Sermon Tone Analysis

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This is week 5 of our series entitled, “Trusting the Word of God”, where we have & will continue to explore how the Bible came to be and why it’s trustworthy.

Today we dig in deeper as we discover another important rule that will help us READ the Scriptures RIGHT.

Last week we ended with the story of a terrible mother throwing her own 4 month son in a trash can.

Then, we heard the rest of the story.

how this brave woman fought off a pit bull terrier attacked in her in her own garage, which is WHY she put her baby in a garbage can for protection.

When the 80 pound dog continued to go after the baby knocking over the trash can, the mother fought it off and received 50 staples plus countless stitches.

The baby was unharmed, but covered in blood - his mother’s blood.

Within minutes, my mind was changed, this lady went from an unfit mother deserving to be locked up to MOTHER OF THE YEAR deserving to be lifted up in high honor!

POLAR BEAR ‘ATTACK’

I heard another story about a tragic & brutal mauling of a man in Canada by a polar bear.

And I have to warn you before I show you the pictures.

If you are squeamish you might need to turn your head.

Are you ready?

PIC OF POLAR BEAR

This is another example of why would should....

RULE #1: Never read a Bible verse.

When you only hear a PIECE of the story, you might not get the POINT of the story.

Context is the KEY to understanding what the text means.

So, we should read everything surrounding the verse, not just the verse.

Otherwise, people can manipulate and mangle what the Scriptures mean - bending the Bible to their beliefs rather than bending their beliefs to fit the Bible.

Further, we were reminded that we shouldn’t ask “What does this verse mean TO ME?” Instead, we should ask, “What does this verse MEAN and how do I APPLY this to MY LIFE?”.

Last week our FEET2FAITH challenge was to ponder these passages & answer these questions:

John 3:16: Who had Jesus just been talking to and what was it about?

Jer.

29:11: Who is being written to and how was God specifically going to prosper those people [read chapter]?

Phil 4:13: Often quoted, but what is the surrounding passage about?

Matt.

18:20 says “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

What is that passage all about?

We will address one of those in a moment.

RULE #2: Author & Audience before Application.

Dr. Wayne Stacey

“I try never to forget that the Bible was the word of God to somebody else before it was the word of God to me.”

We must remember that the Scriptures weren’t written TO US, but the Scriptures were written FOR US.

Cultural Differences: The original author & audience spoke a different language and lived on a different continent over 2000 years ago.

We must place ourselves in THEIR context instead of transporting them to OUR CONTEXT.

Literary Differences: “I read the Bible like we do the sports page - trying to understand the intent of the author.”

Is it POETRY, HISTORY, or METAPHOR?

We read POETRY in a different way then we read HISTORY, and what about METAPHORS?

We don’t take metaphors in a wooden literal way, but try to understand what the metaphor means.

“Cowboys Scalp the Redskins.”

Would we expect to see the tops of heads littering the field?

“It’s raining cats & dogs.”

But what about the Chinese person just learning English?

“I have butterflies in my stomach” It would be silly to ask - how BIG were they?

What COLOR are they?

UNLESS…you are a master of Dad jokes!

Now I know what some of you might be thinking: I just want to sit down and read my Bible and hear from God.

GOOD!

But we still have to do our best understand the context to understand what it really means.

Last week asked you to read Jer.

29:11 and then answer this question: Who is being written to and what does verse 10 say?

Let’s look at verse 29 first…and then practice RULE #1 & 2: Never Read A Bible Verse & Author and Audience before Application.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Many of us are quick to point to Jer 29:11 as a “life verse”.

Why?

Because we LIKE it!

We have read it in “The Bible Promise Book”, memorized it, stitched it on pillows, and quoted it to others when they go through tough times.

But, let’s back up the truck and look at verse 10.

Jeremiah 29:10 (NIV)

This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.

Hmmmm…Why don’t we quote, memorize, stitch, and point others to THAT verse?

Here’s why: We DON’T LIKE IT.

After all, anyone who is older than about 10 probably isn’t going to make it back after all that time.

So, after 70 years, WHO is going to be taken from Babylon and WHERE are they going to be taken?

That leads us to ask this question about the audience: Who is YOU?

Jeremiah 29:1 (NIV)

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

So, WHO is the author?

Jeremiah

WHO is the audience?

Jews exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon.

So, anytime we see YOU in this passage, we understand that YOU is referring NOT TO AN INDIVIDUAL, but to a GROUP OF JEWISH PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE TO BABYLON.

You (the audience I am speaking to right now)…YOU get that right?

We must first ask, who is the Author and WHO is the Audience - Who is YOU?

Paul writes Timothy and says:

2 Timothy 4:13 (NIV)

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

Who is YOU?

It’s Timothy.

Of course this makes sense, because we wouldn’t take YOU to mean us, otherwise we have to travel 2000 years back in time and attempt to get Paul his cloak & scrolls.

WHERE did they come from and where is God promising to return them (based on v 10)?

Back to Jerusalem.

Skipping down to v 4 for the sake of time, here’s the rest of it.

I have PURPOSELY left out the verse numbers so that you can read it without interruption.

As we read it, answer this question: “Who is YOU?”

Jeremiah 29:4–7 (NIV)

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters.

Increase in number there; do not decrease.

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.

Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 29:8-9 (NIV)

Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you.

Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.

They are prophesying lies to you in my name.

I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:10-11 (NIV)