Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Analytical
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Peace be to you.
Those were the words that Jesus said to the disciples.
A beautiful phrase.
It’s a common greeting even today in some countries.
Peace to you.
I am guessing that in those places people put as much thought into that phrase as when we ask, “How are you?” even though we haven’t given much thought to how people really are.
Do they really wish peace upon that person, or are they just polite?
“Peace to you” and then we move on—like a passing hello, a nod of the head, a farmer wave.
Yet, there are times when, “How are you, really means, “How are you.”
There are sometimes that there is truly a desire for peace.
This greeting was welcomed.
Here were 10 of the disciples.
Judas was dead.
Thomas was elsewhere.
They are gathered together in a room, doors locked, wondering and waiting if the religious authorities are coming for them next.
They were viewed as religious criminals.
Their leader crucified.
Peter and the other disciple, whom we think is John, have seen the empty tomb, but they haven’t seen Jesus.
Things are all up in the air.
There’s grief, confusion, anxiety, and fear all wrapped up in that room.
And then Jesus appears.
“Peace be with you.”
He holds out his hands.
Pulls his robe from his waist and shows them his side.
Jagged nail holes.
A wicked cut in his side.
But it didn’t seem to matter.
Jesus was really there in flesh and blood.
For theologians—they want to ask—was this Jesus’ heavenly body or something in between?
There had to be something unsettling about the wounds—were they still open, but it didn’t seem to matter.
Were they healed, but the scars remained?
Some are looking at theological controversy—Was Jesus really there?
Jesus wasn’t a ghost.
He was flesh and blood.
Touchable.
Physical.
It was better than a phone call or a letter.
He was with them—as much as he was ever with them.
We need to remember that....
The risen Lord gives us peace.
The integrity and trustworthiness of the Bible rests on the fact that the tomb is empty and that Jesus rose again.
If we want to read one verse or another for encouragement or guidance, or for whatever reason, for those words to be authentic and true, we need to believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
We aren’t given the privilege to say, I believe this, but don’t believe that.
It is Jesus, then, present with disciples who gives them the orders as well as the courage to leave that room and begin the part of the ministry that Jesus had called them to.
We are sent.
What does that mean?
Identity: In all areas of life, may our faith be part of who we are, rather than just one piece of many.
When asked who we are, we give answers that are in line with the context.
personal
work
choices
Witness
to our families
to our communities
to the stranger
Sent with the Father’s love and support
We are not alone
As those who are sent, we don’t go alone.
We go with the presence of the Holy Spirit—Jesus breathing, blowing, was a foreshadowing of what would happen after Jesus’ ascension—the Pentecost gift of the Holy Spirit.
In it is this interesting verse about sins that are forgiven and not forgiven.
We shouldn’t misunderstand this text.
Jesus isn’t giving us or the church any extra power.
As one person said, the church can only declare what God has already done.
At it’s heart this is just the central part of the gospel, which we review weekly during the time of confession and assurance.
We simply affirm what Jesus has already done.
If we confess our sins and work to turn away from them, we are forgiven in Jesus’ name.
If we refuse to recognize our sins and repent, we aren’t forgiven.
The disciples and everyone who follows are asked to be faithful witnesses.
Witnesses.
This gets us to the second half of the text—Thomas—also called Didymus—which means twin—wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared.
He makes the bold statement that we remember:
We might look down on Thomas—but if the disciples hadn’t seen for themselves—how many other doubters would there have been?
There is real power in seeing things.
Think of the times you have seen something beautiful, or funny, or interesting— “Come, look!
You’ve got to see this!” We’re born skeptics.
We are accustomed to saying, “I don’t believe it.”
We are used to saying, “You’re not going to believe this, but…” Or, when we want to emphasize something, we say, “You better believe it.”
Would we have said the same?
Jesus appears to disciples again, and this visit seems directed specifically to Thomas.”
Once again Jesus gives the common greeting, then he turns to Thomas.
No other conversation is recorded.
The room many have been filled with disciples, but this was between Jesus and Thomas.
Thomas replies:
Let us remember
The risen Lord conquers our doubt.
Is the Bible true?
If we believe the Bible is true, then we believe that the tomb is empty and that Jesus Christ is alive.
If Jesus is alive, then let that knowledge conquer our doubt.
That takes living to a new level—what are your priorities?
How are you going to use your time?
What does this knowledge inspire us to do?
Sometimes we use religion to control people.
We hold people down by power or guilt.
This is my observation.
Guilt can only motivate so long.
However, if our motivation is faith rooted in love, we can be fueled indefinitely.
Guilt can only motivate so long.
Love can fuel you indefinitely.
Guilt makes us say, I’ll do my part, or maybe a little more, but there is a limit.
Love says, I will give until I have given everything.
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