Sermon Tone Analysis

Babies bring such joy into a family!

I remember the excitement that I experienced each time McKenzie told me that she was expecting and then again several months later when she would say, “It’s time!”

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who did not see things your way, and it made you wonder, “How in the world can they not see this?

How is it possible for them not to understand that I am right?!?”

The issue there is that you have two different perspectives - two approaches to the subject that leads you to different conclusions.

In much the same way, the world looks at us and wonders, “How in the world can they believe in some old genie in the sky that they call ‘God’ who grants wishes like Santa Claus?!?”

People like Richard Dawkins, renowned author and self proclaimed militant atheist who compared belief in God to believing in a flying spaghetti monster.

They do this because they don’t know God.

They don’t know Jesus Christ.

Our belief in Jesus causes them to not really understand us either.

They view us as weird, but the reality is that there is enough evidence to show that what we believe is real.

This is not mythology or science fiction that makes us feel warm and fuzzy.

It is belief in the One Who created everything with the word from His mouth.

He spoke all things into existence and gave them order, structure, reason, and balance; and He keeps it all going by His word!

Even the most studied scholars who reject belief in God have to admit that they do not know how it all started.

They have their best guesses and hypotheses, but there are some things that still go unexplained.

Bottomline, God is bigger than our human comprehension.

So many reject the possibility of God!

If they considered God in their hypotheses, they would see that He makes it completely understandable.

He is the missing element in their equation.

He could be the missing element to your equation.

If someone has made up their mind that they will not believe, it is almost impossible to convince them otherwise.

Notice, I said, “almost” not entirely impossible.

However, he had an encounter that put him face to face with the reality of Jesus Christ, and he believed.

He believed to the point that he became a preacher of the Gospel and was used by God to plant many churches and write a large portion of the New Testament.

We know him more commonly as Paul the apostle.

So, child of God, don’t be discouraged when you face skeptics!

Be encouraged that if you will stay humble and let the Holy Spirit guide you as you witness, you may be the one whom God uses to win the next Paul!

Confusion is everywhere - I believe that is especially true in religion.

That is why it is so important to know what the Bible teaches.

Some say that you cannot know that you are saved.

Some say that you cannot know that you have eternal life.

Some will tell you that you have to wait until you die to find out where you go.

What a miserable way to live!

This is not what the Bible says.

In fact, John is writing (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) and he tells us about

He tells us about

1 John

The Relationship We Now Enjoy

John tells this group of believers that they are now the sons of God - present tense.

They do not have to worry about what they might do or what may happen because they have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

This relationship means they are part of the family - God is their Father.

He always takes care of His own, and He never, EVER disowns His children!

How does one become a child of God?

It is through faith.

I can almost hear some say, “All paths lead to Heaven!”

That is like saying, “No matter which I take, I will reach New York City!”

My friend, if you are of the belief that all roads and all religions will take you to heaven, you are completely entitled to your belief, and I respect your right to believe what you choose - so does God.

However, that does not mean that you are correct.

Please listen to me for a moment.

There is nothing more important to me then where you will spend eternity.

I have studied many beliefs and found that there is no hope in the religions of the world.

At their core, they all tell you to try your best and hope for the best.

Some even give you no hope for anything better.

For instance, the Koran does not speak of forgiveness.

While there are definitely some differences, Buddhism and Hinduism both speak of living life over and over through reincarnation until you get it right by being good enough, depriving yourself of desires eventually ending up in what they call the blissful state of non-existence.

That is hopeless and not reality!

Most religions tell you that Jesus was a good teacher and prophet, but not the Son of God.

However, He taught that He is the Son of God.

If He were not, then He was teaching falsehood and must not be considered a good teacher, and the lie would disqualify Him from being a good prophet.

In reality, Jesus is the Son of God.

He is the Messiah that the Jewish people have looked for for thousands of years.

He is the promised deliverer.

He is the One of Whom God spoke when He told Eve that her Seed would bruise Satan’s head while His heel would be bruised.

He is the Creator.

The reason Jesus Christ came and paid the price to close the gap between us and God and to give us eternal life and a relationship with Himself for all eternity!

It does not matter what your ethnic heritage may be or even your religious or nonreligious background.

What matters is do you now believe that Jesus Christ is the sinless, eternal Son of God? Do you believe that He gave His life on the cross and shed His blood to pay for your sins?

Do you recognize your inability to make it to Heaven through your efforts?

Will you call on Him in faith and ask Him to save you?

He promises to save all who will come to Him in faith.

He will save you and make you a child of God.

If you have received His gift of grace, you are a child of God! Praise the Lord for this!

Let’s pause for a moment and consider what we have heard so far.

Maybe you have questions.

Maybe you came today to see what all the excitement is about.

We welcome your questions.

We want you to ask.

We want to help you learn the truth and be able to say with confidence that you know you are a child of God.

Jesus Christ desires a relationship with you.

He made it possible for you to have a relationship with Him.

He invites you into a relationship.

He takes the guilt.

He forgives the sin.

Jesus gives purpose and hope!

He takes the guilt.

He forgives the sin.

He gives purpose and hope!

Would you trust Him today?

If you are ready to do this now, it is as simple as talking to God in the quietness of your heart.

Just say to Him that you know you are a sinner and that you understand that as a sinner, you are separated from God.

You cannot go to Heaven on your own merit.

Tell Him that you believe Jesus died on the cross for you.

Tell Him that you, right now, receive His gift of eternal life.

Let’s take a minute to pray before we continue.

If you just prayed and received Jesus as your Saviour, I want to rejoice with you.

Please

That is the Relationship We Now Enjoy.