Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
We’ve been working through a series of sermons based on , the Missionary Discourse.
These were the characteristics that we identified: The Marks of a Faithful Disciple
Suffer for Christ -
Proclaim the Truth -
Fear Only God -
Trust in God -
Walk the Talk -
Deny Themselves -
Carry the Cross -
Bless Others -
Today we will be finishing up this series on discipleship.
Just in time for Easter.
Can you believe that Easter is already here?
Today we are studying verses 40-42, Bless Others.
[pray]
Father God, we welcome You into our presence.
We receive Your Son and praise His name above all other names.
We lift the precious name of Jesus above all others.
God we give our thanks for His sacrifice on our behalf.
God we ask forgiveness for the times that we have rejected Your disciple, Your prophet, Your holy and righteous man.
Lord please reveal to us how we might welcome the name of Jesus and give us the strength to act upon it.
Father I ask that you would give me clarity of mind and precision of speech as I teach Your word to Your people today.
Understanding the Text
This word “receives” in the NASB is δέχομαι (Gr.
dechomai) in the Greek, meaning “to welcome a person into one’s presence.”
This word “receives” in the NASB is δέχομαι (Gr.
dechomai) in the Greek, meaning “to welcome a person into one’s presence.”
This word “receives” in the NASB is δέχομαι (Gr.
dechomai) in the Greek, meaning “to welcome a person into one’s presence.”
So this basically Jesus saying to the disciples “Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes Me and My Father God.”
We have to recall that Jesus is preparing these disciples to go out into a hostile environment and may meet those who are hesitant to be associated with them, with Jesus, or with the Gospel.
Welcoming the disciples in for even a meal may bring about negative consequences for the host.
But those who are willing to withstand hostility would willingly welcome the disciples.
Essentially this passage is talking about those who are open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus here in this passage is binding himself with certain groups of people:
Jesus here in this passage is binding himself with certain groups of people:
His Disciples
The Prophets (those Old Testament heroes who speak God’s message)
Those Who are Righteous (those who do the right thing in God’s eyes)
He’s saying that the way that you treat these is telling of the way that you treat Him.
“Even the lowliest of these,” he says are worthy of blessing.
Those who bless even the lowliest disciple, the lowliest prophet with even the smallest gift are worthy of the blessing of the Lord.
I. Welcoming the Gospel -
Verses 40-41 is basically saying in different ways the same thing…
We have to recall that Jesus is preparing these disciples to go out into a hostile environment and may meet those who are hesitant to be associated with them, with Jesus, or with the Gospel.
Welcoming the disciples in for even a meal may bring about a negative result for the host.
Essentially this is talking about being open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verses 40-41 is basically saying in different ways the same thing…
those who receive his followers, because they accept what those individuals stand for, will in turn be received by God.
This is a strong theme in Jesus’ teaching.
We see it again and again.
- For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Jesus Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
- The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me
- He who receives whomever I send receives Me
- to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.
This is more than just hospitality, the welcoming of someone into your home and caring for their immediate needs.
This is talking about caring for those who carry out the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
This is taking their burdens as your burdens, loving and caring for them, supporting them and encouraging them in their Gospel work.
The phrase here, translated “these little ones” is an awkward translation.
The Greek word is μικρός (Gr.
mikros), where we get our word micron, though in this case it is actually referring to people who are in a lowly state—people who might seem insignificant or unimportant.
This phrasing is often confused with service to the widow, orphan, and refugee.
Aiding those groups of disadvantaged people IS important and that work is close to God’s heart.
But in many of these instances Jesus is talking about caring for His disciples.
Caring for the disciple, the prophet, and the righteous man is being welcoming to the Gospel, especially so when one goes the extra mile for the one who is in dire need.
It is in these situations that helping is considered just as if we were helping Jesus Christ, Himself.
This kind of service (or lack thereof) is connected to a system of eternal rewards and punishments.
Those who show good hospitality and welcome the Gospel warmly can expect eternal rewards.
This especially includes extending charity to our Christian brothers and sisters who live in difficult situations.
II.
Being United with Christ -
There is also a strong connection with the idea that “we are in Christ” and “Christ is in us.”
When we render aid to those who follow Christ, Jesus Himself says it is just as though we are rendering aid to Christ.
There is a mystical union that we share with Christ.
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are united with Christ the moment that we are saved by faith in Christ.
We immediately gain Christ in us and we are put in Christ and begin to share with Him in His death, resurrection, and reign in the kingdom of God.
We can see this explained most fully in Jesus’ words as recorded in ...
A. Welcoming the Disciples
B. Welcoming the Prophets
C. Welcoming the Righteous Man
What is a Prophet
What is the Prophet’s Reward
B. The Righteous Person
What is a Righteous Person
What’s is the Righteous Person’s Reward
II.
Blessing Others in the Name of a Disciple
III.
Christ Pouring Out of Us -
As we grow in Christ and Christ grows in us, we begin to practice more eagerly this “welcoming of the Gospel” by pouring out the characteristics of Christ that are within us.
We actually fill ourselves with Christ as we become more and more like him and begin to pour Christ out on others as we seek to give them the love, and joy, and encouragement of Christ.
We all know and recognize the Fruit of the Spirit...
We can know and recognize those who have Christ in them by observing these fruits in their lives.
These are the characteristics that the Holy Spirit puts into us as we become more like Christ.
And these are the same things that we can see pouring out of our lives on others as we begin to treat them like Christ would have us treat them.
And here’s the warning...
If you lack these characteristics in our life, then you need to begin to examine why they are missing.
Because something is very wrong.
It’s certainly expected to find one or two out of balance from time to time, but we must seek to put things back in balance in our lives.
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