Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro:

Decreasing in importance and power is not a normal goal for most people.

Athletes exercise and do drills to become stronger, fester, and better.

They want to be the best.

They don’t just hand over a position to someone else.

They fight for it.

Musicians go through the tedious practice of scales and arpeggios day after day so they can increase their range, skills, and sound quality.

They compete for spots in orchestras or audition for spots in bands.

They strive for perfection.

After they’ve earned those spots, they don’t give them away.

You push for promotions in your job.

You strive for excellence and do your best everyday.

When you make it to a higher position you celebrate the increase in pay, or status, or whatever perk you get.

You don’t work to get demoted.

You don’t work to have less or be less in your job.

In life when we go the opposite direction, we see it as failure.

To decrease is to fail!

However, in the spiritual sense, if you want to become greater, you must become less.

you must give authority over.

You must submit and follow another’s orders.

Often time when

John the Baptist was a man who was a cut above others.

He was a mighty prophet whom the Jews respected.

He baptised Jesus.

He had an amazing following.

He had many disciples.

His position demanded respect.

John knew there needed to be more Jesus, and less John.

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.

23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there.

And they came and were baptized.

24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.

26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.

Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Tempted to Compete

The scene opens up in the dirty, murky waters of the River Jordan at Aenon.

Jesus is there with his disciples.

They are drawing monstrous crowds.

The crowds are electrified.

People seem to be coming out from under rocks to see them.

On the other side of the river is John the baptist and his disciples.

Their crowd is substantially smaller, but still respectable.

It was definitely less impressive than Jesus’ camp.

Some of John’s disciples started to argue with a man about purification.

We don’t know the specifics about that.

Then they went to John.

John’s disciples saw the big crowd that Jesus was drawing.

They told John, “Hey!

Isn’t that the guy that you baptized.

Look at this.

Everyone is going to him and his disciples.

Are you just going to sit there and let this happen?”

These men wanted the glory days back.

They wanted the big crowds.

They wanted the recognition.

They wanted the spotlight!

Without realizing it, they were asking John to compete with the Messiah, Jesus.

They wanted him take back all of the glory and fame that he had when they began following him.

Johns response to them was a joyful Good!

His importance must increase.

Mine must decrease!

There are times in our lives, just like John, that we are challenged by others or ourselves to compete with Christ.

Recently Morgan has been trying to network with parents that have children with 22q Syndrom like Noah has.

Some networking, and a support system kind of thing.

We found one such person here in town with a little girl about the same age as Noah.

We’ve gotten together for some playdates to get to know there family.

That’s really good.

It’s something we want to do.

We’ve also had this parent ask, “How about we meet Wednesday evening at the park?” Sorry, we can’t do that.

We have church.”

“ Ok.”

They say.

“How about Saturday.

“ Saturday comes…it rains.

We can’t meet.

That’s ok…How about tomorrow?

Tomorrow is Sunday.

Our family will be at church.

I’m sorry.

We can’t do that.

Something to realize is, it’s often good things that are wanting to compete with our relationship to Jesus.

It’s a good thing for us to make those friends.

It’s a good thing to have the resource and connection of another parent expereincing the same things.

We want those things.

But the worship and service of God has to come first.

Our desires have to become secondary in this case.

Less of my desire, and more of God’s.

You hear these messages in the world all the time.

They sound nice too.

Things like, “Just follow your heart.”

I know you may be married, but your just doesn’t appreciate you like you should be.

“Follow your heart.”

“Do what makes you feel good.”

“Do whatever it takes to get you where you want to be.

To get that promotion.

To get that new house.”