Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Did you know that children do not naturally say thank you?
I have never known a child have “thank you” be among their first words.
In fact, I have never known a child to say thank you without being told to do so!
This highlights the reality that thankfulness is not natural to our fallen nature.
Thankfulness is a learned behavior.
A thankful person is someone who has learned to see life from a different perspective.
Rather than viewing life, blessing, and happiness as something owed to us; as thankful people we understand that everything we receive is better than we deserve.
A thankful heart is born out of a focus on Christ that minimizes self.
I made a connection this week that I had never made before.
We are going to look at where Paul says these four words “I thank my God.”
But I want us to look first at vv. 18-23.
It has always struck me that part of the condemnation of unbelievers is due to their lack of thankfulness.
Romans 1:18-23.
The presence of unthankfulness in a list of things like rejecting the knowledge of God shouts to us that thanksgiving is important.
God takes thanksgiving very seriously.
The holiday that we celebrate as Thanksgiving is right around the corner.
Oftentimes our thanksgiving is self-focused.
We are thankful for things only as they affect us.
Thankful for what we have received and what has been done for us.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner.
Oftentimes our thanksgiving is self-focused.
We are thankful for things only as they affect us.
Now, there is nothing wrong with that.
However…
Today I want us to think through some other reasons we can be thankful.
We are going to consider Paul’s prayer for the believers in Rome.
Through Paul’s prayer we find three reasons to be thankful
All three reasons find their source in Christ.
Thanksgiving’s truest expression comes through a focus on Jesus Christ.
When we are thankful, Christ is glorified.
As we come to Paul’s prayer we find the first reason to be thankful.
We thank God…
1.
For The Faithful Testimony Of Others v. 8
Have you ever observed someone who is faithfully serving the Lord and felt a little twinge of jealousy?
Am I alone in this?
A powerful habit we can form is to take those temptations to envy and turn them into a cause for praise!
We can also view the faithfulness of others as a challenge for us to be faithful as well.
As Paul expresses his thanks for the testimony of the Roman church we find that it has a dual focus.
First Paul thanks God that they have…
a.
A salvation testimony v. 8a
Why does Paul thank God in Christ for the church in Rome?
Because of their faith.
We ought to give thanks for the salvation testimony of others.
I love hearing how God brought people to Himself.
I love hearing how He is still drawing us ever closer to Him.
As I thought about Paul thanking God for the salvation of the Roman believers a question occured to me.
Why do we even have salvation testimonies?
Because of Jesus!
Can we say this?
Can we honestly express thanksgiving for the salvation of others?
ALL others?
How can Paul say this?
There is a very important phrase that explains Paul’s ability to thank God for all.
“Through Jesus Christ”
I am thankful for others when I view them through Jesus Christ.
We may have a personality conflict, but I can be thankful that Christ has saved them!
Every single believer is a testimony to God’s matchless grace!
I can be thankful for that.
Ungratefulness for others arises when I view them through my limited human vision instead of seeing them through Christ.
They are in Jesus Christ and because of that, Paul thanks God for them.
Let me give you just one other example of Paul expressing his thanks in this way.
Look at (S).
Paul thanks God for their growing faith, demonstration of love, and their endurance of persecution.
God is lovingly, graciously, and powerfully bringing people to Himself.
God is lovingly, graciously, and powerfully bringing people to Himself.
We thank God for what He is doing and how He is working in the lives of others.
When God brings others to Himself and works through them for His glory, we thank God.
WE need to see saved sinners from
A salvation testimony is about God’s glory.
We praise and thank Him for how He is at work.
Paul doesn’t stop with their salvation testimony.
He continues to express his thanksgiving as he points to…
b.
A spreading testimony v. 8b
Spoken of – καταγγέλλομαι (katangellomai) proclaim.
To be announced broadly v. — to be or become known openly and with wide distribution.
Spoken of – καταγγέλλομαι (katangellomai)
The faith of this church was something well known.
How?
I think we find the answer to that in (S).
Their faith was well known because it was evident!
This begs some questions.
Do we make our own testimony spread?
No. God does that.
Do we do that?
Make our testimony spread?
No. God does that.
Should the spreading of our testimony be the goal of good works?
No.
Our desire is God’s glory and not self-promotion.
When we are faithful, He takes that faithfulness and uses it for His glory!
A salvation testimony is about Christ in us.
We need to be thankful when the faith of others is well known!
This also serves as a challenge for us to live so that our faith is known.
A salvation testimony is about Christ in us.
Our faith becomes known as we walk in the Spirit and are conformed to the image of Christ.
It is about Him and what He has done.
It is not about us.
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