Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
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Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Analytical
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Just One More Thing...
intro - columbo----describe it....then move toward choosing this scripture because of Joshua
----
pray
[confessionalpic]
As I leave, I want to do my best to continue what I started.
That is, I want to continue to be as transparent as possible from the pulpit, if for no other reason than to show you the reality of faith.
The reality that so many pastors seek to hide.
Faith is hard.
There are moments, every single day, where I have fallen short.
Days when I forget to read, or pray.
Days when I am angry and let, for just a moment, that anger dictate what I think or what I do.
We are all, after all, human.
But bigger than those passing mistakes, there are moments, days, weeks, months, where I live side by side with fear.
Not just in my life in general, though there have been many of those moments too!
Going off to the Army.
Jumping out of a plane when you haven’t ever even been on a plane before!
And you’re scared of heights.
Accepting Jesus, going to college, getting married, finding a career, having a baby.
All of those normal life moments, and far too many more to count, came with a healthy, and sometimes overwhelming, amount of fear.
Even when you are in the midst of God’s plans, fear can still shake you.
I remember standing in the breezeway where we now have our coffee fellowship, and I was there waiting for the vote.
And right there, with Kate and the girls, my fears, which had lingered for months in the back of my mind came out.
“I don’t think I can do it,” I said.
I don’t think I can write a sermon every week.
I don’t think I can counsel anyone with problems in their life.
I don’t think that I can lead a church filled with people who know just as much about God as I do - and some even more!
I can’t do it.
[walkingaway]
There was a part of my soul, that day, that felt like running away.
Not because I didn’t feel like I was on God’s path.
No I felt that.
But because fear was getting the best of me.
Fear, was seeking to take over my heart, even in the midst of God’s plan for my life.
I hope you can understand that feeling, and I hope that if you don’t you never will.
Still, it is likely that one day you will.
And when it comes, I pray that you remember this day, and this text.
This day, because if nothing else, I want to be an example of the normalcy of that feeling and of faith for you!
A normalcy that doesn’t mask the difficult and act as if faith were a thing that we just suddenly have, but the acknowledgement that faith is a constantly evolving part of our lives.
One that calls us here and there, and shows up in different people different ways.
And this text, church, because I imagine that is exactly how Joshua felt in this moment.
[picofjoshuaandmosesdying]
I say that because this is a man, Joshua, who has spent his life following.
Don’t get me wrong, I am sure that he has done a great many things on his own.
And even when doing things he was told to do, did some pretty courageous stuff!
You see, Joshua was one of 12 spies sent by Moses into Canaan; one from each tribe.
Back then, he was called Hoshea, from the tribe of Ephraim.
Moses instead calls him Joshua.
So these 12 were sent to spy.
And after 40 days of doing just that, they returned to everyone to report on what they saw.
I am sure some of you know what happens next.
Ten of the twelve report back that while a good land, it is impossible to win.
They looked at their situation and predetermined that no matter what God wanted they couldn’t do it!
And you know what?
Those thoughts became contagious.
That fear spread throughout all the people!
And they started fighting each other and finding ways to get Moses out of power.
They couldn’t see a future, so instead of just chasing after what God had already promised, they wanted to find someone who would lead them by joining in their fear of God’s will - in their fear of change.
But Caleb and Joshua stood up to them all.
They didn’t let that fear push them down, so they stand and tell them this.
Numbers 14:8-
Don’t fear them.
Fear God.
Do what God says, and you have no need to worry.
And all the people, picked up rocks to stone them.
And if it wasn’t for God’s glory surrounding them and protecting them, they would have no doubt killed them.
So Joshua knew that same fear we feel.
But he had overcome it with God’s help.
Still, just like us, the first time you overcome that fear can be the easiest of them all!
What you don’t know, doesn’t hurt you, if you will.
But that next time.
The next moment the fear rises in you, it attacks you harder than ever!
And our text bears that out.
You see not only had Joshua gone through this before, but he had also been prepared by Moses for this moment!
Moses knows he is dying, and knows what must be done, so he commissions Joshua - by God’s leading - to be the next ruler of the chosen people.
Joshua had some time to digest this.
He had been prepared for this moment.
And He likely knew full well he was right in the midst of God’s will!
Still he was scared.
Just like us.
Be strong and courageous, God tells him.
And us.
Joshua 1:
Be strong and courageous, God tells him.
And us.
Be strong and courageous, God tells him.
And us.
Be strong because God is our strength and our song!
Be strong because no thing in this life - no obstacle, no situation, no relationship, no social setting - there is nothing that is too big for you!
And church, there is nothing that is too big for you because there is nothing bigger than God.
No one can ever stand before you, church, as long as God goes before you.
But that is hard to remember in the midst of that fear.
I know that, because that is exactly why God reminds Joshua of that here!
This person God created for this moment stood in fear!
That should remind us that fear isn’t a reminder of our inability for a given situation, but rather a reminder of God’s provision in everything!
No matter which way things go there is no reason to fear!
But church, we have every reason to praise Him!
We have every reason to worship Him! Sure we might not understand His plan, but that isn’t what He asks of us!
And that isn’t what He asks of Joshua either!
You don’t have to understand!
Just be strong in the moment!
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