Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

STAR WARS STORY: WE’VE ALL SEEN THE STAR WARS MOVIES.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM BEGINS THE SAME.

BEFORE YOU SEE A CHARACTER, EXPERIENCE A LIGHT SABER FIGHT OR MEET THE BAD GUYS…BEFORE YOUR PULSE STARTS TO ESCALATE YOU ARE INTRODUCED TO WORDS…THESE WORDS GIVE YOU THE CONTEXT FOR THE UPCOMING CHARACTERS, BATTLES AND STRUGGLES.

IN AN INGENIUS MOVE, THE DIRECTOR AND POWERS THAT BE HAVE DETERMINED THAT CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING.

THAT WHAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE WITHIN A MUCH LARGER AND IMPORTANT STORY AND FRAMEWORK.

WE NEED TO KNOW WE ARE A PART OF SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER.

CREATING THE NEED:

THE PROBLEM WITH MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET IS THEY WILL ROLL OUT OF BED TOMORROW, ENGAGE IN EPIC STRUGGLES, MUNDANE JOBS, ROUTINE CHORES…WITHOUT ANY REAL SENSE OF CONTEXT.

LIKE STAR WARS, ALL OF OUR LIVES NEED A PREAMBLE AND CONTEXT TO REMIND US WE ARE A PART OF SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS SIMPLE TOUCH WE ARE DESTINED TO FALL INTO THE ABYSS OF PRIDE AND ASSUME IT’S AL ABOUT US.

AND LIVE LIVES DEVOID OF TRUE MEANING, VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE

A CULTURE OF PRIDE: “Psychologists have a thing called the narcissim test.

They read people statements and ask if the statements apply to them…The median narcissism score has risen 30 percent in the last two decades…Along with the apparent rise in self-esteem, there has been a tremendous increase in the desire for fame.

Fifty-one percent of young people report that being famous was one of their top personal goals.

In one study, middle school girls were asked who they would most like to have dinner with.

Jennifer Lopez came in first, Jesus Christ came in second.

The girls were then asked which of the following jobs they would like to have.

Nearly twice as many said they’d rather be a celebrity’s personal assistant than president of Harvard”- David Brooks, The Road to Character.

WE LIVE IN A PRIDEFUL CULTURE, AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS OUR LIVES LACK CONTEXT.

A CULTURE OF PRIDE

CONTEXT: WE ARE CALLED INTO SOMETHING BIGGER-

EXPLANATION: JOSHUA IS IN THE WINTER YEARS OF HIS LIFE…EMBRACING THE PATRIARCH.

PAINT THE PICTURE AS HE STANDS BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT.

SO HE BEGINS BY REMINDING THE PEOPLE THEY ARE A PART OF A STORY SO MUCH BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES IN VERSES 1-13.

THIS IS WHAT PATRIARCH’S DO: THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS THE CHIEF STORY TELLER OF THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD.

HIS POINT IN ALL THIS IS, REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, AND WHO YOU ARE IS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY OF GOD, YOU ARE A PART OF SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER THAN PAYCHECKS, DEGREES, JOBS, MONEY AND POSSESSIONS.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

YOU’RE NOT THE STAR OF YOUR SHOW, GOD IS:

EXPLANATION: YOU’RE NOT THE STAR OF YOUR SHOW, GOD IS:

EXPLANATION: YOU’RE NOT THE STAR OF YOUR SHOW, GOD IS:

- I TOOK YOUR FATHER

- I TOOK YOUR FATHER

- I GAVE HIM ISAAC

- I GAVE JACOB AND ESAU

- I GAVE ESAU THE HILL COUNTRY

- I SENT MOSES AND AARON

- I PLAGUED EGYPT

- I BROUGHT YOU OUT

- I BROUGHT YOUR FATHERS OUT OF EGYPT

- I BROUGHT YOU TO THE LAND

- I GAVE THEM INTO YOUR HAND

- I DESTROYED THEM

- I WOULD NOT LISTEN

- I DELIVERED YOU OUT OF HIS HAND

- I GAVE THEM INTO YOUR HAND

- I SENT THE HORNET BEFORE YOU

- I GAVE YOU A LAND

ILLUSTRATION: REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

DAD WOULD TELL ME THAT ALL THE TIME…WILL TELL JADEN THAT THIS WEEK.

I’M A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER…NO DIVORCE, LOVING FAMILY…MAN OF GOD.

MAYBE CREST VISUAL.

POINT: WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU’RE A PART OF A LARGER CONTEXT THEN THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

CREATION/FALL/REDEMPTION/RESTORATION.

THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE

STRONG APPLICATIONS: LADY WHO GETS ON OUR NERVES BY PARKING CAR…DOGS PEEING IN OUR YARD.

WHY DON’T WE CUSS THEM OUT…CHAPLAINS OF OUR STREET TO BRING THE KINGDOM.

OUR MARRIAGE- MUST TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD.

CLEAREST REMINDER WE ARE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER.

IT IS SHOWING GOD’S LOVE...

THE CALL: FEAR GOD-

EXPLANATION: SEEING YOURSELF IN A LARGER CONTEXT SHOULD PRODUCE ACTION.

IF IT DOESN’T IT’S SENTIMENTALISM.

JOSHUA REMINDS FOR A PURPOSE, AND THAT PURPOSE IS TO FEAR GOD.

THE FEAR OF GOD IS NOT JUST A FEELING OF REVERENCE, AWE AND DREAD, BUT IT’S A FEELING THAT IS DESIGNED TO LEAD TO AN ACTION.

FEAR OF GOD IS SEEN IN OBEDIENCE TO GO.

SIMPLY PUT, IF YOU DON’T OBEY GOD, YOU DON’T FEAR GOD.

ILLUSTRATION: GROWING UP IN CHURCH, MOTHER IN CHOIR, CUTTING UP…SHOOT ME THAT LOOK, AND I’D STOP…MOM HAD UNIQUE ABILITY TO SWAY, CLAP, HIT ALL THE NOTES AND CHECK ME WITH HER EYES AT THE SAME TIME.

HOW DO I KNOW I FEAR MOM?

I OBEYED HER.

EXPLANATION 2: BUT THIS IS NOT INSPIRING.

WE SHOULDN’T FEAR GOD BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES SOLELY.

THE FEAR OF GOD IS MEANT TO CALL US INTO THE MOST MEANINGFUL LIFE WE CAN EVER EXPERIENCE. .

THE FEAR OF GOD WILL BRING ABOUT A RICH, SATISFYING LIFE.

NOT PAIN FREE, BUT RICH AND SATISFYING.

LIFE IS THE SWEETEST WHEN I BEND MY WILL TO GOD’S

ECCLESIASTES ILLUSTRATION.

TELL THE STORY OF HIM TRYING TO FIND PLEASURE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN LIFE.

BUT HE REACHES THE CONCLUSION IN .

ITEMS IN HOF ILLUSTRATION: WE DON’T GAWK AT LEATHER GLOVES, BASKETBALLS, JERSEYS OR HOCKEY STICKS BY THEMSELVES.

INSTEAD WHAT CAPTURES US IS WHO USED THEM.

BY YOURSELF, YOUR FLESH AND BLOOD WILL FETCH A FEW DOLLARS.

THAT’S HOW VALUABLE YOU ARE.

BUT THE GREAT QUESTION THAT THE LEGACY OF YOUR LIFE HINGES ON IS, “WHO USED YOU”?

FOR SOLOMON IT ENDED UP BEING GOD!

OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE: IDOLS-

EXPLANATION: EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

JOSHUA UNDERSTANDS THIS.

THAT’S WHY HE MAKES FREQUENT PLEAS IN OUR TEXT TO PUT AWAY THE GODS.

EXPLAIN IDOLS.

ANYTHING, EVEN A GOOD THING, THAT BECOMES AN ULTIMATE THING.

WHATEVER YOUR MONEY FLOWS EFFORTLESSLY TO IS YOUR IDOL.

THE SERIOUSNESS OF IDOLATRY: IST COMMANDMENT.

ALL OF THEM HINGES ON THIS.

MAKES GOD JEALOUS (19).

EXPLAIN THIS WITH ANALOGY OF A WOMAN.

METAXAS QUOTE.

SOLOMON CONCLUSION IN ECCLESIASTES.