Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.45UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.1UNLIKELY
Fear
0.14UNLIKELY
Joy
0.2UNLIKELY
Sadness
0.59LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.36UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.03UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.9LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.72LIKELY
Extraversion
0.29UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.73LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.81LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Samuel Valencia, B.A. Biblical Studies
Sermon
October 26, 2008
Good Shepherd Community Church
TITTLE
Giving Jesus
MAIN PASSAGE
Acts 3:1-10
INTRODUCTION
In the account of Acts 3 we see a man in need.
He was placed at the entry way of the temple to beg for alms.
On a particular day when Peter and John were going to the temple they met this man.
This encounter changed his life.
This story reminds us of the responsibility we have as Christians to carry out the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Peter took a surprising action as the lame man asked for alms.
Peter told him that he was not going to give him silver or gold.
He was going to give him something more valuable.
Peter gave him Jesus.
That was the best gift the beggar ever received.
The lame man was healed.
The people that witnessed this marveled and were asking how it happened.
Peter takes the opportunity to explain to the people that it is all about Jesus.
\\ As a result many people received Jesus.
The discussion today is about the importance of us giving Jesus to those around us.
There are needs, there are solutions to those needs, but the ultimate fulfillment to men’s need is Jesus.
Our call is to give Jesus because Jesus is the answer!
We as Christians have a commission to fulfill.
*I.
**THE NEED*
*Acts 3:1-3*
A.
The Lame Man
1.
His Life
From reflecting on what the scripture says, this man had been lame all his life… Acts 4:22 tells us that he was over 40 years old.
We can assume that as a little boy he was placed there, as a teen he was placed there and now as an adult he was placed there to beg.
He had lived a life of suffering and privation.
He sat there by that temple day in and day out.
Indeed it is a sad picture.
The Believers Bible Commentary states “…The helpless condition of this man… is in marked contrast to the beauty of the architecture of the temple.
It reminds us of the poverty and ignorance which abounds in the very shadows of great cathedrals, and of the helplessness of mighty ecclesiastical systems to assist those who are physical and spiritual cripples.”
[1] All the religion in that temple could offer him no hope.
He was hopeless.
It reminds me of the little kids, teenagers, and adults that sell and beg at the Mexico/U.S. border crossing.
2.
His Need
He was lame.
He was not fit for the social requirements of his day.
His life support came from the alms given to him by those going to worship at the temple.
The New American Commentary states that at the time Peter and John were going to the temple it was,
…the final stage of the daily temple worship… it was one of the two major periods of worship, and many would have come to the temple at precisely this time to express their devotion to God.
It was prime time for receiving alms.
The rabbis taught that there were three pillars for the Jewish faith—the Torah, worship, and the showing of kindness, or charity.
Almsgiving was one of the main ways to show kindness and was thus considered a major expression of one’s devotion to God.
With their minds set on worship, those who entered the temple for the evening sacrifice and prayer would be particularly disposed to practice their piety by generously giving alms to a lame beggar.
[2]
The lame man took advantage of this to satisfy his need.
B. The Outstretched Hand
As the lame man stretched out his hand little did he know that in that day he was going to receive more than he could have ever expected.
*II.
**THE NEED FOR A SOLUTION*
*Acts 3:4-5*
The lame man was expecting to receive something material.
Most likely he expected a coin, some food, a coat… something that would satisfy his need for that day.
His eyes were on temporal things.
His hope was only on the things that this world could offer.
How many handouts had this lame man received all his life?
Yet he continued in the same situation.
Also, how many other beggars were there by the temple?
The Exposition Bible Commentary states “…No doubt thousands of people were near the temple (Acts 4:4), and perhaps scores of beggars… There were nine gates that led from the court of the Gentiles into the temple itself.”
[3]
A. Many types of needs
1.
Physical
2. Material
3. Social
4. Psychological
B.
Satisfying our needs
We can see ourselves in that lame man.
We want to satisfy our immediate need with whatever we can satisfy it with… We want that quick fix that will solve the problem momentarily.
Everyone has needs no matter where they are in life.
*III.
**THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION*
*Acts 3:6-7*
A.
The best gift
Peter and John took note of the lame man.
A coin would have indeed helped him.
Material things are necessary in life!
But if Peter had given him just another coin the lame man’s need would only have been alleviated momentarily.
No real solution would have taken place.
As the lame man stretched out his hand, little did he know that he was going to receive more than he ever expected.
They had no silver or gold… But, they did have something more valuable.
They had Jesus.
Peter and John had in their possession the Gospel.
The Gospel means good news and it is the one word that encapsulates everything Jesus did for us, i.e.
His life, His death, and His resurrection!
The Bible Exposition Commentary states “…money was not what the man needed most.
He needed salvation for his soul and healing for his body, and money could provide neither.
Through the power of the name of Jesus, the beggar was completely healed....” [4] This was the best gift this man ever received.
1.
The Worth
The worth of Jesus can be seen through the “I am” statements found in the book of John.
Jesus said,
1.
I am the bread of life (John 6:35)
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9