Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
How has your life unfolded?
How is it unfolding right now? Are you in or facing retirement reflecting on a life you tried to live well?
Are you facing hurts and problems you don't know if you can handle?
Whatever you're facing I wonder if the last line in the video might apply to you?
“The journey was always leading you to Jesus.”
I want to propose today that the greatest joy of Christmas may be the wonder of knowing that the road of your life intersects a savior who was born for you.
A savior who cares for and about you.
He's worthy of being pursued and everything we have to offer him.
That's really what the wise men were chasing after when they travelled miles and spent a wealth of resources following a star in the night to find a saviour born in a stall.
I wonder what emotions they were overwhelmed with when they finally found the baby.
Let's read their account, their story in Matthew's gospel.
Think about what it would have been like for those wise men traveling home excited about what and who they had seen.
Excited about the experience they had went through.
They probably shared their experience with anyone who would listen.
They had set out on a long journey with a great purpose and accomplished it.
The wise men had stories to tell
you know, in a far greater sense Jesus came to earth with a purpose he did so with you on his mind.
Part of what you were created for was to experience a relationship with God and that's part of the reason that Jesus came to earth.
We celebrate Jesus this year or rather this time of year.
Like the wise men setting out on their journey to find Jesus, Jesus came to earth with a purpose—You!
Perhaps what God calls you to do today is to pause for a moment and think about the reality that God wants to connect with you and to know you.
He wants you to know him deeply.
Are you willing and able to walk and talk with God?
Perhaps some of you have experienced times in your life when you've taken a detour.
Perhaps you have friends and family who have taken detours away from their faith in God.
I love how God uses moments in our life like he used a star to guide the wise man.
God uses moments in our life (And people) to guide us to Him.
But don't be intimidated by Paul's credentials …there is a very real sense where each and everyone of us are meant to be like stars pointing people towards Jesus.
—Paul pointed people to Jesus.
—We can point people to Jesus.
Let’s take a look at one time Paul pointed people to Jesus
Customary at that time for leader of synagogue to ask visitors to speak.
How would you like that here?
:)
Paul takes this opportunity to show them how God has been leading them to Jesus.
Paul shows how God lead the people of Israel to him.
"Paul is setting up a system of signposts, from David a thousand years to John a mere 15 or 20 years earlier.”
-NT Wright.
Israel’s history pointed to Jesus.
In the same way the star pointed the wise men to Jesus.
In the same way our lives ups and downs can point people to Jesus.
God is working through History to point people to Jesus.
Notice this verse.
God chose their ancestors to be a spotlight pointing to Jesus.
God chose the kings of the OT to be pointing to Jesus.
God choose the judges in the bible to be pointing to Jesus.
God wants us to be pointing to Jesus.
In the story of Jewish history
The people wanted a king
God chose Saul to point the people forward to His Messiah.
Saul chose selfish glory over God honoring obedience so God removed and replaced him with David.
David was by no means perfect But he was available to be used by God and he relentlessly turned back to God.
You can be part of God’s history by in a sense being like David.
Be relentless in turning back to God and be willing to be used by God.
See what Paul said about david
David was faithful and so God used David to point people to Jesus.
The ultimate gift of God that Paul is pointing to is found later in this passage.
Paul used a historical way of painting signposts pointing to Jesus
Because He understood his audience.
He showed them how history pointed to a reality in their day.
And in ours.
The Jewish people wanted to know.
Is it true?
they had a huge knowledge of history and wanted paul to prove wheter it was true Jesus was the messiah.
Perhaps though, the question more people ask today is, does it work?
Does Jeuss work in your life?
Does following JEsus make a difference for you?
Does following Jesus make youre life work more joyfully and more fulfilled.
Does it work?
That’s why people read reviews before they buy something.
My cell phone repair company lives and dies based on reviews.
People want to hear from other normal people whether I actually do a good job.
People want to see in our lives whether our faith really works.
People want to see in our lives whether Jesus gives us joy.
Story of ER visit.
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