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.
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Dearly loved people of God,
· This spring I read this psalm with Tom and Mary
· I drew a parallel between the earthquake the psalmist mentions and Tom’s illness
“God is . . .
an ever-present help in trouble.”
(Psalm 46:1, NIV)
o At the time, I didn’t know that Tom was a draeger man at Westray Mine where the earth literally did give way, killing Michael MacKay and 25 others in 1992.
o But this is the promise of God: He IS with us and WILL BE with us; “an ever-present help in trouble.”
· Despite how good it sounds, sometimes it gets uncomfortable to be aware of God’s closeness.
o God is big and holy
§ “He lifts his voice, the earth melts”
§ “He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.”
o God is ALL-MIGHTY.
He is also holy.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46:10, NIV)
o How can God, big and holy, come close to fragile people?
esp.
people who are less loving than we were created to be?
§ I caught myself this week doing and saying things that make me ashamed; esp.
with God as close as he says
§ You can judge your own situation, but for me
· I know I don’t love God fully;
· don’t fully love my neighbour as myself.
o In the past two days we’ve been sharing good memories of Tom.
There’s a lot about him we love.
§ But, much as we love him, not many would claim Tom was perfect, either.
§ How can God’s promise to be close to humankind be comforting to people like Tom, and me, and you?
o The comfort comes from God’s promise to be with us.
God in all his majesty and holiness stoops to be close to humankind.
§ Around Christmas, you’ll hear Jesus called Immanuel.
· It’s a Hebrew title
· Literally, “God with us”
· Jesus is God himself, he came to live with us, his creatures
§ God the Son came to be our refuge from accusation, judgement, and death
§ Jesus went to the cross to shield us from punishment.
§ Our punishment was placed on Jesus at the cross.
§ He rose again, demonstrating that our debt was paid.
o Because Jesus took our sin, God’s bigness and holiness is no longer frightening.
No bigger comfort than that Jesus – our refuge – is close by.
God is our ever-present help in trouble.
o Most people find death frightening.
Tom lived with knowledge of his death since his diagnosis.
So did you, Mary, and all the rest of us.
o Yet the promise we found in Ps 46, the promise that encouraged Tom this spring, is that God is with us
· That’s the only comfort I can offer you now that Tom has died.
God has called Tom home.
Now that Tom is with God, he sees his God and Saviour face-to-face.
o That’s great for Tom.
It’s hard for the rest of us; especially for Mary and those of you who were really close to Tom.
§ He bragged about you.
§ He loved playing pool with you and biking.
§ He loved it when you threw the big fundraising party this spring.
§ You’ll miss him.
Tom’s death leaves a hole.
o But in Jesus’ name, I assure you, in your grief, in those moments when Tom’s death hurts, God is with you.
God is our refuge and strength.
o Let this be your confession and hope:
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
(Psalm 46:11, NIV)
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