Sermon Tone Analysis

As I get started this morning, I want to speak to those who watch online.

First, I am extremely thankful to our media booth volunteers — led by Patty Sills, Dave Davenport and Christine Huber work really hard — they deserve an applause of appreciation.

Please understand, they have an extremely complex and difficult job.

They are controlling a 32 channel, 16 bus digital sound board that not only ports sound to the sanctuary, but also to 6 different mixes on the platform, 2 different sets of hearing assistance headphones, AND to the computer to be sent through to video software to be then sent online.

That’s just sound.

Friday night I was running the Media Booth for the first part of the service where we showed the Chosen Christmas concert & drama.

I wanted the volume to be higher and so I turned the channel for the computer up higher and higher with what seemed like little effect.

Several minutes into the concert I figured out the problem — one button was in the wrong position.

I was turning up volume for the worship team speakers — NOT the main speakers.

That’s how complex running sound is.

One button!

But these wonderful volunteers do more than adjust sound.

They also control lighting (which is very complex in and of itself), the slides you see on the screen, the camera through which you see the service and they also monitor the multiple security cameras for our facility to keep us all safe.

They have to adjust a few different software applications to get the audio and video online.

They not only control the slides, but Patty, Christine and I also have the challenging job of creating visual content every week.

There is a lot going on in that media booth!

It isn’t easy!

They have an extremely complex job made more difficult by constantly changing software AND software that can be “buggy” at times.

Sometimes we have technical problems — like not having sound during the sermon last week.

Please don’t give up on us.

If you want to see us continue to live stream, then pray for us — that the equipment will work and that our volunteers will be able to handle the challenges they face.

Thank you again Media Booth volunteers.

Shining Lights in A Dark World

This morning I would like to challenge us as we face the possibility of a new year.

I say possibility because none of us are guaranteed our next heartbeat or our next breath of air.

I say possibility because Jesus could come at any moment — in fact it will be a moment when the world least expects Him — a moment like we are living in right now.

The world isn’t looking for and doesn’t expect Jesus to return.

In light of the possibility of a new year, I challenge us to be as we sang a few minutes ago, FEARLESS because we are continually walking in His Presence.

Fearless because we sense He is all around us.

Fearless because as God told the Apostle Paul in:

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NASB95) … “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

[In response Paul says] Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Fearless because we know what ...

The challenge is to just to be fearless in existing, but fearless while doing.

While being light in a dark, crooked and perverse world.

Let’s look our text this morning:

Text: Philippians 2:14-18

The Mission

I believe the Apostle Paul’s challenge is just as valid today as when he spoke it to the Philippian church almost 2000 years ago.

Jesus Himself called us to be Light Bearers:

He called us to be light even though a world apart from relationship with Jesus is hostile to the Light:

A lost world hates the Light.

It spits on the Light — and all those who shine it.

But their hostility does not negate Jesus’ call on our lives.

Because at the same time the vast majority hate the light, there are some who are drawn to the light.

They are hungry for the light.

Let us hear their cry and live lives that MAGNIFY the Light of Jesus shining in our lives.

Too often we live lives that diminish or dim the light of Jesus burning in our lives.

We are like houses with dirty windows covered with shades and curtains barely allowing any light to escape.

In our text, the Apostle Paul is telling us to remove all hindrances to the light — to in fact, magnify the light like lighthouses of old.

One of the things Sandra and I enjoy doing is visiting lighthouses.

We have toured lighthouses in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York.

One of the things you see in lighthouses is a device that takes the light of an oil lamp, or now an electric light source and magnifies it.

The device is called a Fresnel Lens.

According to the National Park Service:

The Fresnel lens (pronounced "Frey Nel"), as it came to be known, represented a monumental step forward in lighthouse lighting technology, and therefore also in maritime safety.

In a Fresnel lens, hundreds of pieces of specially cut glass surround a lamp bulb.

This design intensifies the glow from the light, focusing rays of light that would normally scatter into a single, intense beam of light, which shines out in a specific direction.

The lens could produce an unlimited number of flashing combinations and intensified the light so it could be seen at greater distances, allowing mariners a greater deal of safety in their navigations near shore.

The job of a lighthouse keeper among other things, was to:

Keep the light burning bright.

To vigorously clean the windows and lens.

To wind the mechanism that turns the lens so that the light is seen in ever direction.

Folks there are people out there on the sea of life.

They are floundering in the waves of sin.

They are headed for the rocks of shipwreck and destruction.

Their only hope is for us to shine our lights so they can navigate to the safety of salvation in Jesus.

That’s our mission — to shine the light of God.

The Methods

How do we do that?

How do we accomplish this impossible mission?

In the coming weeks I want us to dig into the Word to understand the methods God gives us for spreading the Light of Jesus.

The methods that are given in this passage.

If we will use these methods we will transmit the Light without dimming or diminishing it at all.

We will shine the Light so that people will not see us, but as Jesus said, they will see the Father.

They will glorify Him.

They will be drawn to the light of His love.

The Light of His grace.

the Light of His salvation.

The Light of eternal life.

What are these methods?

Vs.14 - doing ALL things (YES, ALL things!

Even the hard things, the distasteful things, the unseen, unappreciated things) without grumbling or disputing

This is such a tall order that, starting next Sunday we will be fasting and crying out to God for a week for Him to help us!

I mean, come on, man, grumbling and arguing is the American way!

But it’s NOT the Bible way — may the Holy Spirit help us!

Vs. 15 - being blameless and innocent children of God who are above reproach

Vs. 16 - holding fast the Word of Life

And, finally in Vs.18 - shining the light while rejoicing and sharing that joy with others.

Are You Willing?

So the question this morning is not:

Does the world need light?

Of course it does!

The question is not CAN we BE light in a dark world?

The question is: Will we CHOOSE to shine the light of Jesus?

Are we willing?

Will we choose to sustain and shine the light of Jesus in the hostile conditions of crookedness and perverseness?

And the answer to that question is: Yes we can and we will — through the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

And really, THAT is what we will be fasting and praying for: a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit — for a revival in the church that will transform us into Harvesters for Jesus.

At the end of February we will have Evangelist Bill Juoni and his wife Beth with us.