Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

AG: A barber in a small town was busy cutting hair one day when the local cop walked in to get a haircut.

And the barber was feeling a bit generous that day, so he said to the cop... "Since you do such a good job protecting us, and watching over us... today’s haircut is free."

The cop said he appreciated that, and the next day when the barber showed up at his shop, there were a dozen donuts waiting for him.

In walks a local florist.

The barber tells him how much he appreciates all the work that he has done around town, planting bushes and flowers and making the town look real nice, so he gives him a free haircut.

The next day, the barber shows up at his shop and there are a dozen flowers waiting for him.

In walks the local preacher, the barber tells him how he is feeling generous that day, and how much he appreciates all his hard work with the children and taking care of the needs of the people, so the preacher gets a free haircut.

The next the barber shows up at his shop, and there are a dozen preachers waiting there for him.

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TS: This morning as we look at and following, we find Paul still in protective custody of the Romans.

He is no longer chained and apparently faces no more charges from that angle.

He appears before the Sanhedrin to deal with matters of Jewish law.

Sanhedrin background-

This was the Jewish ruling body and consisted of 71 members which included the High Priest.

They were the final authority on Jewish Law and practice.

Sects:

Pharisees

The Pharisees were a small (about 6,000), legalistic sect of the Jews who were known for their rigid adherence to the ceremonial fine points of the law.

Their name means “separated ones.”

Sadducees

Sadducees

The Sadducees were known for their denial of things supernatural.

They denied the resurrection of the dead (22:23) and the existence of angels (Ac 23:8).

Unlike the Pharisees, they rejected human tradition and scorned legalism.

They accepted only the Pentateuch as authoritative.

They tended to be wealthy, aristocratic members of the priestly tribe

Pharisees and Sadducees had little in common.

Pharisees were ritualists; Sadducees were rationalists.

Pharisees were legalists; Sadducees were liberals.

Pharisees were separatists; Sadducees were compromisers and political opportunists.

Paul again focuses on Jesus as his only defense.

In this case, he hones in on the resurrection.

Paul again focuses on Jesus as his only defense.

In this case, he hones in on the resurrection.

RS: The resurrection of Jesus remains a subject of vital importance.

I don’t plan to re-preach my Easter message, so let me summarize it this way.

The resurrection is God’s down payment and ultimate proof that we can have eternal life.

Our risen Savior, Jesus, lives and intercedes on our behalf even now.

Our hope in the resurrection is a central tenet of the faith we have received.

US:

Paul’s Lifestyle

EX: Paul lived to keep a clear conscience

EX: Paul lived to keep a clear conscience

He begins by stating he has done all he can to live before God with a clear conscience.

Conscience has been called the soul’s warning system.

It allows us to contemplate our motives and actions.

It enables us to make moral evaluations of what is right and wrong.

When our conscience is informed by God’s word and Spirit, it can function as God intended.

This comes only through submitting to the Holy Spirit through God’s Word

Heb

God can shape our conscience and convict us.

This is how Paul lived.

Kept a clean conscience by following God

he strived to please the Father

AP: Keep a clear conscience.

a. Inform your conscience from God’s word

take His view on issues

follow His promptings.

b.

Don’t ignore it.

When ignored or informed by other sources, its judgement gets off track and we can grow deaf to it.

When ignored we can grow deaf to it.

God can be screaming conviction at us, but we get used to ignoring it.

Our moral compass essentially shuts down

c. Don’t misinform it.

Be cautious where you get your morals.

The unregenerate heart can feel fine with sin which has been embraced.

We can justify our actions in numerous ways, usually selfish.

It is possible to misinform the conscience and we end up embracing sin rather than shunning it.

Corruption in High Places

EX: Ananias was one of Israel’s cruelest and most corrupt men to hold the office of High Priest.

Ananias was one of Israel’s cruelest and most corrupt men to hold the office of High Priest.

He was pro-Roman in policy and alienated many Jewish people.

He would be among the first killed in the Jewish Revolt of AD 66.

Ananias ordered Paul struck for his statement.

an illegal an uncalled for act.

Paul responded to the violation of Jewish Law.

He called him a whitewashed wall (doesn’t sound too bad does it?)

Paul was invoking high criticism when said that the hypocritical Ananias was inwardly corrupt with a thin layer of whitewash.

Even though Ananias was evil and dishonest, he still held a God-ordained office.

It was pointed out that he had violated that office.

Paul immediately corrected himself.

Paul apologizes for disrespecting the office

AP: We see much corruption today.

I have seen a pattern repeated in many churches.

legitimate issues arise

AP: Respect the office

compromises of God’s word

Sin

Church properly carries out discipline

whether it is a member or minister matters litle

If there is no repentance, the Bible is followed and they are removed.

THEN- it becomes a pattern

criticism and condemnation become the normal mode.

It leads to corruption in the church

Stand for truth!

The Main Argument

EX: Paul brought the spotlight on the main point, Resurrection.

Paul had seen the resurrected Savior!