Sermon Tone Analysis

Secular:

We were going to an Anne Murray concert…

Saw her look alike….

Behind Copp’s Coliseum

 

Funny in the show… someone talked to her an asked about doing her portrait… Helen Reddy…

 

In choosing to do her portrait and to engage in the conversation… the young lady did not know enough to make the choice she did…

 

Choices… need to be informed… we need to understand what we are choosing…

 

Biblical:

John was preaching truth… truth about living for your self or for ritualistic religiosity…  and he was ahead of Jesus to make the message clear… “"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; *repent* and believe in the gospel."

Personal:

Ever make a decision on mis-information…

* double book an appointment (thought free… scramble)

* by a used car and finding out the details on this reliable gem a little late (not such a good deal)

* financial information that in hindsight has all the quality of Bre-x and Enron… (not the big winner you had hoped)

* Right decisions really rely on right information…

 

Bridge:

* What is the one absolute greatest fact we need to get straight?

* Is it… Am I the right weight…

* Do I drive the right car…

* Do I have a big enough house…

* Do I love myself…

* Am I really happy…

* Is there life after death…

* Will there be an NHL season…

* *What is the one absolute greatest fact we need to get straight?*

* Is there a God?... and if so… how can I live my life in harmony with the God of the Universe.

We won’t fight the idea that there is a God or an after-life… because of sin we fight the idea of making choices that recognize who God is!

* Choices Based on Who is Jesus!

* Who Jesus us is… what his message is… the perfect revelation (disclosure) of God…

* We need to live life… make choices based on who is Jesus!

* What is the one absolute greatest fact we need to get straight?

Jesus who are you…

Body:

*Sons of Zebedee… James and John….*

* On The Road to Jerusalem

* Sickening sense… like when you put your foot firmly in your mouth…

* Elderly couple and their B210…

* Mark 10:35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You." 36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 37 They said to Him, "Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on /Your /left, in Your glory."

* Sons of thunder alright… put your foot firmly in your mouth…

* Jesus reply… oh you silly power seekers… you have no idea what it will take… you have not grasped who I am…

* The world is into power… the world is about greatness… Matthew 20:26 "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

* Choosing Christ… isn’t about some great power play…

* Choosing Christ… isn’t about personal esteem and greatness

* Choosing Christ… is about turning things on their head… serving others, Christ our model, the one we choose… came to “serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

* We need to live life… make choices based on who is Jesus!

– Jesus came to serve and be a ransom.

* How does work in our lives…

* Do grasp for power…

* Our do we strive to serve…

* Do we desire to be first…

* Or do we call ourselves a servant of Christ?

* We need to live life… make choices based on who Jesus!... Choosing to Serve

 

*Simon the Sorcerer*

* Great magician…

* N.T.

David Copperfield...

* People marvelled… Acts 8

* Must be of God… such great power….

* It says… Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

* Oooooo how he was loving the power of God…

* Watching Phillip perform miracles…

* Then when Peter and John show up… and authenticate the genuine conversion amongst the gentiles… he witnessed a great move of the Spirit of God!

* Acts 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

* Oh how cool is this… I had power, prestige and position amongst the people when I was doing my magic… but Christianity changed that… people saw my tricks for what they really were… but now I have a chance to get this very cool power of God… It will be worth the investment…

* 20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

* SIMON!

What are you doing!

* … Following Jesus isn’t about power, prestige and position amongst the people.

* It isn’t about a big glass cathedral or about fabulous demonstrations of power…

* Know we hunger for power… the more we feel for the world the more we seek the power… the careful we need to become… Power isn’t the answer…

* It isn’t what we can do…

* It isn’t about what we get…

* It is about what Christ has done and who He is!

* We need to live life… make choices based on who Jesus is!... Choosing humility

 

*The Thief On the Cross and The Roman Officer*

* Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged /there /was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ?

Save Yourself and us!"

* Choosing Christ…

* Have you ever heard… God if you are really up there…

* Then do this and I will believe…

* If you were really there you would…

* If you really are the “Christ?

Save Yourself and us!" – take away my burden

* How sad we would be if God was merely a genie that did our bidding…

* Bruce Almighty….

* Lottery winners… $1.63

* Bosses dropped dead…

* If you really are the “Christ?

Save Yourself and us!"

* 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

41 "And we indeed /are suffering /justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

* Jesus you are the Son of God… appointed to suffer… and whatever my suffering… it pales in comparison to your sacrifice…

* You are God… and I entrust my soul to you….

* And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

* Choose Jesus… choose God… not power… not a genie… the God that abides… that comforts… the God that saves!

* The revelation of God… his Word… paints for us a picture of Jesus, loving, serving, humble, sacrificing…

* Matthew 27:54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "*Truly* this was the *Son* of God!"

* The disciples James and John didn’t get it at first… first seeking position and prestige….

Simon the magician didn’t get it… he sought power… it was a common thief and roman centurion that understood… choosing Jesus… is about choosing a God that abides… a God that comforts… a God that Saves…