Sermon Tone Analysis

The Text Driven Life

Illustration: Two friends met after not seeing each other for a long time.

One had gone to college and was now very successful.

The other hadn’t gone to college and never had much ambition, yet he still seemed to be doing well.

The college graduate asked his friend, “How has everything been going with you?”

The less-educated man replied, “Well, one day, I opened my Bible at random and dropped my finger on a page.

The word under my finger was oil.

So I invested in oil, and boy, did the oil wells gush.

Then I tried the same method again, and my finger stopped on the word gold.

So I invested in gold, and those mines really produced.

Now I’m as rich as Rockefeller.”

The college grad rushed to his hotel, grabbed a Gideon Bible, flipped it open, and dropped his finger on a page.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that his finger rested on the words Chapter Eleven.[1]

[1] Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008).

1001 illustrations that connect (p.

19).

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Ironically there are some people who choose to read the Bible the way the one guy did.

They flop it open to a page and begin randomly reading.

I don’t believe, however, that God intends for his followers to live by the book as that one guy did.

The idea of living by the book is Christians live a life driven by the text.

Meaning you look at your situations in life and say to yourself and to others, “the Bible says this about that, so this is what I will do about that.”

Such a life is described by the Psalm writer in

TURN WITH ME THERE OR TYPE IN THE REFERENCE IN YOUR APP THEN LETS STAND TOGETHER IN HONOR OF GOD AND HIS WORD AS WE READ IT TOGETHER.

We will read on through vs. 3-5 today.

PRAYER

I read a lot of preaching articles and resources from Southwestern Seminary and their big emphasis and teaching is on Text-Driven preaching.

HCSB - How happy are those who “live” according to the law of the Lord - “live” meaning the Bible is the pattern of life or their path and not something else the world suggests.

For many of you I know I am preaching to the proverbial choir so to speak, but my intention in asking you as the whole congregation to read through the Bible was that you and I will be able to either develop, build, remodel, repair a text-driven life.

I read a lot preaching articles and resources from Southwestern Seminary and their big emphasis and teaching is on Text-Driven preaching.

Dr. Stephen Smith says It’s not a sermon just about the text, rather it is a re-presentation of the scripture.

And, the text-driven sermon is not the big goal of life.

The reality is that this idea is an expression of a larger goal of living a text-driven life.

And, the text-driven sermon is not the big goal of life.

The reality is that this idea is an expression of a larger goal of living a text-driven life.

So, if a text-driven sermon is a re-presentation of the scripture, then a text0

I am beginning 5 week sermon series today on “Living by the Book,” and I titled this sermon, “Proof of a Text-driven Life” which you can reveal in these 4 ways: convictions, choices, commitments and the commission.

I titled the sermon for today: “Proof of a Text-driven Life” which I see revealing itself through 4 certainties in your life should you live it in such a way: conviction, choice, commitment and commission.

Most commentators believe that was not written for any special occasions like many of the other Psalms.

They say it was evidently intended to be a manual of pious thoughts - especially for instructing the young.

As I read that, ponder on the topic and did my research it made the connection to - Jesus tells his followers to go into the world and make disciples - how - teaching them.

For many of you I know I am preaching to the proverbial choir so to speak, but my intention in asking you as the whole congregation to read through the Bible was that you and I will be able to either develop, build, remodel, repair or upgrade to a text-driven life.

Dr. Smith goes onto say in his article, “A text-driven life is a life responding to God’s Word.

In other words, we believe God has spoken and we respond.”

So, if a text-driven sermon is a re-presentation of the scripture, living a text-driven life is your re-presentation of the Bible to those around you every day.

Such a life must have a beginning to become such a life.

What is very apparent and absolute from the writer of this Psalm is that Scripture is revered for being the very Words of God.

- All of scripture is God-breathed meaning given to the writers by the inspiration of God.

We profit from it because it teaches us and trains us to live righteously, rebukes and corrects us when we stray from Christ’s path for us.

A text-driven life is a life responding to God’s Word.

In other words, we believe God has spoken and we respond.

Thus,

Thus,

Thus,

Living by the book is a lifestyle that begins with a conviction about what God says.

What is very apparent and absolute from the writer of this Psalm is that Scripture is revered for being the very Words of God.

This psalm contains 176 verses.

What is very apparent and absolute from the writer of this Psalm is that Scripture is revered for being the very Words of God.

This Psalm

Only two of the verses do not contain some term or description of God’s Word

The writer praises God’s Word and reflects on the security and happiness of those who live by it.

- All of scripture is God-breathed meaning given to the writers by the inspiration of God.

- All of scripture is God-breathed meaning given to the writers by the inspiration of God.

- All of scripture is God-breathed meaning given to the writers by the inspiration of God.

We profit from it because it teaches us and trains us to live righteously, rebukes and corrects us when we stray from Christ’s path for us.

Most commentators believe that was not written for any special occasions like many of the other Psalms.

They say it was evidently intended to be a manual of pious thoughts - especially for instructing the young.

As I read that, ponder on the topic and did my research it made the connection to - Jesus tells his followers to go into the world and make disciples - how - teaching them.

Most commentators believe that was not written for any special occasions like many of the other Psalms.

They say it was evidently intended to be a manual of pious thoughts - especially for instructing the young.

God’s Word in the OT pointed forward to Jesus

Most commentators believe that was not written for any special occasions like many of the other Psalms.

They say it was evidently intended to be a manual of pious thoughts - especially for instructing the young.

- All of scripture is God-breathed meaning given to the writers by the inspiration of God.

We profit from it because it teaches us and trains us to live righteously, rebukes and corrects us when we stray from Christ’s path for us.

Most commentators believe that was not written for any special occasions like many of the other Psalms.

They say it was evidently intended to be a manual of pious thoughts - especially for instructing the young.

In - the Hebrew word “torah” or law has a parent verb meaning to teach.

Look at v. 33 with me.

As I pondered on the topic and did my research it made the connection to - Jesus tells his followers to go into the world and make disciples - how - teaching them.

Discipleship is learning to live the text-driven life and teaching others how to live a text-driven life.

Turn to and Look at v.18 - The foundation of your text-driven life will be your conviction that Jesus is the risen King, and the conviction that He has the right to rule every aspect of your life.

The Bible

The Bible has much to say about the sanctity of life that leads people to a deep conviction about the rights of the unborn, the injustice of racial issues, human trafficking and physical/sexual abuse.

But your conviction is only the beginning.

Dr. Smith goes onto say in his article, “A text-driven life is a life responding to God’s Word.

In other words, we believe God has spoken and we respond.”

Your conviction moves you to make a choice to allow Jesus to rule over every aspect of your life.

Your conviction moves you to make a choice to allow Jesus to rule over every aspect of your life.

My convictions about God’s Word were only the beginning.

You and I may believe Jesus is King, but that belief is only lip service if you and I do not make the choice to move our spiritual gear shifters from park into drive.

Back in Deuteronomy, when Moses presented the Law given to him by God’s hand, he urges God’s people to “choose life.”

Back in Deuteronomy, when Moses presented the Law given to him by God’s hand, he urges God’s people to “choose life.”

Illustration: I will never forget sitting in the Ob/Gyn office of Perry FL.

Joanna was 22 weeks pregnant with Silas.

He had moved in her womb maybe once in 22 weeks.

Joanna was consistently loosing blood, how and where they did not know.

She had been constantly sick and weak the entire time.

We were looking for answers to what was wrong during this 3rd pregnancy, and the doctor did not have any answers except one: go to the hospital or local abortion provider and terminate the pregnancy for the sake of Joanna’s health.

I remember him saying, “you have 2 healthy baby girls and you need to make sure you have a healthy wife so she can be their mother in raising them.”

I looked at Joanna, Joanna looked at me and we looked at the doctor and said no, that is not something we can do.