Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

This one-week series examines what the story of

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Daniel says about the importance of spiritual disciples and worship.

Will we create “streaks” in our own pursuit of discipleship and sanctification?

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1.

Time is a gift from God—how should we use it?

The time and season that youth are in is unique and amazing.

Blessings of this time include less responsibilities (most likely, youth don’t have to support themselves and others financially) and being encouraged to learn, to explore sports and the arts, to create, to serve their community.

Youth in this stage of life can serve God with abandon!

2. Studies show, however, that

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teenagers are now reporting stress levels as high as adults …

and are not coping well (stress eating and insomnia, as opposed to rest and exercise).

There is pressure to perform academically.

There is sexual pressure.

There is pressure to appear perfect

3. Sometimes it feels overwhelming.

Some youth even become suicidal.

To be clear, suicidal thoughts and attempts (and mental illness in general)

are not challenges solved only through spiritual solutions.

Just like the person fighting cancer, or the child with broken bones, people with suicidal thoughts need medical intervention and professional licensed counselors as well as fervent prayer.

The less we stigmatize mental illness, the more people we can potentially save.

This link provides warning signs and interventions for suicidal people: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/.

4. In the best of circumstances, we can still feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities and relationships of life.

This may sound like a contradiction, but

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spiritual disciplines offer you rest.

A quiet, meditative space to commune with the God who adores you.

A space where you don’t have to compete and strive, but instead, take up the offer of Jesus:

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” ().

5.

A person’s young age is not a spiritual liability.

Youth have equal and unfettered access to God right now. is true for you:

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“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

The apostle Paul gave this advice to Timothy, in whom he recognized a God-given gift for leadership of a local fellowship in a major metropolitan city.

His age did not impede his ability to be spiritually mature and a great example of godliness.

6. Spiritual disciplines helped four young Jewish boys—Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah—to stand up to the empire that crushed their native land.

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Daniels 1:8-16

They are a great example of trusting God before others “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

They are a great example of trusting God before others “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

They fasted from the king’s food (), opting for vegetables and water.

In the same way that Paul advised Christians in Corinth not to eat meat sacrificed to idols ()—not because of the meat itself, but in order to reflect a clear testimony that they worship Christ alone—

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah fasted from the food of the king to demonstrate the source of their sustenance was Yahweh alone.

We should, for the sake of the gospel (NOT legalism!),

consider the ways we can send confusing messages to people who are new to the faith, or who don’t know Christ, by the things we partake of.

It’s a sign of maturity when we are able to lay down our liberty in order to help someone else.

7.

They had a consistent and real prayer life—

when their very lives were threatened, they submitted to God through prayer.

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In , they asked God to interpret the king’s dream for them, and God did.

In , they asked God to interpret the king’s dream for them, and God did.

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The practice of prayer in times of relative peace helped them to develop a prayer “muscle” memory when they were in times of strife.

8.

They also demonstrated spiritual discipline in what they did not practice.

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In , Daniel’s three friends are threatened with death for refusing to worship the king’s golden image.

In , Daniel’s three friends are threatened with death for refusing to worship the king’s golden image.

Their brave response was this:

“The God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[a] from Your Majesty’s hand.

But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

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9. “Spiritual disciplines” can sound lofty and stodgy, but they’re really just different practices that help you to remember that God is at work in your life.

Prayer, lectio divina (repeated reading of a Bible passage followed by quiet contemplation), Spotify playlists, and listening to books of the Bible while working out or before sleep are all ways to remember and communicate with the Lord during the course of everyday life.

10.

This article from Forbes tells about some teenagers who are making an impact: Thomas Ehrlich and Ernestine Fu, “High School Students Making a Difference in the Lives of Others,” Forbes, September 11, 2013, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ehrlichfu/2013/09/11/high-school-students-making-a-difference-in-the-lives-of-others/#3c3b4a733fc0.

These young people are not waiting to hit a certain age in order to make a positive impact in their communities.

Let’s pray.