Sermon Tone Analysis

*/2 Corinthians 7:4b-7/*

 

 

*INTRO* –  Turn to passage

*ILL** – *English language evolving; new technology, producing new words, turning nouns to verbs

-technology verbs – Google – Ebay – text msg – Facebook – Twitter

How many of you have ever googled, ebayed, texted, facebooked, twittered?

-Twitter church; Facebook church

-Facebook – status

-Twitter “What are you doing?”

 

 

Paul’s status  2 Corinthians 7:4b

-posted his status

-personal status

 

*1.

Status*

* *Inward status* – I’m totally encouraged

 

*EXPL* – “I am filled with comfort”

What is comfort like?

Literally means to have someone who has been called to your side – it is like having someone beside you who cares, who provides friendly encouragement & help

-“filled” - not lacking, complete, all he needed

-he had many problems but he also had received a full measure of encouragement & help

-I’ve had it to here; I have it to here

 

The encouragement I am receiving leaving no room for discouragement, despair

 

* *Outward status* – I am super ecstatic

* *

*EXPL* – “I am exceeding joyful” – literally to be overflowing with joy; rapturous, euphoric,   jubilant, seventh heaven, cloud nine Latin /superabundo/

-visible, verbal; obvious to everyone

 

*ILL** – *s~/o walking and singing, etc.

 

/2 Cor 6:10 “as sorrowful yet always rejoicing”/

Paul – status – I’m totally encouraged.

I’m super ecstatic

 

*TRANS* – What is strange about this? “in all our tribulation”

Epi– position – in

 

*2.

I’ve had some problems*

 

* *The degree of these problems*

-heavy, burdensome problems – “tribulation”,  “troubled” – pressure, stress, burden; press on, weigh down

-what causes stress?

*Top Ten Stressful Life Events*

| -marriage problems-problems with kids, teen, grown-problems with parents, in-laws-financial problems-diff stant, ________-old age-national & global instability, ________, threats |

 

\\ #.

Spouse’s death

#.

Divorce

#.

Marriage separation

#.

Jail term – direct, indirect

#.

Death of a close relative

#.

Injury of illness

#.

Marriage  - getting, being

#.

Fired from job

#.

Marriage reconciliation

#.

Retirement

 -marriage problems

-problems with kids, teen, grown

-problems with parents, in-laws

-financial problems

-diff stant, ________

-old age

-national & global instability, ________, threats

     Christian life, ministry – people, responsibilities, labor, _______

(Source: The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory)

 

-extensive, complex problems – “all our tribulation” (4)

-not an isolated incident; repeated, ongoing, far-reaching

 

-besieging, surrounding problems – “on every side” (5)

-everywhere he looked, anyway he turned, wherever he went he could not get away from them

 

-chronic, recurring problems – “no rest”

- unremitting, no relieve

 

-  Physical & psychological - “flesh” cf.

“spirit” in 2:13 /I had no rest in my spirit because I found not Titus my brother/ 

-problems that affect all parts and the whole person

-affected his whole being, physical and psychological

Physical – high blood pressure, headache, backache, upset stomach, exhausted, pain

Psychological – irritable, hard to concentrate, worry, insecurity

          Pain probably ex some or all

 

* *External & internal problems – “without … within”*

-*Conflict* – “without were fightings”  -clashes, conflicts

-could mean physical threats and attacks but also could include verbal attacks and rumors, also spiritual warfare,

-notice multiple situations – “s”

 

 

-*Anxiety* – “within were fears”

-Paul’s first trip to Macedonia – was arrested, beaten and imprisoned

-you can understand his anxiety in returning to the same place

-Paul being very intimately transparent

 

 

What Paul experienced is was causes many people to become discouraged, angry, bitter, depressed; quit, lash out, take psychiatric drugs, pursue affairs, scream into a pillow, check out on the Christian life, church, God, etc.

 

*TRANS - *Paul certainly could have done this and might have even thought about it.

What made the difference for Paul?

What will make the difference for you?

Two words that represent great news  

Look at verse 6. /“but (nevertheless) God.”/

 

 

*3.

God*

Paul could be encouraged and ecstatic while weighed down, surrounded and his life infested with problems simply because of God.

God encourages and helps Christians with problems.

Some characteristics

* | Why? |

*Because He wants to*

*EXPL* – literally “but the one who comforts the downcast comforted us – God”

-his identity, nature, personality; an expression of his love, compassion, mercy and long suffering

-He has to; He delights in it; He can’t not do it

 

 

*APPL* – Therefore, you can ask for it, expect it and take it for granted

Therefore, your problems are an opportunity for God to demonstrate and display this facet of His glory.

-uncomfortable – comfort  er

-God can be glorified through your times of great difficulty and need.

People notice, encourage – limited awareness, contact

-God and His encouragement are available everywhere, all the time

God encourages and helps

* *When you need it most*

| Whom?When?

|

 

\\ *EXPL* – “those that are cast down”