Sermon Tone Analysis

In Their Place

IN THEIR PLACE

To what lengths will we go to offer the gospel to someone else? Paul consistently loved the Jews.

They are one group that still needs to hear the gospel.

But there are others, too.

Sometimes the barriers to overcome are racial, linguistic, or cultural.

Other times the distance is nothing more than social or geographical.

Our lack of compassion is directly addressed in Scripture: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar.

For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20 NIV).

One of our persistent prayers needs to be for more love.

The Infallible Word

THE INFALLIBLE WORD

As long as there have been Scriptures, there have also been those unwilling to submit to the Scriptures’ authority.

Many treat the Bible as an old book, a leatherbound relic to display and keep dusted.

Others turn to it only in times of crisis or in church.

But even studying the Bible and knowing it well doesn’t guarantee a right relationship with God.

Obedience proves whether or not a person considers the Bible to be, in fact, God’s Word.

So people who do not read, study, understand, and obey God’s Word may doubt its power.

But God’s Word never fails, even though some doubt it.

If you want to see God’s Word succeed in your life, if you want to experience God’s power, treat the Bible as though it is what it claims to be, the infallible Word from almighty God—read it, study it, understand its principles for living, and apply those truths to your life.

In short, do what the Bible says—LIVE it.

Good Intentions

Making Glory Known

Romans (God’s Sovereignty / 9:1-29)

MAKING GLORY KNOWN

o what lengths will our sovereign God go to make his glory known?

We may assume that God will show his anger before his mercy.

Consequently, when unexpected hardships come, we may think that God is punishing us for something.

We find it difficult to believe that God would allow us to experience pain in order that we might grow in our understanding of his mercy and himself.That was certainly the disciples’ problem in John 9.

They assumed that the man born blind was suffering the consequences of some sin that he or his parents had committed.

Jesus surprised them with the true explanation: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, … but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3 NIV).

Jesus used a healing touch to demonstrate the mercy of God.

When you are experiencing difficulties, remember that your response to your problems and God’s work in your life can glorify God.