Sermon Tone Analysis
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Intro:
I have mentioned my joy in singing the hymn The Family of God but it wasn’t until this week that I learned the story behind the writing of that beloved hymn.
As Gloria Gaither tells it, in the spring of 1970, the Gaither family was preparing for Easter festivities having already decorated the eggs and placed them in a basket of shredded paper grass.
The phone rang and the voice on the other end explained that an explosion had occurred and a member of their church, Ron Garner, had been badly hurt.
He was not expected to make it through the night.
Calls went out and some gathered at the church to pray.
As pieces of news arrived it was clear doctors had determined Ron’s injuries so severe that no treatment would be given.
Ron had been working OT to earn extra money because his daughter needed heart surgery.
Now, there seemed to be no hope.
Ron, Darlene (his wife) and their two girls were at the center of the church’s prayers, but despite the desperate prayers everyone braced for the predicted news.
Easter morning arrived, but no one had the energy to celebrate.
The pastor was absent, having spent the night supporting the family, so with as much spirit as the congregation could muster they began to sing.
Resurrection? it seemed a million miles away.
The pastor had spent the night supporting the family
As they were making an effort to sing the pastor entered from the back and made his way to the front.
“Ron is alive.
They said he wouldn’t make it through the night and are amazed.
They don’t understand how he’s hanging on, but we know.
He’s alive, and they are starting treatment.”
“Today we are going to thank the Lord.
And then,” pastor affirmed, “we are going to see this thing through.
There will be many needs.
The family will need food brought in.
Darlene will need help with the kids.
They will need transportation back and forth to Indianapolis.
Ron will need gallons of blood for transfusions.
And they all - the doctors too - need prayer.
Let’s think of how each of us can help.
We are, after all, the family of God.
Now, let’s pray.”
We had a joyous service.
Up from the Grave He Arose (Lowry) and He Lives (Ackley) took on new meaning.
Bill and I talked on the way home and we realized, “the amazing thing is… they (the church) would do that for us too.” Bill and I were not frequent attendees with our concert schedule taking us on the road.
We contributed little to the bake sales, retreats, or teaching SS.
We didn’t “pull our share” but the family wouldn’t have left us out.
When we got home Bill went to the piano and out of the ashes of Ron’s tragedy came these words,
Now you’ll notice we say “brother” and “sister” ’round here;
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near.
When one has a heartache we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God. . .
What does it mean to be a part of the Family of God?
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ and the Father are One (), and that He is also the only begotten Son of God ().
This familial term indicates God regards Jesus as a family member.
Join the Family // Belief
Born-again believers are told that we, too, are members of this family ( - “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household...”).
How do we become a part of this family of God?
We must believe.
- “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name...” Believing can be difficult.
We are trained to be skeptics.
We are told to question everything, to not talk to strangers and to only trust what can be proven through the scientific method.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update.
(1995).
().
La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Believing can be difficult.
We are trained to be skeptics.
We are told to question everything, to not talk to strangers and to only trust what can be proven through the scientific method.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update.
(1995).
().
La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation).
How do we become a part of this family of God?
We must believe.
Believing can be difficult.
We are trained to be skeptics.
We are told to question everything, to not talk to strangers and to only trust what can be proven through the scientific method.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Things haven’t really changed.
tells us that everything was made through Jesus.
Everything, everyone is covered with His fingerprints.
You and I are created in His image.
When we hear the gospel, confess our sins, and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we are at that moment born into God’s kingdom as His children and become heirs with Him for eternity ().
Things haven’t really changed.
tells us that everything was made through Jesus.
Everything, everyone is covered with His fingerprints.
You and I are created in His image.
When we hear the gospel, confess our sins, and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we are at that moment born into God’s kingdom as His children and become heirs with Him for eternity ().
However, the world did not (nor does it yet) recognize Jesus as its Creator.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.
Amen.
However, the world did not (nor does it yet) recognize Jesus as its Creator.
What does it mean to be a part of the Family of God?
It means that God has revealed Himself to you and you (by means of the Holy Spirit) have acknowledged His revelation.
We have seen through eyes opened by the Spirit His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature.
Through what has been made we believe.
1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
Speaking without words, all of creation acknowledges Jesus Christ as the Creator.
And while Jesus Christ is referred to as the only begotten Son of God, those who believe in Him are referred to as children born into God’s family who need to grow and mature in our faith.
While Jesus Christ is referred to as the only begotten Son of God, believers are referred to as children born into God’s family who need to grow and mature in our faith (), and as sons and heirs adopted into His family ().
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