Peace.

¨      He is */Jehovah Sabaoth/*, the Lord of Hosts.

¨      He is */Jehovah Shammah/*, the God Who is There.

¨      He is */Jehovah Nissi/*, the Lord Our Banner.

¨      And He is */Jehovah Roi/*, the Lord Our Shepherd.

¨      In Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 it says of Christ that */"His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."(NASB)/*

vi)    The names of our Lord Christ abound in Scripture.

¨      He is the Second Adam, our Advocate, the Alpha and Omega, the Ancient of Days, the Amen, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, the Blessed and Only Potentate, the Captain of our Salvation, the Chief Shepherd, the Cornerstone.

He is the Dayspring, the Desire of the Nations, the Faithful Witness, the First and the Last.

He is the Good Shepherd, our Great High Priest, the Holy One of God.

He is the Great I Am, the Judge of Israel, the King of the Jews, the King of Saints, and the King of Kings.

He is the Light of the World, the Lord of Glory, the Lord of Lords.

He is the Messiah, the Mediator between God and Man, the Man of Sorrows, yet, the Mighty God.

He is the Prince of Peace, the Resurrection and Life, the Rock of our Salvation, the Rose of Sharon, the Root of David, the Savior of the World.

He is the Shepherd and Bishop of Souls, the Son of Righteousness, the Son of Man, and the Son of God.

He is Shiloh.

He is the True Vine, the Truth, the Witness, and the Word of God.