Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

[SLIDE 2] a father’s quest: One day when my daughters were 5 and 3 years old, we went to Walmart to pick up a few things.

We walked around the isles looking for this and that.

While we were focused on something and considering whether it was what we needed, our daughters turned the corner and went down another isle.

Suddenly, they were gone from our sight.

We left what we were looking at and went looking for them.

As a parent, you fear the thought that one day your kids would be abducted.

We searched up one aisle and down another, but couldn't find them.

Oddly, I saw a few boxes move on a shelve.

I looked and there were my daughters hiding.

They were so excited that they had hid so well that we couldn't find them.

They laughed, giggled, and were thrilled that they had tricked Mom and Dad.

QUESTION: Have you ever been so mad at your kids, and at the same time, glad to see them, and then wanting to discipline them, but looked into their faces and saw that there was no malice or mean intention in their eyes?

Truth be told, I didn't know what to say.

I didn’t want to scare them needlessly nor did I ever want them to do that again.

Still, they got out and giggled all the way to find their mom.

I was speechless.

I remember feeling so very thankful that I had found them.

[SLIDE 3] QUESTION: When are you the most thankful?

It seems to me that we are often the most thankful when some threat is avoided (e.g., the police officer pulls up behind you and then turns on his lights, but then pulls out and chases some other car...or as they’re facing in California, there is a fire that threatens to engulf your house in flames and suddenly, the wind shifts, missing your house...or maybe when your financial situation threatens to overwhelm you, but then help comes and the crisis is adverted).

During these times, we may promise God that we will serve Him better; that we will begin attending church again; that if He just gets us through this situation, we will become a missionary to Africa or China.

Rooted, Real, and Reaching, right?

We’re just being Real!

Well, crises are averted everyday and its appropriate for us to thank God for having saved us from them.

The problem is that we forget to thank God for His care, don’t we?

Well, crises are averted everyday and its appropriate for us to thank God for having saved us from them.

The problem is that we forget to thank God for His care, don’t we?

is written as such a reminder of God’s care for us.

(ESV)

(ESV)

[SLIDE 4] 1 Oh give thanks [praise] to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

107 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so [speak], whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands [earth], from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

whom he has redeemed from trouble

Opening: Give thanks; Why? because God is good and His love is forever.

3 and gathered in from the lands,

[SLIDE 5] 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

[SLIDE 5] 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;

finding no way to a city to dwell in;

5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted [was overwhelmed] within them.

their soul fainted within them.

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered [saved] them from their distress.

and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight [right] way till they reached a city to dwell in.

till they reached a city to dwell in.

8 Let them thank [praise] the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

[SLIDE 6] 10 Some sat [dwelled] in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned [despised] the counsel of the Most High.

and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

First scene:

a.

Some had no city/home in which to live (ref: the Exodus);

b. overwhelmed with hunger and thirst;

c. they cried out to God;

d.