Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO

Good Morning CrossPointe - Thank you for worshipping with us this morning, on Memorial day weekend.

I’m thankful for AD who preached last week while our family was out of town on a short vacation before our son leaves for Navy bootcamp next Sunday.

HOOK

We got back from vacation on Sunday and that began - one of those weeks

Have you ever had one of those week’s where it seems to be moving so fast and in so many directions that you are barely holding on?

Or those week’s when everything seems to go wrong?

(This describes the past few days for our family).

It started Sunday Sunday with my wife having chest pains and an ER visit - everything is OK.

Then our car died - it didn’t just breakdown - but died

While trying to have a mechanic confirm it was flatlined - I locked the keys in the car.

Now down to one automobile - Kirsten became a taxi driver as we had three graduates in our home who needed transportation to and from multiple graduation practices and then graduations.

Meanwhile, I was test-driving and researching new cars.

My oldest daughter turned 21 yesterday

COMING WEEK

The pace doesn’t slow down

Then

Graduation parties,

Moree practices,

Another graduation

Son leaves for bootcamp

Wife leaves for Kyrgyzstan

And on and on the list goes....

TRANSITION

We’ve all had weeks like this.

In some ways, every week is full of its own unique challenges and stresses

DANGER - the pace of life begins to control us, we try to run faster, accomplish more and more - lest we become overrun by the unending momentum.

(Think about the chaos of running down a steep hill).

TODAY’S PASSAGE - Is an invitation and an admonition/correction for us to slow down, calm our racing thoughts and behold God.

Imagine we are on the highway on a bus together.

The speed limit is 70 but we are going close to 80 just to keep up with the traffick around us.

We’re making great time - for those like me - gas mileage, time, etc

Then someone suggests getting off the highway and taking the slower scenic route.

This is my invitation this morning in today’s passage

In all honesty - I also believe this is God’s providence in my own life and hopefully in yours as well.

I want to encourage us to the exit off the speeding pace of this week - let’s pause - and behold something/someone beautiful.

LISTEN what is beautiful

SAY what is true

PRAY

READ

LISTEN WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL

“GAURD YOUR STEPS WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOUSE OF GOD...”

I want you to imagine this is the voice of your GPS saying, “warning traffic ahead” - exit in 2 miles

The voice cuts through the song your were just listening to or pulls you out of the day dream to get your attention

You begin listening for the cues - making sure you’re in the right lane, etc.

“Guard you steps” - pay attention… change of direction is needed

“DRAW NEAR....”

Comes the next instruction

This way - out of the congestion, slowing from the busy pace - new speed sign telling you to slow down

Draw near to me - BUT HOW

Word pictures are fine but how do I slow down in my relationship with God

“TO LISTEN...” ** LONG PAUSE **

Silence can be awkward - there is this feeling that empty spaces must be filled - with something

Often times the sounds we make or play in the background are meant to distract, not focus - to maintain a pace and momentum.

My kids:

Watching youtube while playing video games

Looking at instagram while watching netflix

Playing music or youtube videos while in the shower

Noise is constant, almost comforting for some - can’t go to sleep without the TV on or an audiobook in the background.

BUT

Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone in a noisy restaurant or car - I can be extremely frustrating for everyone.

Often times we come to God with the same rushed feelings.

Crazy week and next week is more of the same

Hurry up kids, find yor shoes, we’re going to be late - grab your coffee - find your seat

Go to church, sing, pray the preacher doesn’t get long-winded

Sing some more, Yay God!

You get the kids, I’ll get the car - we need to pick up lunch then head on to the next thing...

LISTEN

When the people of Israel were camped on the edge of the Promised Land, Moses preached to them saying,

“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

“You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

()

“HEAR” = Listen

You want to draw near to God - listen

“LORD IS ONE” =

David Gibson writes, ‘There is one undivided God - “the Lord our God, the Lord is one” - and because God is like that, then he must be approached and worshipped by an undivided person: “all your heart, all your soul, all your strength.”

God is not pulled and fragmented in different directions.

God doesn’t want our sacrifice and service while our greatest loves and deepest desires are directed elsewhere.

TO LISTEN IS TO BEHOLD GOD

“Not be rash to speak”

“Heart Hasty” - These are rushed, quick worship

Slow down, Listen, behold, few words - v.3 illustration (much business and many words.

Things abundance, over-production is the root problem in both cases.

Iain Provan “over-production is the root problem in both cases.

“A heart attentive to God multiplies neither toil nor words.”

n n

BACK LANAI

I was sitting outside on our lanai reading this passage and commentaries - busy with “work” and I realized I had to pause

I put down my books and sat in the quiet watching the breeze blow through the jasmine growing up our pergola.

Trying to quiet the anxiety of a crazy week to listen.

It isn’t easy

Invitation and a correction that we need to exit the pace of life to listen and see God clearly as we listen to his voice

And then we are encouraged to speak what is true.

SAY WHAT IS TRUE

VOW A VOW TO GOD

Here’s what can happen - in the midst of worship or a challenging situation, people make promises to God to perform some specific sacrifice

In the Old Testament, people would promise to offer a sacrifice in the temple if God granted them some particular wish but then realize that sacrifice would cost more money then they thought so they would ignore the promise.

Today, we say things like...

God, if you give me this raise - I’ll never cuss again

God, if you make this girl or boy like me I’ll read my Bible everyday.

I swear I’ll never or I’ll always… if you just....