Sermon Tone Analysis

February 22, 1980, the members of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team had their lives changed forever, as they skated to victory in the event that is etched in our collective memory as the "Miracle on Ice".

It was a defining moment for the members of the U.S. Hockey Team, a defining moment for the U.S. Hockey program, and a defining moment for the people that watched the epic victory.

February 22, 1980, the members of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team had their lives changed forever, as they skated to victory in the event that is etched in our collective memory as the "Miracle on Ice".

It was a defining moment for the members of the U.S. Hockey Team, a defining moment for the U.S. Hockey program, and a defining moment for the people that watched the epic victory.

On July 30th, 1967 Joni Eareckson Tada dove into shallow water in the Chesapeake Bay.

She fractured her vertebrae and became a quadriplegic.

That was just one defining the moment in her life.

On July 20th, 1969, Niel Armstrong stepped on the moon, and spoke the famous words, "One small step for Man, one giant leap for mankind."

That was his defining moment.

He will forever be known as the man who first walked on the moon.

It was also a defining moment for our country and countless numbers of young men and women who watched that historic event.

February 22, 1980, the members of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team had their lives changed forever, as they skated to victory in the event that is etched in our collective memory as the "Miracle on Ice".

It was a defining moment for the members of the U.S. Hockey Team, a defining moment for the U.S. Hockey program, and a defining moment for the people that watched the epic victory.

On July 30th, 1967 Joni Eareckson Tada dove into shallow water in the Chesapeake Bay.

She fractured her vertebrae and became a quadriplegic.

That was just one defining the moment in her life.

Defining moments can be gloriously victorious, or horribly tragic.

We may witness them, or they may happen to us, but usually one way or another we all have one or two moments in our lives that are so significant, so monumental, that we cannot help but be the same after.

For a drug addict, or an alcoholic, that moment may occur in a jail cell, as they finally reach their bottom, and this time they clean up for good.

For the pornography addict, it may occur, when their spouse uncovers their addiction.

It could happen when a loved one dies.

It could happen when we meet our spouse, or we have a child.

It might happen at a job promotion or financial catastrophe, but whatever it is.

Whatever is it, it is that moment in our life when things will not be the same anymore.

Our outlook has changed, our perspective has shifted, whatever we want to call it, somehow something so significant has happened in our lives that we cannot be the same.

Defining moments can be gloriously victorious, or horribly tragic.

We may witness them, or they may happen to us, but always one way or another we all have some defining moments in our lives.

Events that are so significant, events that are so monumental, that we cannot help but be the same after.

Today is one of those moments.

Let me pray.

I grew up Catholic.

On Holy Saturday, or the Saturday before Easter Sunday, there was a unique service in the Catholic Church.

Saturday evening before Easter, the Catholic Church has a special Mass they call "The Easter Vigil."

Some very significant rituals take place at this Mass, but what stands out is this is the time that the Catholic Church baptizes adults coming into the faith.

If you decide to become a Roman Catholic, you complete classes to learn about the Catholic faith, then when you are ready you receive the sacraments of Baptism, and Holy Communion, as this special Mass on Holy Saturday.

I remember when I was a young boy, I would stare wide-eyed at these strange adults converting to the Catholic faith.

I looked at them like they were from outer space.

You see for me I grew up in suburban Chicago.

Everyone was Christian of some sort.

Although a lot of my friends were Catholic, there were many that were Lutheran, there were a few Baptist, and even a few Dutch Reformed, but these people they were something else altogether they were CONVERTS.

I couldn't figure it out.

Had that not heard of Jesus?

Had there "old religion" been inadequate?

Where would you come from that you weren't Christian, a foreign country?

I had a million questions.

On July 30th, 1967 Joni Eareckson Tada dove into shallow water in the Chesapeake Bay.

She fractured her vertebrae and became a quadriplegic.

That was just one defining the moment in her life.

The Catholic Church welcomes converts to the faith on Easter because that is the defining moment of the Church.

For a drug addict, or an alcoholic, that moment may occur in a jail cell, as they finally reach their bottom, and this time they clean up for good.

For the pornography addict, it may occur, when their addiction is uncovered.

It could happen when a loved one dies.

It could happen when we meet our spouse, or when the divorce papers are filed; It may happen when we have a child.

It might happen at a job promotion or financial catastrophe, but whatever it is.

Whatever is it, it is that one event in our life when things will not be the same anymore.

Our outlook has changed, our perspective has shifted, whatever we want to call it, we no longer see things the same anymore.

Somehow something so significant has happened in our lives that we cannot be the same.

1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 17 says,

February 22, 1980, the members of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team had their lives changed forever, as they skated to victory in the event that is etched in our collective memory as the "Miracle on Ice".

It was a defining moment for the members of the U.S. Hockey Team, a defining moment for the U.S. Hockey program, and a defining moment for the people that watched the epic victory.

Today celebrates one of those moments.

Defining moments can be gloriously victorious, or horribly tragic.

We may witness them, or they may happen to us, but always one way or another we all have some defining moments in our lives.

Events that are so significant, events that are so monumental, that we cannot help but be the same after.

Let me pray.

I grew up Catholic.

On Holy Saturday, or the Saturday before Easter Sunday, there was a unique service in the Catholic Church.

Saturday evening before Easter, the Catholic Church has a special Mass they call "The Easter Vigil."

Some unique rituals take place at this Mass, but what stands out today is that this is the time that the Catholic Church baptizes adults coming into the faith.

If you decide to become a Roman Catholic, you take classes to learn about the Catholic faith, it could take months or even years, then when you are ready you receive the sacraments of Baptism, and Holy Communion, as this special Mass on Holy Saturday.

For a drug addict, or an alcoholic, that moment may occur in a jail cell, as they finally reach their bottom, and this time they clean up for good.

For the pornography addict, it may occur, when their addiction is uncovered.

It could happen when a loved one dies.

It could happen when we meet our spouse, or when the divorce papers are filed; It may happen when we have a child.

It might happen at a job promotion or financial catastrophe, but whatever it is.

Whatever is it, it is that one event in our life when things will not be the same anymore.

Our outlook has changed, our perspective has shifted, whatever we want to call it, we no longer see things the same anymore.

Somehow something so significant has happened in our lives that we cannot be the same.

I remember when I was a young boy, I would stare wide-eyed at these strange adults converting to the Catholic faith.

I looked at them like they were from outer space.

I grew up in suburban Chicago.

Everyone was Christian of some sort.

Although a lot of my friends were Catholic, some were Lutheran, some were Baptist, and I even had a friend who was Dutch Reformed.

I even knew some Jewish kids.

But I didn't know a single person who didn't have some religion.

On July 30th, 1967 Joni Eareckson Tada dove into shallow water in the Chesapeake Bay.

She fractured her vertebrae and became a quadriplegic.

That was just one defining the moment in her life.

That is why this was so strange.

These people they were something else altogether they were CONVERTS.

I couldn't figure it out.

Had that not heard of Jesus before?

Everyone I knew already had some sort of religion, even if they didn't act like it.

This was really puzzling.

Today celebrates one of those moments.

Anyway, the Catholic Church welcomes converts to their faith one time a year, on Easter.

They chose this day on purpose because Easter is the defining moment of the Christianity.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 17 the apostle Paul writes, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."

Let me pray.

Everything that we talk about in this Church, Everything that we talk about every Sunday, if Christ has not been raised, it doesn't matter, it is useless.