Sermon Tone Analysis

*INTRODUCTION:*

1.

After four *hurricanes*, there is something that we *all long for* and it is called *“NORMAL.”*

a.    *((illus))* I mentioned that to someone this past week and they asked, “What is normal?”

b.

I thought that was a good question and told them they’d probably hear that question Sunday.

c.    *WHAT IS NORMAL?*

i)        *((illus))* Some of you from the mid-west are thinking of Normal, IL.

Normal is 125 miles southwest of Chicago.

Normal, IL was created from a part of Bloomington in the 1800’s because it was chosen as a site for a teachers’ college.

Using the French application, this kind of school was known as a “normal” school, thus Normal, IL.

2.      To start with, let me tell you *what normal is not*.

a.

It is not Normal, IL.

b.    *Normal** is not necessarily average.*

c.

We often play games with these terms and life gets more complicated, dangerous.

d.   *((illus))* If someone is ill and they go to the doctor, the doctor may tell them that the discomfort they are experiencing is “normal.”

But they mean that it is “average for this condition.

Next to a healthy person, the experience is not normal.

i)        Normal is health~/average may man illness

ii)      Normal is desired~/average to be avoided

iii)    Normal is life~/average may mean death

3.      Having said that, I think there are those who would agree with me that there are *many Christians and churches that confuse an average Christian life with a normal Christian life.*

a.

The normal Christian life is what the Bible describes as the kind of life God has for every Christian and church.

b.

Let me ask you this morning, *“Are you living a normal Christian life or an average Christian life?”*

c.

As a church, “Are we living a normal Christian church life or an average Christian church life?”

4.      Maybe we can best answer that by looking in the Bible at WHAT IS NORMAL.

a.    From our survey of Acts, we come to chapter 13 and find the church at Antioch, Syria providing for us an example of what is normal – healthy.

b.    Acts 13:1-3 (page ) */1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way./*

5.

Here are given several characteristics of a Normal Church

 

WHAT IS NORMAL?

Acts 13:1-3

 

1.

*AN INTEGRATED CHURCH :1*

a.

They were inclusive, not exclusive.

b.

This is *NORMAL**.*

c.    Here, there was an integration of race.

i)        Not easy.

ii)      Different customs, cultures, thought structures

iii)    :1 - */Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas)/*

¨      this Herod treated Jesus in a shameful way

¨      beheaded John the Baptist

d.

I mention this first because Acts 13 marks a change in the direction of church.

i)        Acts 1:8 (NIV) */But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth./*

ii)      Jerusalem 1-7

iii)    Judea~/Samaria 8-12

iv)    Ends of the earth 13-28

e.

In this part of the world (Englewood), race is not as strong an issue as is age.

i)        I did not say that race is not an issue

ii)      *((illus))* I happened to have previously pastored a church where the older brothers became threatened by the obvious growth in numbers and enthusiasm of the younger brothers and sisters.

They were afraid that they (the older bros.) would lose control.

f.

A challenge for us here at Grace to

i)        Check our attitudes towards others age~/race~/gender

ii)      Check our attitudes about *CONTROL*

¨      The most important question that can ever be asked by an individual or church is “Who owns us~/the church?)

g.    *((illus))* Some has suggested that every Christian ought to have 3 different kinds of people in their lives.

i)        A Barnabas – usually a peer – someone who will encourage us.

ii)      A Timothy – someone younger that we can disciple or mentor.

iii)    A Paul – someone older, who knows all about us but is not impressed by us.

h.

Because of our being planted in Englewood, we need to stay focused on the future, with a view of handing off the leadership to the younger at some point.

i.      Being integrated is *NORMAL*

*/ /*

/2.      /*GODLY LEADERSHIP :1,2*

a.    */1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were…. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,/*

b.    everything hear speaks to this:

c.    */prophets and teachers/*

i)        plural leadership – slower, but safer.

ii)      */worshipping/* - /leitourgeō/, which originally meant to discharge a public office, here the calling of God in their lives.

¨      It was the word chosen by the first translators of the Hebrew OT for the function of the priest

¨      Many translations use the word “ministering”

iii)    */Fasting/* – special times of passionate prayer.

d.   */the Holy Spirit said…3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way./*

i)        This is the Acts of the Holy Spirit and He was free to direct them.

ii)      But they acknowledged their humanity and maybe their struggle to give up their best and took time to confirm this call.

e.

A church~/organization~/home  is *no stronger than its leadership.*

i)        The */spiritual temperature of a church/* will not go any higher than that of its leadership.

¨      Notice that it was *while the leadership was ministering that the Lord spoke to them.*

¨      They were actively engaged in serving, not sitting around waiting.

¨      *“God can direct a moving ship better than one sitting still.”*

¨      You want to find out what God has for you, start serving now.

ii)      That’s why the Elders and the Board take seriously their charge to serve the Lord and this congregation.

iii)    A *NORMAL* church family understands and respects this.

*/ /*

/3.      /*A GENEROUS SPIRIT :3*

a.    */3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way./*

b.

They gave away their best.

i)        */Sent /them = to release them~/set them free*

ii)      This is grace.

c.    It’s also the beginning of what we know of as missions.

i)        */God so loved the world/*

ii)      A world-view is *NORMAL*

iii)    Jesus was a missionary.