Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Her Epistle Reads of Christ

Theme: Rejoicing in What the Lord Has Done In and Through Bonnie K. Laughlin

Series: Pillars of the Church

The leadership and the members of CrossRoads Church strive to make the Word of God their guide in determining what the Lord would have them do in worshiping Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

(Ephesians 6:17) If a person does not make his choices or decisions based on the whole counsel of God's Word, then he will make decisions according the sinful nature, from a world's view or worse yet Satan's lies.

I would propose to you that when you honor faithful servants of the Lord who sacrificially exercise their Spiritual gifts and who are allowing the Lord to do a work in them, then you are honoring God who created that person, Christ who died for that person's redemption and the Holy Spirit who enables that person to achieve God's will for them.

The fact is there are servants of the Lord today who can say as the Apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

(Galatians 3:20) Bonnie K. Laughlin is a pillar of this church whose life expresses that truth.

What does God's Word say about Christians who have Spiritual gifts and who let Christ do a work in and through them?

Are we to honor them?

How is God glorified through them?

What does God's Word say about Christians who have Spiritual gifts and who let Christ do a work in and through them?

All are called to honor the servants of the Lord, whether they be public servants or Christians who exercise Spiritual gifts for the common good of the Body of Christ.

(1 Corinthians 12:7) Romans 13:7 says, “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

Romans 12:10 tells us, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.”

To “honor” (time) means to ascribe their worth to a person and/or give recognition of another’s worth.

(Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament) Honor is to be given by believers one to another instead of claiming it for self.”

(Vines Dictionary of the New Testament) Matthew Henry tells us that Romans 13:7, “sums up the duty which we owe not only to magistrates, but to all superiors, parents, masters, all that are over us in the Lord, according to the fifth commandment.”

The truth we are to grasp from Romans 12:10 is that we are to have a heart for giving honor rather than taking honor.

This is the attitude we are to have for those who exercise their Spiritual gifts sacrificially.

(Bible Exposition Commentary; Matthew Henry Commentary)

Even the secular world understands the value of recognizing those who serve others.

Corporations and small businesses have seen a tremendous increase in productivity and morale in the people who work for them when proper recognition is given for sacrificial service.

They have seen the destruction that comes when recognition for sacrificial service is replaced with reward for productivity.

Appreciation for sacrificial service builds up, rewards for productivity breed unhealthy competition thus replacing quality of service with quantity of production.

The Apostle Paul set the heart pulse for the Body of Christ in regard to how we should feel about the children of God

Once the Body of Christ understands the value of honoring one another they must have illumination from the source of their understanding.

The Apostle Paul set the heart pulse for the Body of Christ in regard to how we should feel about the children of God when he wrote, “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning, God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)

The Body of Christ enjoys the value of having other Christians around to serve them only because God in His mercy sent the Holy Spirit into sinners’ lives and called them to Christ.

It is the Lord, Jesus Christ, working through the Holy Spirit who molds repentant sinners into the image of Christ.

If you are not a born again Christian, please understand, Christians are sinners saved by grace, they are being transformed by the Holy Spirit more and more into the image of Christ.

(2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 1:5-9) It must be noted that Christians are under the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit of Christ.

They are not yet perfected.

The Apostle Paul used the word “sanctifying” (hagiamós) in reference not only to the activity of the Holy Spirit in setting man apart unto salvation and transferring him into the ranks of the redeemed, but also to his holiness.

(The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament; Zodhiates)

In Philippians 1:6 the Apostle Paul writes, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Please note the words “in you” and catch the truth that God will continue to do His work in and through the Body of Christ.

(The Bible Knowledge Commentary)

For this reason, at CrossRoads Church we point all who claim to know Christ to the exhortation found in 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The members of CrossRoads Church are very thankful to the Lord for sending His Holy Spirit into the life of Bonnie Laughlin to reveal her personal need of Christ and to enable her to express the Lord’s love to us.

Like the Apostle Paul, Bonnie beats her body and makes every effort to add to her character the exhortation of the Apostle Peter.

She is effective and very productive in what Christ calls her to do.

Bonnie’s knowledge of forgiveness found in Christ is expressed to others

Bonnie’s knowledge of forgiveness found in Christ is expressed to others.

Jesus said, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

(Matthew 6:14)

Before I came to Christ I lived a life that would have left a black mark on tar paper.

If there is any marriage that presented grounds for Biblical divorce it was ours, not because of Bonnie’s behavior, but because of the lifestyle I chose.

In my mess she allowed the Lord to express His forgiveness in and through her to me.

We have seen Bonnie show forgiveness to those who have falsely accused her and even to those who have said her brain cancer is caused by the bitterness she holds toward others.

The Lord’s forgiveness shown through Bonnie has brought the backslidden back into fellowship with the Body of Christ and enabled them to become an active part of this local church.

Instead of feeling defeated and unimportant, they have discovered the joy and trust that comes with accountability and servant-hood.

One person writes, “In and through Bonnie I have experienced the Lord’s forgiveness and enablement to seek Him whenever I slip into sin.

I no longer wait to run to the Lord for His forgiveness and empowerment to defeat sin which so often attacks me.

I run to Him quickly so I can find His embrace.

Through Bonnie I have come to enjoy the fresh clean start that comes from confessing to Christ and repenting of sin.

Through her life expressions I have in practical ways come to enjoy what is written in His Word, ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is [His] faithfulness.’”

(Lamentation 3:22-23) (Author wants no recognition)

Through Bonnie, Christ has shown the benefits of feeding upon the written Word of God

Through Bonnie, Christ has shown many His forgiveness as well as the benefits of feeding upon the written Word of God.

Jesus said, "…It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' (Matthew 4:4)

The Lord has brought the Word of God to life to Bonnie just like He did to the Psalmist who wrote, “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.

They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways.

You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!

Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.” (Psalm 119:1-8)

All who have sat in Bible studies with Bonnie have been blessed on many occasions with her input.

Often what she has taught has been confirmed by the whole counsel of God’s Word, by men and women who have withstood the trials of life and persecution of man and whose life outcome has proven that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and will be the same forever.

(Hebrews 13:7)

When working with World Wide Pictures of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Keith Rocks said, “Bonnie is a walking commentary, a person who has great knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.”

While attending the North American Conference for Evangelists, Bonnie’s suggestions on how to handle the media in dealing with touchy topics such as homosexuality, un-Biblical divorce and sex outside of marriage was held in high regard, because her response was birthed from the whole counsel of God’s Word.

Because of her knowledge of God’s Word, Bonnie has been used of the Lord to assist me in purchasing some of the highest quality Bible study material that can be purchased enabling us to be serious in our approach to the teaching of God’s Word.

After visiting our church’s website, Al Deagar of Media Spot Light said, “Very thorough.”

A Logos Bible Software Representative said, “Absolutely Wonderful.”

Pastor John Oldfield writes, “Boy, after reading your …list of study aides, I was nearly exhausted!

That is a monster library of resources!... …I’m proud of you.” (e-mail sent Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:10 P.M.)

Bonnie’s knowledge of God’s Word and her discerning spirit have made her the perfect Biblical helper (Genesis 2:20) (ezer), a corresponding helper who complements what her husband is called to do.

(The Complete Word Study of the Old Testament) Bonnie knows that to be a Biblical helper is not demeaning, but makes her a servant of the Lord to be God’s called helper to her husband.

(Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Her surrender to the Lord’s leading has helped me put together messages that are being used on SermonCentral.com.

These messages now have nearly 8,000 viewings with 90% of those responding saying that these messages are a help to them.

(SermonCentral Website May 25, 2008)

Bonnie, for this I would like to Biblically honor you, publically ascribe your worth and recognize that it was your joyful surrender to the Lord’s will for you that has enabled you to be a perfect helpmate to me.

I am most certainly a blessed man.

(Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament teaches us to “honor” (time) means to ascribe there worth to a person and/or give recognition of another’s worth.)

The Lord answered, “Yes” to Bonnie’s and her mother, Doris Stump’s prayers, and that is what has enabled me to receive a powerful thirst and hunger for the Word of God.

Bonnie’s Christ-likeness in prayer has upheld those needing God’s intervention

Bonnie’s feeding upon the Word of God has and is being a blessing to many.

Her Christ-likeness in prayer has upheld those needing God’s intervention.