Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Emotion Tone
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Analytical
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Matthew 24:29-
Big Idea: History is moving forward with purpose.
Recapitulating the context:
Daniel 11:
Antiochus IV, 167 BC.
Hasmonean Dynasty.
Set up an altar to Zeus in the Holy of Holies.
Sacrificed pigs on the altar.
12:11 says 3 1/2 years from then to the end of the age.
The Signs of the Heavens
Matthew 24:19
Explain: This language was common in the Old Testament, sometimes it was not literal (, ).
They pointed to the judgments of the false gods.
From Revelation, this passage and places like and , it seems that in this final moment, the symbolic becomes literal.
All of the false gods, the antichrist and the pantheon of the sky, are shown to be powerless and the stars themselves blink out, as everyone looks and sees Jesus coming down.
This is not just a display of God’s power, but a judgment of the idols of all the earth.
Apply: Although we may not worship the sun and the moon, when Jesus returns, lots of idols in our lives will go dark.
Intelligence, whether theological or scientific, will suddenly lose its appeal when we are able to see Jesus.
The sexual or relational idols which plague our culture, as people seek out value from intimacy, are demolished when we face the one that knows and loves completely.
Our political idols of Republicans and Democrats are shattered when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords descends.
All of the lies about “My life will be meaningful if ____” are consumed.
The Son reigns, so the idols crumble.
I think that, in this moment, the sky literally goes dark, but also think that it is clearly a visual aid to a spiritual reality.
Theological idols—Doctrinal errors that produce such distorted views of God that we end up worshipping a false god.
Sexual idols—Addictions such as pornography and fetishisms that promise but don’t deliver a sense of intimacy and acceptance; ideals of physical beauty in yourself and/or your partner; romantic idealism.
Magic/ritual idols—Witchcraft and the occult.
All idolatry is in the end a form of magic that seeks to rebel against the order of transcendent reality rather than submitting to it in love and wisdom.
Political/economic idols—Ideologies of the left, right, and libertarian that absolutize some aspect of political order and make it the solution.
Deifying or demonizing free markets, for example.
Racial/national idols—Racism, militarism, nationalism, or ethnic pride that turns bitter or oppressive.
Relational idols—Dysfunctional family systems of codependency; “fatal attractions”; living your life through your children.
Religious idols—Moralism and legalism; idolatry of success and gifts; religion as a pretext for abuse of power.
Philosophical idols—Systems of thought that make some created thing the problem with life (instead of sin) and some human product or enterprise the solution to our problems (instead of God’s grace).
Cultural idols—Radical individualism, as in the West, that makes an idol out of individual happiness at the expense of community; shame cultures that make an idol out of family and clan at the expense of individual rights.
Deep idols—Motivational drives and temperaments made into absolutes: a. Power idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if—I have power and influence over others.”
b.
Approval idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if—I am loved and respected by ___________.”
c.
Comfort idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if—I have this kind of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life.”
d.
Control idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if—I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of ___________.”
Explain: Jesus appears in the sky and the “tribes of the land” mourn.
Land = earth.
They mourn when they see Him, fulfilling the prophecy of
Zechariah
Explain: Coming in the clouds
Explain: Coming in the clouds
Acts
Explain: Jesus ascended on the clouds to the right hand of God, to be made not just the Messiah of Israel, but the King of the Universe.
So He can send them to the uttermost part of the earth, because all authority is His.
So in Matthew, He has returned in the same glory as He left.
lays out the same idea.
The Transformation on the Earth
Matthew 24:31
Explain: The trumpet rallies the troops for one final battle.
Waking them for the battle of Armageddon, which He wins with the word of His mouth.
“The last trump” does not necessarily refer to the last trumpet ever, so this cannot answer the time of the tribulation, but does point to the last trumpet for these individuals.
Illustrate: This trumpet is not Louis Armstrong’s, but a bugle of battle.
Argue:
Apply: When Jesus appears, the world crumbles, not just the idols or the flaws of this life, but death itself is broken.
Our response to death should not be based on the permanent fear of this world, but on the promise that Jesus will come to break it.
Also, note the global nature of it.
The whole earth united.
Christians around the world brought together.
Boundaries of language, culture and nationality are demolished.
Even now, Christians should know that we have more in common with a Christian in Africa or Palestine than a non-Christian here in Alvin.
The Family of God is united.
Matthew 24:32-
Explain: Fig tree is not a symbol of Israel, but a symbol of predicatable timing.
Jesus had just used a fig tree with no fruit when it ought to have fruit as a symbol of Israel’s unreadiness for Him.
In the same way, these signs tell us the season, even though we cannot know the day.
The gospel is spreading, the birth pangs seem close and intense, the love of many waxes cold.
Summer is coming.
“it is near” could be “He is near.”
Explain: In the generation where the gospel reaches the whole world, Christ will return.
Although our knowledge is imperfect, so we cannot start a stop watch when the gospel is preached to every nation, but we can know the season.
Illustrate:
Argue:
Apply:
The Security of the Word
Explain: Absolute certainty that God;s word stands sure.
Yes, the created order WILL pass away.
But Jesus’ promises stand sure.
Apply: Do not fret at wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes or pestilence.
Everything else may crumble, but God stands true.
Do you have faith in Him, or the stars which will blink out and the Kingdoms which He will crush beneath His feet?
The world itself will pass away, but when Jesus comes like a thief in the night, everything that seems so solid will pass away.
He delays now only until the fullness of the Gentiles has come.
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