Sermon Tone Analysis

(ESV)

(ESV)

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.

But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience... 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised... 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.

But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience…14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.

Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

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, 13- (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins...

God takes action to make us alive, to save us.

This is based on grace, it is a gift we don’t deserve and he gives it because he is rich in mercy!

We aren’t saved because we are nice, or because we tried our best.

, (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins...13 now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…that he might create in himself one new [hu]man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross

God took action to reconcile us to himself.

Reconciliation to God, is connected to reconciliation with each other.

God invites us from death to life.

From being far to coming near.

From being strangers to joining his family.

Our identity changes.

As we are reconciled to God, we are reconciled to each other.

Today we are going to talk about Reconciliation.

What came to mind was this famous feud between the Hatfields and McKoys in Virginia, Kentucky area.

Numerous deaths.

Feud was heated for a decade.

Today there is a historical site and things have changed.

2003, descendants formed an official truce - reconciling.

Through Jesus, we can be reconciled to God and to each other.

Reconciliation is a part of following Jesus.

HOOK

Have you ever heard someone say “that’s cool if you follow Jesus as long as you keep your faith to yourself.

Everyone’s faith is a personal thing?”

Is that true?

Have you ever had a friendship been broken?

Experienced hurt?

What is our responsibility according to Jesus?

If someone asked you “how much does following Jesus impact my relationships?”

What would you say?

Reconciliation.

SERIES: We are currently in a series “How to Follow Jesus.”

In this series we are discussing Identity.

Through Jesus, we receive a new identity, WHO we are is transformed and this informs HOW we live in response.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (ESV)

Baptism is about new identity.

WHITEBOARD.

Identity.

We put it like this: Jesus-centered Family of Sent Servants.

This is our identity.

This is WHO we are because of WHO God is.

Vision: Why We exist is: To Know Jesus & Make Him Known in Everyday Life - Together.

WHO we are and WHY we exist informs HOW we live.

I like to talk about how this leads to 3 relational practices in our lives.

UP_IN_OUT.

UP relationship with God, we are Jesus-centered.

IN relationship together as a spiritual family.

OUT relationship to the world.

We are sent servants, making Jesus known in all of life.

The world should be better because Jesus’ people are there.

/// 3 legged stool.

3 legged stool.

Today, we are going to talk about Reconciliation and how this relates to the SENT facet of our identity.

Series

PRAY

Big Idea: We are reconciled reconcilers

+++ Funny, how I finish my sermon on Thursday and then Thursday night right before bed, Nat & I get into an argument.

Two major themes in the story of God, in the Bible are covenant and kingdom.

Mike Breen has a book “covenant and kingdom” that walks through the Bible commenting on this.

Covenant

covenant is about relationship.

In the past, marriage was viewed as a “marriage covenant.”

Covenant is more loving then a contract but more binding then a commitment.

A covenant is about relationship and involves responsibility.

A covenant is more personal then a contract and more binding then a regular relationship.

Covenant is one of the major themes in the history of God’s people.

Covenant is more intimate than a contract, more loving than a legal relationship.

But it is more binding then a personal relationship.

Covenant is this tension of relational love and also binding responsibility.

Covenant is “we” before “me.”

God established covenants with his people throughout history.