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
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Opening & Intro
Origin
In 1865, William was 29 years old when he suffered from a near-fatal bout of sickness.
He was afflicted with severe depression, and this near-death experience changed him completely.
While undergoing recovery, he experienced a spiritual awakening that inspired him to start crafting hymns.
He became an avid reader of the Bible and subsequently, he wrote the lyrics of “What Child Is This?” and incorporated the tune of the celebrated English folk song, “Greensleeves.”
Greensleeves was already one of the most aesthetic and beloved melodies of the festive season at that time.
Although it’s not a quintessential Christmas tune, its association with the festive season can be dated back to 1642.
It was paired back then with Waits’ carol titled, “The Old Year Now Away is Fled.”
Also, William Shakespeare refers to this popular tune twice in his famous play - “Merry Wives of Windsor.”
William Chatterton Dix
His affiliation with the church is vivid through his hymns, which were subsequently published in “A Vision of All Saints,” “Verses on the Holy Eucharist,” and “Altar Songs.”
Around Christmas of 1865, he also crafted the poem titled “The Manger Throne.”
He also crafted other popular hymns like “As With Gladness Men of Old” and “Alleluia!
Sing to Jesus!”
According to expert Hymnologists, Dix’s hymns are imaginative, reverent, and simple, yet borderline sentimental.
They have always proved to be considerably sincere to their roots.
Last week we talked about moving from longing to hope.
Every person has a desire for God, even if they don’t want to admit it or don’t realize that this is what they are longing for.
Main Point
The gift of Jesus is for every person.
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done.
He is a gift to ALL.
Why Does it Matter
This brings hope!
Hope will bring peace - Rest/Relief from loning.
Scripture
1.
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Heaven and Earth recognize who Jesus is.
From the lowest to the highest of creation
No one is exempt from the king
2. Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Why so humble?
Jesus is laid where animals eat and poop.
Those who believe in Jesus/in His family should fear/feel sense of urgency for the lost.
The silent word could mean one of two things:
1)
Hear the Gospel (it is the word of God and it is silent) and be saved
and 2)
Jesus Himself is the word John 1:1&14
Jesus commands salvation even as a child who cannot speak.
What ever we believe it specifically means we do agree that it is a verse that commands us to be saved.
Turn to God.
3.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Bring him you best!
He is worthy
No one is exempt
From pesants to kings
Own him means “hear and obey” - Listen
What can we Own?
Salvation - it is freely offered.
We own it if we make him Lord of our lives.
The second stanza offers a momentary reference to “mean estate,” or less than an ideal condition.
The poet registers similarity with the first stanza with another rhetorical question.
He wonders why the Child Christ should be displayed in such a humble environment.
The poet tries to decipher the answer analytically, and reasons that the “mean estate” that refers to the birth of Christ has its roots entangled with his future sufferings.
The second stanza alludes to the anguish and distress of Christ's future.
The poet utilizes the final stanza to expand the emphasis on the people attending the humble scene.
He draws inspiration from the Epiphany season and focuses on the metaphorical gifts that are being bought for the infant.
His setting flouts the conventional structure of time quite comprehensively, like everyone, starting from the “king” or the “peasant” is offered an equal chance.
Application
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
This, this is Christ the King,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Behold the Christ - TELL THE WORLD
He wants us to tell the world about this gift.
Remind them that
Jesus is for everyone - EVEN YOU! God says you are worth it.
Jesus went from ultimate humility to ultimate glory.
Closing
What Child is this?
The one who was sent to save all of creation
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