Sermon Tone Analysis

The Gospel of the Lord

!! The exhortation of the Gospel

!!! Lord’s Day 28 September 2008, Morning Worship, 9.30am

© Rev D Rudi Schwartz[1]

!!! Bible Readings

Old Testament:                     2Samuel 12:1-13

New Testament:                   Colossians 1:28-2:5

!!! Hymns~/Songs

                1.

Approach:                        /“Rejoice, the Lord is King”/

                2.

Forgiveness of sins:        /“As sons of the day and daughters of light”/

                3.

Thanksgiving:                   /“Now thank we all our God”/

                4.

Response:                        /“God has spoken by his prophets”/

!!! Main Points

!!!!!! 1. Introduction

!!!!!! 2. Exhortation in Jesus Christ

!!!!!! 3. Exhortation to know Jesus Christ

!!!!!! 4. Exhortation to service in Jesus Christ

!!!!!! 5. Conclusion

!!!  

!!! 1.     Introduction

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, 

One should astounded by the insight of the Westminster Divines in the framing of the questions of the Larger Catechism about the Bible as the Word of God.

In a series of questions and answers about the Word and Sacraments, beginning with question 154, we learn more about God’s intention with the Word and Sacraments.

We also learn how the Reformed theologians through the ages regarded these teachings.

This was the case until very recently when some thought it necessary to change things and brought in a complete new understanding of how we should worship and what should be taught.

Question 154 asks:  /What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?

/The answer: 

The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.

(Matt.

28:19–20, Acts 2:42,46–47)

The point which the Confession wants to make here is this:  Christ died, He rose again, He intercedes for his elect and He has given the Holy Spirit for his Church; but how would all that Christ has done be known to us so that we will have a saving knowledge of it.

In contemporary worship the Word plays second fiddle.

Today the first thing people choose to communicate the Gospel with is to bombard people with music – contemporary music, that is!

I read an article this week, written by Dr Peter Masters, minister of Metropolitan Tabernacle, the church where Charles Spurgeon used to be the minister.

The title of the article is “/Worship in the melting pot/” and Dr Masters writes:

Words and thoughts are everything in worship.

Music may only assist at a practical level; it cannot be used to express worship.

To believe that it can, is to fall into the tragic error of aesthetic worship.

The singing of God’s people should certainly be grand and glorious in terms of fervour and effort, but it is the words and the hearts of the worshippers that God desires.

All unnecessary embellishment is an offence to Him. 

Frequently, tremendous musical expertise goes into the ‘production’ of a service, but it must be realised that any attempt to make a direct impression on the soul by the use of music or any other earthly tool is ecstatic worship as opposed to spiritual and rational worship.

Emotions fanned into flames by sentimental or stirring music may be enjoyable feelings at a purely human level, but they are not worship.

Music cannot really move the soul.

It only moves the emotions.

We are spiritually moved, not by melody, beauty or spectacle, but by what we understand.”

Back to the Larger Catechism.

Question 155 then follows with:  /How is the Word made effectual to salvation?/

In other words:  how can what Christ did for the sinner become salvation to the sinner?

The answer here is: 

The Spirit of God makes the reading, *but especially the preaching of the word,* an effectual means of *enlightening*, *convincing*, and *humbling* sinners; of *driving* them out of themselves, and *drawing* them unto Christ; of *conforming* them to his image, and *subduing* them to his will; of *strengthening* them against temptations and corruptions; of *building* them up in grace, and *establishing* their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.

We have to understand then that the Bible, as the living Word of God, is the tool God chose to proclaim the benefits of Jesus Christ with the goal that people will be saved and rescued from eternal death; through and by this Word they are equipped for service in Christ.

All other methods applied as a means to achieve this, are sinful, wrong and of no use.

One can have a thousand hymns, thousands more performers, ten thousands of choruses and contemporary songs in worship, but if the Word of God is not preached and believed, nothing happens.

Back to Dr Masters:

We believe that the Lord trusts us with music and also with instruments to accompany the singing of praise, but these cannot actually convey worship.

They are secondary.

They are not in the image of God, nor do they have souls, nor are they redeemed.

From what we have said up to now we have to conclude that there is more to the Bible than the written letter and page.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

For the Word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12)

The Word is authoritative and it has an appeal to the soul.

When preached by those called by God and addressed to those whom God will call through his Word, it surely is the tool unto salvation, how old-fashioned this statement may sound!

Ministers of the Word then should, according to the Catechism:

… to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man’ s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, and fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, (1 Cor.

9:19–22) edification, and salvation.

This then takes us to the admonition of the Gospel.

!!! 2.     Exhortation in Jesus Christ

Paul writes in Colossians 1:28:  “/We preach Him (Christ), admonishing and teaching with all wisdom./”

The word for /admonish/ is to instruct by impressing an instruction on the mind of someone else.

The desired effect is that those who hear would then change their behaviour.

It is in many places in the Bible plainly called repentance.

Repentance is nothing less that a change in mindset which effect all of life that follows.

The word used by the apostle Paul /to exhort/ or /to admonish/ carries with it the meaning of “/to direct one’s mind to a subject/”, with the idea to develop understanding of that subject.

The activity of exhortation or admonishment is directed at the mind, which then overflow into action as a result of the change of mind, because it has religious and moral significance:  what the mind is thinking, effects the way we act and respond to our interaction with our environment.

The work and life of almost all the prophets of God consisted of this ministry.

God called his people to repentance, which is a change of mind by turning away from what is wrong and follow God.

The people in reaction could turn around, and in many cases they did, and challenge the authority of the prophets, but the prophets had a divine right and duty.

They kept saying, “Thus saying the Lord!”

It is still the same today.

Paul writes about the Bible as the inspired Word of God and says:

“… the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

(2 Timothy 3:14-17)

It is probably not the easiest task of any minister to rebuke and admonish the wayward in the Lord.

But it is necessary, and it needs to be done in love for the sake of Christ.

It is a form of discipline.

We read about David, his grievous sin by committing adultery with Bathsheba, telling one lie after the other, doing whatever he could to cover up his sins, trying to bribe Uriah, involving Joab in the whole affair, and eventually have Uriah killed.

It was a dreadful time in the life of David, Bathsheba and probably the whole nation.

Then God called the prophet Nathan to go to David.

Nathan told him the parable of the poor man who only had one little lamb, which he treated like his own daughter.

A rich man, who had everything, then stole that little lamb, killed it and had his guest eat it in celebration.

David was very angry and demanded that this man be put to death.

Then Nathan, the man of God, leaned forward and in the power of God who commanded and appointed him, said to the powerful king of Israel:  “/You are that man/.”

David writes of this time in his life:

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

(Ps 32:3-4)

Then, convicted by the Spirit of God through the prophet, David in heartfelt agony over his sin wrote Psalm 51:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.