Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

So, Jenny and I bought a house several years ago that we love.

The house was built in the forties and is the pier and beam variety.

When we first moved in we noticed some slopes in the floor, we thought it gave the house some character.

Over time, we have seen character turn into problems.

See our crawlspace is too humid and is causing the wood to bow.

We have plans to get it taken care of in the near future, but if we did not, it would progressively get worse.

Jesus finishes this Sermon with a tale of two houses.

We have seen in this last part of the sermon a change from teachings that were teaching us to value relationships.

Your relationship with God one based on love and communication.

One where we seek Him and His will for our life.

Where we seek to be obedient to His word.

It also deals with your relationship with others.

Be salt and light to those around, seek peace and love, be salt and light.

Honor your marriage commitments, don’t seek revenge, be kind and not judgey.

Follow the golden rule.

We have seen how these teachings culminate in Matthew 22.

All of these teachings are followed by warnings as Jesus finishes the sermon.

Seek to enter the small gate and the narrow road.

Here you will find salvation.

Be on your guard for false prophets.

You will recognize them by their fruit or lack of it.

Be true disciples who follow the will of God.

This is accomplished by seeking first the kingdom.

Now, Jesus has one last warning for us.

So, let’s work on some community interpretation.

When Jesus says hear in 24, hears these words of mine, what is he referring to?

Remember context.

The context would indicate the word here in the sermon.

Does this mean only these word?

No, it can be expanded to mean all His teachings, but the context deals with what he has taught in this sermon.

Let’s interpret further, Jesus lays out two choices before his hearers.

What are those two choices?

Choose to put Jesus words into practice or choose to ignore them.

Let’s take this a step further.

What are the consequences for each choice?

You will live a life that can stand up to the storms of life or a life that will fall apart when ever a storm arises.

Now, let’s be clear… Verse 21-23, Jesus is talking about the second coming.

He is talking about judgment day.

He makes it clear that if you do not do the will of God, if you are not obedient, then you will not see heaven.

But he ends the sermon in 24-27, pointing not to judgment day, but to the hear and now.

What will you do with your time on earth?

Will you put these words into practice or will you do the things that you choose are best for you?

Hyperlink back to the choice Joshua put before the Israelites as they entered the promised land.

I mentioned this the other week and I want us to spend a few minutes trying to clarify it through scripture.

God is a God of choice.

He wants us to choose to follow Him and he wants to give us the opportunity to choose Him.

Some believe that God has predestined everyone already, that no matter what you do he has already decided whether you will go to heaven or hell.

But this stands in direct contradiction to scripture.

Jesus himself says in John 3:16-18

Seem Romans makes it clear

Those who believe in predestination might point you to Romans 9, beginning in verse 15

The problem is this is a misunderstanding of Paul’s argument.

If only looking at these few verses, you might be able to say, God has already chosen all who will enter his rest, but when we place it in the context of the book and the argument he is making at this time, we see a different picture unfold.

We realize as we look at the context, we realize that Paul is talking about the Jews here in nine as a people, not individuals.

If we take 9-11 as a whole section, we see the nine talks about Israel’s past, 10 the time of Paul’s writing, and 11 as their future.

We see nine talks about God’s election in regards to Jews, so even if you wanted to assume predestination, it would not be for Christians, but for all Jews.

At the conclusion of this section in chapter 11, verse 32, Paul then tells us:

Paul’s argument goes back to chapter 3, all have sinned and fallen short.

Why?

So that he may have mercy on them all.

Jesus finishes His sermon with a tale of two houses in which he concludes that we must make a choice.

To build our house on the rock, which is Jesus, or on the sand, which is our own wisdom.

Jesus wants us to see that we have been given the freedom to live our lives for Him or against Him, but his desire is for us all to be saved.

Is that backed up through the rest of the scripture?

Yes.

Ever since God gave choice to Adam and Eve, God wants us to choose Him.

Questions to consider.

Why does Jesus place such an emphasis in the sermon on relationships?

What words of Jesus throughout this sermon have you had a hard time following in your life?

What words of Jesus throughout this sermon have you had an easy time following in your life?

Why might one find comfort in believing that their fate is already decided?

Why would one find discomfort in believing their fate is already decided?