Sermon Tone Analysis

*Secular:*

* It became popular in the  60’s… 70’s for people to search for “themselves”… the meaning of life…

* In the Mid 90’s the church woke up form its slumber and began to search out its purpose…

* In the Late 90’s Os Guinness  talked to us about “the Call”

* It has been a “built in desire”… human beings were created for more than selfish pleasure… hanging out for up to 80-90 years… then becoming worm food…

* I have been struck by the fact that the Word of God has been so explicit about our purpose…

* And yet… we still wonder

* Old Testament… Manna and Golden Calf

* Tap on the Shoulder…

* Trumpets…

* Booming voice…

* 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work….

Every good purpose… of God.

* We ask when we have the answer…

* Do I have to… do homework… clean my room

*Biblical:*

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

*Personal:*

* I remember being asked to do my chores as a kid… wasn’t much… I know that now…

* But I was pretty keen to understand the implications of child labour… of virtual slavery… I needed to know why my bed had to be made… why I had to pick up my dirty clothes, why the toilet seat needed to be in the down position and why those dishes had to be done *before *I could go out and play….

After I exhausted my lame arguments designed to secure my liberation… my mother closed the debate with BECAUSE…

* I hated… “because”…

* It never satisfied… it never gave me purpose…

* Even as a kid… I wanted purpose…

*Bridge:*

* God calls us to his purpose… according to his purpose…

* /And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose/.

* Calling according to Os Guinness “the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to his summons and service.”

* Here that again… *his calling…* “the truth that God calls us to himself, so decisively, that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to his summons and service.”

* God’s call is like a diamond… multi-faceted…

* God’s call is complete and encompassing

* Over-whelming… yet simple…

* God’s gift to us… greatest gift is his Grace… his calling on our life…

* Our response… is our faithfulness to that call…

 

Body:

Called to Freedom:

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

*  Set free from the entanglement of sin

* Set free from bondage to this world…

* Set free from selfish desire

* Set free to serve one another…

* If all we have is this (/around us/)… we serve self

*  If we have been freed… we truly serve God and others

* Called to freedom!

Called to Fellowship:

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called /in one body/; and be thankful.

*  Called as a body… a family… a bride

* Promises to the church (not individuals)

*  We are called to be united… we are called to be in Fellowship

* Under Christ… His Church

*   Hebrews 10:24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

* Universal church… Invisible

* Functioning Group… Mission mandate

* Called to Fellowship… Unity of purpose…

Called to Salvation:

2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

*  God’s grace… God’s purpose…

o                   Demonstrate His Love

o                   Communicate

o                   Bearers of Blessing

*  Consistent with God to redeem a people from wrath… call them to himself…

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

*  To conform to the image of Christ…

* To His heart

* To his Truth

* To his holiness

Hebrews 9:15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

*  Call to Salvation is a call by God by grace to an eternal inheritance

* To exchange Death… wrath and separation from God… for eternal life and glory…

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

*  Live according to the Promise…

* God taps you on the shoulder… simple… do as you are told…

* Fight… why?... take hold of the promise… (Wrestle a winning Lotto 6~/49 ticket out of your hand)

* Cause we want to do well by God… gratitude… Uprising

*  Jesus died for me… and I care…

Called to Serve:

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

*  Salvation is by Grace through Faith…

* By Faith Abraham obeyed…

* Ever had to trust when you didn’t want to?

* CNE hanging from a rope…

* I had to let go…

* The riches of the inheritance meant Abraham had to let go…

* Of his trust in himself * In what he knew

* In the familiar…

* Abraham had to go… Embrace the calling… the purpose God had for him… answer the calling by Faith

Gave purpose…

Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

·          We have a purpose…

·          We have meaning in direction…

Romans 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy.

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

·          Do what God has enabled us to do…

·         Not just our talents and skills… our giftings… our Holy Spirit empowered service… step out in faith… do a little Abraham…

·         Answer… is the call to serve…

·         Remember the two great commandments…

·         Love God completely…

·         And Love one another…