Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Where I found truth, there found I my God, who is the truth itself.

Augustine

Truth renews the mind.

Indeed, the truth which would affect the heart, which moves the heart, which changes the heart, must first enter through the vestibule of the mind if it would enter the sanctuary of the heart.

The intention of truth preached is to affect the emotions and the will and the heart and the whole of our humanity…and thus preaching must come first through the mind.

It makes its appeal through the mind; it enters through the mind – but it doesn’t simply stop with the mind.

Feed My Sheep, ed.

Don Kistler, Soli Deo Gloria Ministries, 2002, p. 168-169.

John Armstrong

Truth.

Truth is our hope.

Our anchor in lament.

Forcing our minds and hearts to dwell upon the revealed truth of God, His promises, and His Word is the source of hope that leads us to choosing truth in the dark shadows of our suffering.

This is the second lesson we can learn from lament…the need to rehearse truth, renew our mind upon truth in our lamenting.

Series Outline

Big Idea: “Lament allows you to hear the lessons God intends to teach you through pain.”

A Broken World and a Holy God

Hope Springs from Truth Rehearsed

Unearthing Idols

A Road Map to Grace

Sermon Outline

Big Idea: “Lament allows you to hear the lessons God intends to teach you through pain.”

Hope Springs from Truth Rehearsed

Lamentations 3: Pointing the heart to Truth

Two Different Perspectives in the Same Chapter

Dare to Hope

Hope Springs from Truth Rehearsed

Sermon Body

Hope Springs from Truth Rehearsed

Lam 3.

This chapter has opposing viewpoints.

It moves from one end of the spectrum, hopelessness, to the opposite end of being filled with hope.

And in the examination of this, we find the second thing that lament can teach us.

We must be a people who love the truth, know the truth, rehearse the truth, and renew our minds upon the truth.

There are times when life will seem hopeless and when despair threatens to step in.

In those times, the challenge of Timothy Keller should be our battle cry….

We may hear our hearts say, “It’s hopeless!”

but we should argue back.

Timothy Keller

I am living here.

In this tension.

Even as I prepared this sermon, God challenged me that I was not rehearsing truth enough; that I was not renewing my mind on truth enough.

Even as I speak this morning, I do not want to hear myself speak it.

Because it means a battle; a battle with myself.

It is easier at times to let the emotion have its day.

It is easier at times to let the exhaustion of weariness settle in.

It is easier to give up.

It takes work to fight, to rehearse truth.

But when we fight the fight, when we wage the war, when the Spirit of God quickens within our hearts and we answer the battle God of God, who is our banner, there is infinitely more hope and joy in truth rehearsed, in a mind renewed.

So fight with me, will you?

This is what is happening the key, pivotal verses in this chapter.

This arguing back is exactly what we see happening in Lamentations 3.

Lam 3:22-23 is the key focal point of this passage.

These great arsenal verses.

But do you note the context around it?

Verses 1-18 is filled with despair and hopelessness.

Verse 19-21 marks the transition...

and then you have Lam 3:22-23.

Despite the dark and bleak picture that Jeremiah sees, HE RENEWS HIS MIND WITH TRUTH.

“This I call to mind…and therefore I hope.”

Pastor Mark notes....

A pastel-colored cottage by a stream is not the scene of the third chapter of Lamentations.

On the contrary, Jeremiah writes “his mercies are new every morning” over a dark and tragic landscape.

Instead of an English cottage, the city of Jerusalem lay in ruins.

Think Indonesia after a tsunami, not a cabin in the Smokies.

Bright skies are replaced with looming dark clouds.

Quaint gardens are exchanged for streets of suffering.

Instead of a peaceful scene, it’s a war zone.

Yet, as Jeremiah laments this destruction, he still says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.”

What Jeremiah does in a frighteningly disturbing situation is turn his heart back hope, to truth.

Lamentations 3: Pointing the Heart to Truth

Jeremiah purposefully focuses his mind and heart on truth.

In this world, we will have a never ending list of reasons to mourn, lament, grow weary, and become discouraged.

I have been there MANY times in the past 5 months particularly.

Shoot, I have been there in the past week.

The trick is, forcing our minds to truth.

Phil 4:8-9.

Romans 12:2.

In our moments of despair, this is often the last thing that we want to do.

But it should be the first thing we do.

In our moments of despair, in moments of suffering, we need to remind ourselves of God goodness and his sovereignty.

Jeremiah doesn’t merely lament his pain and disappointment.

He uses his song of sorrow to point his heart toward what he knows to be true despite what he sees.

In effect, he says, “Even in the leveling of Jerusalem, God is still in control.

Despite the destruction of Judah, his mercies never come to an end.

God’s faithfulness is still great.”

Mark Vroegop

When we do this, when we point our heart to truth, God uses it produce growth in us.

This is where biblical lament is transformative.

It not only gives voice to the pain you feel but also anchors your heart to truths you believe—or are trying to believe when dark clouds linger.

Mark Vroegop

The duality of perspectives in this chapter, makes the truth of Lam 3:22-23 all the more poignant.

Two Different Perspectives in the Same Chapter

Lam 3:18.

If you stopped reading here, or if the chapter stopped here, it would appear to be the most disheartening of chapters.

It’s over.

There is no hope.

We are done.

Truth is, all of us can probably relate to this sentiment at some point in our lives.