Sermon Tone Analysis

*Amazing Grace*

*/February 18, 2007/*

 

 

 

 

 

Last week my Marilyn gave Sarah a book to read.

It was “Joseph and His Colored Coat.”

Sarah threw the book down and shouted, “*No*, I don’t want *Jesus*!”

I suppose as a pastor I should be *horrified*, but I’m trying to get her to do it *again*, in front of *Bruce*.

*Amazing Grace Sunday*

 

Today, we’re joining with the *National* *Association* of *Evangelicals* and thousands of churches in observing today as “Amazing Grace Sunday,” which marks two events.

First, this Friday, February 23rd, marks the *200th* *anniversary* of when Great Britain *outlawed* *slave* *trading*.

Secondly, this Friday is also the release of the *motion* *picture* “Amazing Grace,” which tells the story of the British politician *William* *Wilberforce* in his *forty*-*year* fight to *end* *slavery*.

Wilberforce was a remarkable man.

At age *21*, he became a *Member* of *Parliament* (similar to a congressman).

Four years later he became a Christian and struggled with how to *best* *serve* his God:

·         Should be enter the *ministry* or stay in *politics*?

He sought the advice of one of the most *respected* *pastors* of his day, still well-known today: John Newton.

Q   How many of you have heard of him?

That’s John Newton, not Isaac Newton of apple fame.

Before I tell you what advice he gave young Wilberforce, I need to tell you *more* *about* *Newton*:

 

At a young age, he became a *merchant* *sailor* and had a reputation of living a life that made *other* *sailors* *blush*.

Before long, he became British *slave* *trader*.

On one of his voyages, his *ship* nearly *sank* in a fierce *storm*.

They *lost* most of its *food* and their ability to *navigate* and were literally within days of *cannibalism* when the reached land.

Before they reach land, he *finally* recognized *God’s* *hand* on his life and cried out to Him.

Newton left his *ungodly* *ways*, stopped *slave* *trading*, and became a *pastor* who was committed to *ending* *slavery*.

He also wrote a *hymn* that, in a way, told his story.

That hymn has become the world’s *most* *popular* song.

It has been recorded over *1,000* *times*.

Q   Can you guess the song?

Here’s a hint.

And so what advice do you think that John Newton, a former *slave* *trader* saved and *transformed* by God’s *amazing* *grace*, gave to this up and coming politician?

I want to show you the *trailer* for the movie.

It’s rated PG, for strong *thematic* *elements* and *mild* *language*.

But it promises to be an *inspiring* film about putting your *faith* into *action*.

[Clip: Trailer (2:30)]

 

 

*Saved by grace*

 

When John Newton wrote “that saved a *wretch* like me,” he was not being *humble*.

Slave traders are pretty *low* on the “*sinners*” *list*.

The Apostle Paul puts it *down* there with those who *kill* their *parents* (1 Timothy 1:10).

*Wretch* is a pretty *strong* term; but it doesn’t mean *worthless* – we all have been created by God and are very *valuable*.

·         To be *wretched* is to be *hopeless*, so far of the mark that you have no shot.

Q   What goes through *your* head when you sing “a wretch like me”?

 

Do you have an *honest* *recognition* of your state?

Do you think, “That’s me – I’m a *loser*, in *desperate* need of God’s grace.”

Or do you think, “That’s putting it a *little* *harsh*.”

·         I just replace “wretch like *me*” with “*Bruce*.”

If we’re honest with ourselves, most of think we *stack* up *pretty* *well* in the grand scheme of things.

I know that *I* feel that way; I *grew* up in the *church* and don’t even have a *descent* *testimony*.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance.

He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

– /Luke 18:9-14 NIV/  

 

We *cannot* *receive* God’s saving grace until we *repent* of our sins, then *honestly* and *humbly* admit our *wretched* *state* to Him.

 

·         Grace can only save a wretch like me.

Sorry, I still haven’t got it right.

Ken can you please fix that?]

 

·         Repeat that with me, but insert your own name.

*Not getting what We deserve*

 

*What* exactly is *grace*?

We use the word in so many ways: we say *grace* before *meals*, credit cards have a *grace* *period*, and my *daughter’s* *name* is Grace.

·         Speaking of Amazing Grace, did I tell you she read her first word this week?

It was the word “No.”

The grace Newton wrote about is God’s *saving* *grace*.

It’s *not* receiving the *punishment* we deserve for our *wretchedness*.

Let say you got pulled over for doing *70* down Burlington Blvd.

Not only that, but your *tabs* are *expired*, your *license* is *revoked*, there’s *no* *insurance* on the car, you’re not wearing a *seat* *belt*, and *swearing* at the officer and ask him why he isn’t guarding *Dunkin* *Donuts*.

·         If he let’s you off with a stern warning, *that* would be grace.

Grace is not getting what we deserve.

*Getting better than we deserve*

 

But grace is *more* than.

One theologian said it’s “*undeserved* blessing *freely* *bestowed* on man by God.”

It is the *incredible* kind*n*ess that He shows us, in ways both *great* and *small*.

Now say you’re a *server* at Red Robin and you’re having a *horrible* day; you’re *late* for work (which is *why* you were *speeding*), and then you *mess* some guy’s *order*, *spill* *water* over him, and *swear* at him again (it’s the cop).

·         Now imagine he gives you a $200 tip – that’s grace.

·         Grace is getting better than we deserve.

*Depths of grace*

 

Now back to John Newton: I love to hear the stories of *dramatic* *conversions*, the 180º changes.

I love them, but I *can’t* *relate*.

Most of us have more of a “*three* steps *forward*, *two* steps *back*” walk.

We *mean* well (most of the time), but our *actions* don’t quite match our *intentions*.

When I told you about Newton’s conversion experience, I left a *key* *piece* of information: From the time from when he became a *Christian* until when he *gave* up slave trading was *six* years.

·         It took *25* *more* years for him to speak out against slavery.

Perhaps what makes grace so amazing is its *depths*.

God is amazingly *patient* with *frail* and *failing* people, like John Newton, and like you and me.

*Risky move*

 

This is a *risky* move on God’s part.

Q   Do you know someone who has been “saved,” but never changed?

Q   Are *you* that someone?

God’s patience can be mistaken for *permission* to *sin*.

Paul addressed this in (you got it) Romans:

 

Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?

*By no means*!

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to *death*, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? /– Romans 6:15-16 NIV/

 

When we, as *genuine* believers, take grace as *permission* to continue sinning, it shows we don’t *understand* sin.

Sin is a *fatal* *disease*, not something to *get* *away* *with*.

·         Sin is what destroys *us*, destroys *others*, and our *relationship *with *God* – that’s why God wants us to be *free* from it.

The *sanctifying* power of the Holy Spirit that leads us *to* *holiness*, and *away* from *sin*, is a *gift* of grace, not *burden*.

·         Grace is freedom *from* sin, not freedom *to* sin.