Sermon Tone Analysis

-11

SLIDE 2

2 COR 1

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SLIDE 3

2 COR 1

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SLIDE 4

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Intro:

Tribulations.

Difficulties.

Hardships.

Trials.

We are all too familiar with these things.

Maybe we think of them as if they are viruses that infest life..

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They creep in and upset the harmonies that we are attempting to create.

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For some, there is greater familiarity with chaos, than with peace.

For some of us, we are more acquainted with difficulty, than we are with ease.

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At a glance, this world that we live in can be described as beautiful..

Stunning, bountiful, full of opportunity..

And yet, despite it’s beauty.. despite the opportunity..

It is, at the same time... hard.. broken.. violent.. and lacking mercy.

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I believe, some of the most beautiful parts of our world.. are found.. right under the surface of the water.

Many years ago I had to opportunity to go snorkeling in the Caribbean.

I was able to go snorkeling.. in the beautiful blue waters of the Western Caribbean.

Just off the coast of Roatan, Honduras.. lies some of the most stunning landscape that the eyes can see…

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Thousands of colorful fish…

Mountains of coral.. urchins.. sting rays and sea turtles.

And yet.. as we swam..

I noticed.. that I began to feel a repeated stinging sensation.

.. it wasn’t bad.. but, just.. annoying.

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Our guide told us.. they were baby jelly-fish..

And that the sting is harmless and short-lived..

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As a side note… snorkeling, or being in a boat… is the only way I want to be in the ocean.

I always get stung by jelly fish when I go in the ocean…

… and when it happens…

With those little stings..

There come a reminder..

That in this ocean..

There are things that can sting you..

Poison you..

Bite you..

It’s dangerous…

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And.. even in the water itself..

There’s always the possibility of drowning..

In times like that.. there’s always a little fear..

There’s always a little anxiety..

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On one hand.. it’s beautiful.. it’s an amazing experience..

But, on the other hand..

There is also danger..

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And whether we are in the water, or out of the water..

Whether we are in the jungle, or in the city..

Whether we are on the street, or in our home..

Whether we are with strangers, or with our friends..

The same scenario exists.

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This life..

Is beautiful..

Yet.. in the midst of that beauty… things can easily be upset… and it can become dangerous.

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We all have, do, and will experience… tribulation.. hardship.. trial.. and difficulty.

In times like this.. our hearts search diligently for one thing..

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When it’s hard..

We want comfort.

And because mankind is perpetually facing tribulation..

He is also, perpetually seeking comfort..

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Humans seek it in so many ways..

But today’s passage gives the one true answer..

It’s not found in alcohol.. it’s not found in money.. it’s not even found in one another..

True, satisfying.. gratifying.. quality comfort..

Is found.. only… in God…

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And yet… saying that, is not enough.

It’s not found in the idea of God, or the acknowledgment that there is a God… It’s not found in the god that we create in our own image… it’s not found in the evoking of His name or in the ceremonial methods we go through to make us feel like we are close to God.

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It’s only found in knowing who God is, and what God is like.

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I often come back to this reality when studying and teaching the Bible.

Some of the biggest problems we have, as Christians… stems back to the reality that we are thinking wrongly about who God is.

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Paul wants his readers to know what God is like… so that they can experience… the unique work that God can do in their lives.

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SLIDE 5

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After the greeting.. the very first topic that Paul brings to light..

is the comfort that God gives.. to those who are in tribulation.

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We’re going to consider this in depth, momentarily..

But.. first, let’s look at this greeting..

In vs. 1.. Paul again restates his position.. and his calling..

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In the previous letter ()..

He said: “by the grace of God, I am what I am”

This time.. it’s by “the will of God”…

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Most commentators say that Paul was always defending his apostleship for the sake of those who doubted his authority..

And I agree.. that this is probably the main reason he so often emphasized his title..

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But when I personalize these scriptures..

I see something differently.

Yes, Paul was letting them know who he was… but every time he said it, he was reminded of whom he was.

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For me, if people have a problem with my position..

I’m generally fine with it.

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If my position doesn’t mean anything to you… then fine.

It’s probably best that you find another church where you can respect the position of the pastor, or the elders…

… but it doesn’t jab at my pride any..

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If people want to see me as being disqualified..

That’s their prerogative.

They have a right to that opinion.

And it’s not hurtful, unless… it’s coming from someone who was.. very close to me.

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For me.. the biggest problem is not what other people think..

For me, the biggest problem, is what I think.

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When I’m faced with my errors and my inadequacies..

.. which are many..

I am the one who … in my mind and in my heart… is questioning my qualification.