Sermon Tone Analysis

I.

Where Wisdom Begins

Proverbs 1:1–7 (ESV)

The Beginning of Knowledge

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 

2  To know wisdom and instruction, 

to understand words of insight, 

3  to receive instruction in wise dealing, 

in righteousness, justice, and equity; 

4  to give prudence to the simple, 

knowledge and discretion to the youth— 

5  Let the wise hear and increase in learning, 

and the one who understands obtain guidance, 

6  to understand a proverb and a saying, 

the words of the wise and their riddles.

7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; 

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

II.

Pursuit of the Wrong Kind

James 3:13–18 (ESV)

Wisdom from Above

13 Who is wise and understanding among you?

By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

III.

God Gives Toward Right Pursuits

Matthew 6:25–34 (ESV)

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?

27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

28 And why are you anxious about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Mark 10:29–31 (ESV)

29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

1 Kings 3:3–14 (ESV)

3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.

4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place.

Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”