Sermon Tone Analysis

Eric Meyer

BBL 8033B: Christian Foundations

John Brown University

Professor: Dr. Bill Burnett

July 17th, 2008

 

Assignment #2, Scripture Read And Write

 

INTRODUCTION

            Early in my relationship with Jesus, I prayed that I could hear his voice.

I desperately wanted to hear God speak, to reveal Himself to me.

I have come to realize that God has already revealed Himself in numerous ways, and that it is my responsibility to understand those revelations.

God feeds us small pieces of His revelation as a parent feeds a child, and as the child grows the bites get larger.

In the late 1800’s, Henry Latham wrote a book called Pastor Pastorum in which he said, “I believe a revelation of God is needed for the education of what is highest in man, and for bringing him to the highest point he can reach; and that God has always been revealing Himself in one way or another.

But the revelation of every age must be suited to the character of that age.”

God has revealed Himself in many ways throughout human history, and this paper will be discussing some of those ways.

God has spoken directly to us, He has used prophets, but Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God.

He is our interpreter, teaching us how to hear and understand the language of our Creator.

Henry Latham described the language of God as a color never before seen in nature for which we do not have the words to relate it to others.

He said that man needed a way to understand that language, “So God can only reveal to man about spiritual existence what man can conceive, that is to say only that which he finds something analogous in his own being; for all must be put into that form with which man’s understanding can deal…” (Henry Latham, Pastor Pastorum (London, George Bell & Sons, 1890) pg.

72).

The form that man can understand is God in the form of man, Jesus Christ.

I.

BASIC KINDS OF DIVINE REVELATION

            Throughout human history God has been revealing Himself to man.

Some ways are overt and some are subtle, but there can be no excuse given that a man did not have the opportunity to hear or see God’s revelation.

            A.

Man Intuitively Recognizes God - Natural Revelation

                        1.  Internally, Man Senses God – Acts 17:27; Rom.

1:19,20

                        2.  Externally, The Universe Speaks Of Its Creator – Acts 17: 24-29; Rom.

1:19,20

            B.

Prophesy, God Defines What Is To Come

                        1.  Commands or instructions – Exodus 34:27, Mat.

4:4

                        2.  Warnings – In Neh.

8:9, the crowd was terrified because they had not been following the Law, and understood the prophetic warnings; John 8:24

                        3.  Proof of God’s presence – Luke 24:25-27,44; John 5:39; John 8:28; John 14:26; Eph 2:20; Heb.

1:1; 2 Peter 1:19, 2 Peter 3:2

            C.

Written Word

                        1.  Direct revelation:  Man does not know the thoughts of other men, how could he possibly know the thoughts of God? – 1 Cor.

2:10-12; Ex. 34:27; Mat 4:4; Mat.

5:17-19; Luke 24: 44-46; John 8:23-28,29; John 14:25; John 14:26; John 16:12,13; John 17:17

                        2.  Inspired revelation:  Wisdom taught by the Holy Spirit which makes the writer infallible.

Deut.

29:29; Psalm 19:7-14; Acts 17: 24-29; Romans 1: 18-32; Rom.

3:1-2; Eph.

2:20; Col. 3:16; 2 Tim.

3:16,17; Heb.

1:1; Heb.

4:12,13; Rev. 1:30

                        3.  Illumination:  Viewing the world through the lens of God’s word.

Deut 29:29; Romans 1:21-32; 1 Cor.

2:2-16; 1 Tim.

4:13; 2 Tim.

1:13-15; 2 Tim.

3: 10-17; James 1:22-26

            D.

Miracles Luke 24:44-46; John 5:36; 2 Pet.

1:17,18

II.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DIVINE REVELATION 

            Revelations may be stated or unstated.

It is easy to understand or observer the overtly stated revelations, but not so easy to notice those that are unstated.

Sometimes God gives instructions by what He does not say, or excludes from His message.

In either case, the following characteristics apply.

A.

Eternal – Deut 29:29; Psalm 19:9; John 10:35;1 Cor.

2:6,7; Mat.

5:17-19

            B.

Complete – Psalm 19:7;

            C.

True – Psalm 19:9; John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:19; John 8:32; John 14:26 (The Spirit grants perfect memory, or reminds the author of what God wants written)

            D.

May Be Unstated – Deut.

29:29: There are secret things known only to God.

He has made us aware of what we need to know, and though not stated, indicates that we are not to worry about what we do not know.

That which we do not know is God’s concern.

Mat.

4:4: since both Satan and Jesus are using scripture to justify their arguments, the unstated revelation is that scripture is uncontestable.

E.

Convicts – Psalm 19: 12,13; Heb.

4:12,13; 2 Tim.

4:14; John 5:40

                        1. Wrath made evident directly – Rom.

1:18

                        2. Wrath made evident through natural repercussions – Rom.

1:21-32

            F.

Comforts – Psalm 19:10, Rev. 1:30

            G.

Instructs – Psalm 19:11; Romans 1:18-32; John16:12-13 (there is more to come when you are ready); 1 Cor.

2:12

            H.

Is Considered Wisdom – 1 Cor.

2:6-9; Col. 3:16; 2 Tim 3:15

            I.

Treasure – Psalm 19:10; 2 Tim.1:14

            J.

Living and Active – Heb.

4:12; Col. 3:16; John 5:38

            K.

Perfect – James 1:25

            L.

Holy – 2 Peter 1:20,21

            G.

A Gift Which Has Been Freely Given To Man – Deut.

29:29

III.