Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Almost every week for the past four or five weeks people have come and stayed at least one night at our house.

We love having people over.

It is always great to visit with family and make new friends.

However, every time people come over there is something we are required to do first.

We have to clean the house.

I remember it being the same way at my parents house when I was a kid.

“Oh no! Someone is coming over!

Quick!

Start cleaning!”

We used to try to guilt Mom into letting our house be messy by telling her that cleaning up for company was hypocrisy since our house wasn’t normally that clean.

She didn’t buy it.

Now that I am older and we have people over I have begun to understand the value in cleaning up.

We pick up the house so that people feel more comfortable and are more able to relax and connect.

Our preparation in cleaning up enables us to more fully enjoy the time with our guests.

I have learned that preparation is vital.

In the passage we will consider this morning we have the final preparation of the disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

This preparation is essential for their effectiveness in the ministry God is calling them to.

It has been three weeks since we were in Acts, and this message is a part three, so let me recap where we are this morning.

As we noted previously, this passage deals with preparation.

The disciples of Jesus Christ are being prepared to turn the world upside down as they witness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

They have been spiritually prepared.

For three years Christ taught them and ministered with them.

For the past forty days He has instructed them.

They have been promised the indwelling Holy Spirit who will teach and guide them.

After they witnessed Christ’s ascension, they were promised that He would return.

Back on March 19th we learned about the preparation of prayer.

We saw the disciples return to Jerusalem in obedience to Christ and then engage in unified, earnest prayer.

On March 26th we continued with their physical preparation, particularly noting how they were being prepared through the placement of Matthias.

We discussed two reasons why it was necessary for Judas’ position with in the disciples to be filled.

First because of his betrayal, and secondly to fulfill Scripture.

To add a point of clarification, when we spoke of Judas’ compromises that lead to the betrayal of Jesus, I noted that we do not want to head down that same path.

I want to be clear, I am not saying that we can be ultimately lost as Judas was.

If you are saved you are saved forever!

However, we can compromise and compromise to the point that severe correction is necessary.

When we become so mired in sin that God’s name and His glory is being marred, make no mistake, the Lord will use whatever means necessary to correct us.

I just wanted to make that point clear so that there is no confusion.

We need to be prepared.

By definition, preparation must proceed need.

Make sense?

You can’t prepare for something after the fact.

You must prepare beforehand.

For most of us we know what we are preparing for.

When we go grocery shopping, Jess makes a list, I get our reusable bags and ice chests ready.

We know we are going shopping and so we prepare for it.

In the Christian life, we don’t always know what God is preparing us for.

However, We can know with certainty that everything we face is preparing us to serve Christ better.As we noted last week, this passage deals with preparation.

The disciples of Jesus Christ are being prepared to turn the world upside down as they witness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

They have been spiritually prepared.

For three years Christ taught them and ministered with them.

For the past forty days He has instructed them.

They have been promised the indwelling Holy Spirit who will teach and guide them.

After they witnessed Christ’s ascension, they were promised that He would return.

Last week we learned about the preparation of prayer.

We saw the disciples return to Jerusalem in obedience to Christ and then engage in unified, earnest prayer.

Today we will continue dealing with their physical preparation.

The point we are arguing for today, as we did last week, is that… God prepares His children to accomplish the tasks He has set for them.We are further arguing that… The circumstances and situations of life are God’s method of preparing His children for service.We are finally arguing that… A Proper response to the trials, difficulties, and victories of life enables us to serve.

An improper response spiritually cripples the child of God.

As we see how God physically prepared His disciples for service, it is my prayer that we will better understand His preparation in our lives.

In understanding His preparation we will submit to Him and be usable vessels in the hands of the master potter.

There are two steps taken by the disciples in preparation for service.

We saw the first last week, the…

The point this message is arguing for is that…

God prepares His children to accomplish the tasks He has set for them.

We are further arguing that…

The circumstances and situations of life are God’s method of preparing His children for service.

We are finally arguing that…

A Proper response to the trials, difficulties, and victories of life enables us to serve.

An improper response spiritually cripples the child of God.

As we see how God physically prepared His disciples for service, it is my prayer that we will better understand His preparation in our lives.

In understanding His preparation we will submit to Him and be usable vessels in the hands of the master potter.

There are two steps taken by the disciples in preparation for service.

These steps are, first the…

1. Preparation Through Prayer vv.

12-14

After taking the first step of preparation through prayer, the disciples take the second step…

2. Preparation Through Placement vv.

15-26

One of the things to bear in mind about the book of Acts is that it is a volume two.

Luke writes with the assumption that his reader, Theophilus, is familiar with the life of Christ as described in his gospel.

This is important in our passage because Luke refers to the betrayal of Judas as something familiar and known.

Most of us know about his betrayal.

It is the absence of Judas in the list of disciples given in v. 13 that sets the stage for the rest of the chapter.

Peter views the replacement of Judas as necessary.

This is probably for two reasons.

First, Jesus had promised that the twelve would rule in heaven judging the tribes of Israel from twelve thrones (; ).

There need to be twelve of them to do that.

Second, Peter will mention the necessity of fulfilling Scripture.

This is an important part of the preparation for the Holy Spirit's coming, and their preaching ministry that is about to begin.

The reasoning behind Judas being replaced is given in vv.

15-20 where we find…

Last time we were in Acts we saw…

a.

The provocation for placement vv.

15-20

a.

The provocation for placement vv.

15-20

As we noted the reason for Judas being replaced was twofold…

We are going to look at these verses a little out of order as we keep in mind the two reasons for replacing Judas that we just saw.

The first order of business is…

i.

The filling of Judas’ station vv.

16b-19