Sermon Tone Analysis

Choices That Strengthen Your Future

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand

A. Choices That Overcome Your Failures

Fail to plan, plan to fail

Fail to plan, plan to fail

If you aim at nothing you’ll hit it every time

Sow a thought reap an action

Sow an action reap a habit

Sow a habit reap an eternity

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time

There’s a hole in that road

“There’s A Hole In My Sidewalk ~ Portia Nelson

http://mymeditativemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Bodhi-sidewalk.png

“I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost...

I am helpless.

It isn't my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don't see it.

I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in the same place.

But, it isn't my fault.

It still takes me a long time to get out.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in.

It's a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

I walk down another street.”

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I fall in.

I am lost … I am helpless.

It isn’t my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I am in the same place.

But, it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in … it’s a habit … but,

my eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

Chapter IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.

You can choose to:

Deliberately disobey God’s commands (this is different that disobeying God.

What does it mean to disobey God?

This can be a very subjective statement since we make God the way we want him to be.

But to disobey God’s commands is a whole other thing.

It’s right there in print in front of us.)

To remain in your failure

Blame others for your failures

To deal with it your way (: There is a way...

Remain in your pride

Or you can:

Call it what it is: sin, rebellion, and disobedience - When you have call it what it is you have begun the first step in change.

Take responsibility for your sin, rebellion, and disobedience - When you stop blaming your parents, your spouse, your employer, your friends, your enemies, your upbringing, your lack of education, your lack of money, your lack of anything, and realize that you chose to get into that hole, you have entered the second step to change.

Call it what it is: sin, rebellion, disobedience

To seek forgiveness -

Take responsibility for your sin, rebellion, disobedience

Deal with it God’s way

To deal with it God’s way

Humbly admit your wrongdoing

To humbly admit your wrongdoing

B. Choices That Strengthen Your Future

Choose the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1

1 Corinthians 15:1

1. Choose to Remember the Gospel

2. Choose to Receive the Gospel

3. Choose to Remain in the Gospel

Choose the Resurrection Life

1.

You choose God’s plan (15:14)

2.

You choose forgiveness (15:17)