Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro:

We all have circles of friends.

We have a large circle – these friends are not our closes friends, but they are our friends.

They could be people on our sports team, people in our classes or people at work.

Then we have a circle of friends that are our closes friends.

These are the people that mean the most to us – they are our best friend or our family.

We all have circles of friends.

We have a large circle – these friends are not our closes friends, but they are our friends.

They could be people on our sports team, people in our classes or people at work.

Then we have a circle of friends that are our closest friends.

These are the people that mean the most to us – they are our best friend or our family.

I want you to think about someone who you would consider to be one of your best friends or closest family member.

This needs to be someone who knows everything about you.

All your other friends are also friends with him/her.

You and your friend have a very close relationship – this is someone you would die for without even thinking about it.

This is someone who you always go out of your way for.

So, you guys are always following each other around.

The things that you go through so does your friend – whether it is good times or bad – you are always there for each other.

I want you to think about someone who you would consider to be one of your best friends or closest family member.

This needs to be someone who knows everything about you.

All your other friends are also friends with him/her.

You and your friend have a very close relationship – this is someone you would die for without even thinking about it.

This is someone who you always go out of your way for.

So, you guys are always following each other around.

The things that you go through so does your friend – whether it is good times or bad – you are always there for each other.

Now I want you to imagine that you just overheard this friend (your best friend) talking to one of your other friends.

Which is no big deal, but what you heard them say was devastating.

You heard this friend saying, “I hate being around Clay anymore.

I mean, I like him and all, but he is always wanting me to follow him to do the dumbest things.

He bends over backward for people that he knows mock him and make fun of him.

And that’s why they do it – they know he will kiss their butts!

Not to mention he is so embarrassing by the way he talks about how great his Dad is - all the time!”

Now I want you to imagine that you just over heard this friend (your best friend) talking to one of your other friends.

Which is no big deal, but what your heard them say was devastating.

You heard this friend saying, “I hate being around Clay anymore.

I mean, I like him and all, but he is always wanting me to follow him to do the dumbest things.

He bends over backwards for people that he knows mock him and make fun of him.

And that’s why they do it – they know he will kiss their butts!

Not to mention he is so embarrassing by the way he talks about how great his Dad is - all the time!”

Now, of course, this devastated you.

This was someone you thought loved you this was your best friend.

You love this person with all your heart and mind – you would die for this person.

And although you could crush him - Because you are way more powerful than him and after all you are your father’s son, meaning your dad is like the most awesome dad in the universe – but you decided to humble yourself again and give him the chance to apologize.

Now of course this devastated you.

This was someone you though loved you this was your best friend.

You love this person with all your heart and mind – you would die for this person.

And although you could crush him - Because you are way more powerful than him and after all you are your father’s son, meaning your dad is like the most awesome dad in the universe – but you decided to humble yourself again and give him the chance to apologize.

My dad used to tell me, believe nothing that you hear and only half of what you see.

That’s because it is so easy to misinterpret the situation.

Therefore, if you misunderstood this situation, your friend would quickly clarify.

However, what about if he apologized and told you: “that he was just having a really bad day.

And as he was talking to your other friend (who BTW always likes to gossip, because it makes him feel important) he doesn’t know what got into him, he just felt like if he talked bad about someone, it would make him feel better.”

Not that the excuse would make the situation any better, but it would be good of you to forgive him.

But what if he did it again?

Then again?

And again?

It would be safe to say that he didn’t really value your relationship.

Even if he tried to convince you that he loved you and loved being around you – actions speak louder than words.

My dad used to tell me, believe nothing that you hear and only half of what you see.

That’s because it is so easy to misinterpret the situation.

Therefore, if you misunderstood this situation your friend would quickly clarify.

However, what about if he apologized and told you: “that he was just having a really bad day.

And as he was talking to your other friend (who BTW always likes to gossip, because it makes him feel important) he doesn’t know what got into him, he just felt like if he talked bad about someone it would make him feel better.”

Not that the excuse would make the situation any better, but it would be good of you to forgive him.

But what if he did it again?

Then again?

And again?

It would be safe to say that he didn’t really value your relationship.

Even if he tried to convince you that he loved you and love being around you – actions speak louder than word.

Therefore, it’s this principle that drives the purpose of our time together today.

I am going to try to prove to you that the path to eternal life can only be established by loving Jesus, more than the: approval and rewards of this world, and following in his footprints.

So, turn your Bibles to so that, we can look at one of the most important passages on discipleship in the whole Bible.

Therefore, it’s this principle that drive the purpose of our time together today.

I am going to try to prove to you that the path to eternal life can only be established by loving Jesus, more than the: approval and rewards of this world, and following in his footprints.

So, turn your Bibles to .

Text:

Text:

34 If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Sub-intro:

Sub-intro: (Summarize context):

Jesus doesn’t just give us a command and say do this because I said so; he gives us four reasons or motivations or incentives to obey this command.

And what is the command?

If we wished to be his disciple, we must follow him by denying ourselves and pick up our cross and follow him.

Therefore, the question must be asked, what does the cross represent?

We said the cross represented: opposition, shame, suffering, and death.

So, disciples of Jesus’ must be willing to go through all of this for Jesus’ sake and the gospel.

And to deny your self is to deny your old self.

The self that wants the opposite of the cross- acceptance, honor, comfort, safety.

Then Jesus argues that if you want to save you life you must lose it.

So, he is arguing on the basis of saving your life.

This isn’t a martyrdom complex.

This isn’t going through suffering for the purpose to gain something, but it is living your life for Jesus’ sake and the gospel which proves your salvation it doesn’t gain your salvation.