Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro; Every 3-6 months I hand out a Self-Evaluation Form for Church Leadership to my deacons.

I do not ask them to fill it out and return it, but to sincerely consider the questions.

This statement is at the bottom of the page.

As you honestly consider these questions, I pray you reflect upon your answers and make the proper adjustments in your life to honor God and the call He has placed you in.

I encourage you to continue to advance in the areas that you are strong in and faithfully determine with the Holy Spirits help to correct the areas that are lacking in your walk.

A‌fter preaching this morning on “Connected By Unity”, and realizing that unity is not sameness but sharing a common vision and goal, it dawned on me that the Self Evaluation for Church Leadership is part of the goal of “Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”, and that applies to all of us.

So tonight I want us all to do a “Self Evaluation of our Walk.”

Text: 2 Cor.

13:5

1. Am I confident of my faith in salvation in the LORD Jesus Christ?

[1 John 5:11-13, John 3:16, Rom.

5:8, 2 Cor.

5:21]

No one can have the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and not personally know the God of peace.

Don’t be religious, be redeemed!

2. Am I faithful to the LORD above all others, even my family and worldly possessions?

[Mt.

10:37-39, Luke 9:23-26]

Matthew 10:37–39 (NKJV)

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.

And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Jesus doesn’t want anyone to hate their family, nor the things He gives them in this world for their benefit.

What Jesus is saying here is that too often family can get in the way of what Jesus has called us to.

Your cross has to do with your public identification with Jesus.

To bear your cross is to endure hardship because you’re a visible and verbal follower of Jesus.

Often that hardship comes from family.

3. Am I growing in my walk with the LORD through personal Bible study and prayer?

[2 Tim.

2:15, 2 Pet.

1:1-14]

The more we spend time in the Word of God, the more the God of the Word gets into us.

It is a must as believers that we actually know what we believe.

Too often christians do not have the ability to defend the faith because we don’t know.

4. Am I a giving my time and tithes to the LORD as He has blessed me and commands?

[2 Cor.

9:6-7, 1 Cor.

16:1-2]

Though this context is in the giving of monetary gifts, it is applicable to our time as well.

If it is a task to give your time it will also be a task to give your finances.

But if it is a joy to give your finances it will be a greater joy to give your time.

[Romans 12] is all about becoming a living sacrifice to God.

If you go and read that chapter you will find out it covers our time, talents, and tithes according to the grace of God we each have recieved!

5. Am I truly a good example to others in the role of leadership I have been called to serve in?

[1 Tim.

3:1-13]

The noted scripture is the part of the biblical text for the qualifications of a pastor, elders and deacons.

There is a long list of qualities that should be found in these men who serve in these leadership capacities.

But there is one sentence that covers all Christians and that’s what I want you to see.

Every believer should desire a good work.

Remember that good works are not just what we do, but the attitude of which we do them.

Jesus came to serve and He is our example of how we should serve God and others.

So, if Jesus is all about serving, and God wants to make us like Him, then it’s pretty obvious that we should be all about serving as well.

Are you serving with an attitude of joy and thanksgiving that God chose to save us and then use us in His kingdom just like Paul did?

Close;

Is it your/my goal to please Him? Then we should be living a life that will persuade others!