Sermon Tone Analysis

Two things at work here:

After David had served his generation (TIMELY)

According to the will of God (TIMELESS)

Time and eternity working together.

This generation has to have a life-altering experience with God!

Religion won’t do!

Church as usual won’t do!

Tradition won’t do!

It may have satisfied people even a few years ago, but it will not work today.

Church realities of 2023

Since COVID, we are no longer a Christian nation

Church attendance (2 times/month) = 28% in 2021

57% of Americans seldom or never attend church

25% of church goes have quite since COVID

10% of weekly bible readers stopped coming since COVID

In 2019, 36% of 18-34 year olds attend church 1-2 times/month - that has now fallen to 26%

Black Americans church attendance (most likely demographic to attend church in US) has sunk from 45% from 1-2 Sundays a month to 30%

27% of White Americas attend church 1-2 times a month

31% of Hispanic Americans

8% of churches in America report growth

So, if there ever was a time for us to “get out of our comfort zone” it is NOW!

If only 28% of America attends church 1-2 times a month then that means 72% of Americans are wide open and in need of God!

WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACH THEM!

The edge is where the difference is made…

The greatest danger is always at the edge

(where the church meets the culture).

But so is the greatest opportunity for rescue and redemption.

The New Testament church always lived “on the edge” – never safe, just one step from disaster if God didn’t intervene!

Jude felt the tension:

The problem with living on the edge is that some people try to push you over

...and other people try to pull you back.

It’s dangerous on the edge – people actually fall off the edge from time to time!

But there is absolutely no chance for the church to impact our culture unless we get on the edge!

Almost all of the growth in any church comes from the edge

The trend is for Christians to disconnect from unsaved people the longer they are around church.

That’s not the way Jesus – the friend of sinners – did it.

That’s not the way Paul – all things to all men – did it.

They were not isolationists!

They engaged their culture!

Missionary C.T. Studd said, “Some want to live within the sound of

Church bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.

That’s the spirit of Jude, of Paul, of Jesus, of the New Testament church!

Many Apostolic people have gotten too comfortable with the status quo...

Church has become a comfortable place, a place that is always

the same.

The same friends,

The same events

The same songs

The same sermons

The same faces

The same size

The same methods

And the same results!

That mentality is an affront to God, who called us to impact our culture with the life-changing gospel.

The fortress mindset, the bunker mentality will not work today!

To grow, have revival, and do the will of God, our local churches may occasionally have to change their METHODS.

However, you can be assured that we will never change our MESSAGE.

To change a method doesn't mean eliminating the old, but incorporating the old within the new.

Notice that Israel did two contrasting things when they left Egypt:

Moses took with him the bones of Joseph (Exodus 13:19).

Those bones were the symbol of the Hebrews' history...

But Israel also plundered the Egyptians (Exodus 3:21) when they left – they used the inventions of the Egyptians to do the will of God in their own nation.

We need to do what Ezekiel did (Ezekiel 37) – we need to make those old bones live!

Use every bit of modern technology and method, but keep ourselves tied to our heritage, making it come alive!

I may use the technology of a new generation, but I have the “bones” of the pioneers in me!

I want to make those bones live in my generation!

AND WITH THAT DIFFICULT BALANCE FIRMLY IN MIND

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

We do “praise” better than any generation has ever done it (IMHO!).

Praise styles change from generation to generation – I know that!

But worship is not a style H because worship is stronger than praise!

PRAISE is an expression of approval or admiration, of gratitude and devotion for blessings received.

Praise of God is the acknowledging of His perfections, works, and benefits.

WORSHIP is the act of paying honor to a deity, and the Hebrew and Greek words reflect the meanings “to bow down, to prostrate oneself before another, to fall down in adoration or honor, to kneel before someone, to offer something or serve someone.

I know we sometimes use the words interchangeably.

I know both praise and worship are powerful H but worship is stronger than praise!

Praise says, “Thank you God, for what you’ve done for ME!”

2 Chronicles 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

2 Chronicles 5:13 And when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

Psalm 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

Psalm 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.

Psalm 107:8,15,21,31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.

Praise ye the LORD.

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

PRAISE WILL BE DIFFERENT IN EVERY GENERATION, BUT EVERY GENERATION MUST LEARN TO PRAISE THE LORD!

Psalm 145:4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and

shall declare thy mighty acts.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy

nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him

who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

IF WE DON’T PRAISE THE LORD, WE’RE GOING TO PRAISE

SOMETHING ELSE A AND IF WE DON’T PRAISE THE LORD,

SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO PRAISE HIM!

Luke 19:39-40 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude

said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.