Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Hello Calvary!

Welcome.

If you’ve been here for the last couple of months we have been going through a series called “Alive!”

The series is based on and it centers around the statement “Since we have been made alive in Christ we are free to live like Christ.”

Over the last few weeks we have looked at how to be setting aside our old lives and setting our sights on our new life in Christ.

We’ve been looking at how Christ transforms us so we actually become MORE of ourselves as we come closer to the image of God, Jesus.

Phil talked about how our new self, our new identity is rooted in the love God has for us.

Morning Calvary!

For those of you that have been with us over the last month and a half or so we’ve been going through a series called “Alive!”

This series has been on .

It’s centered around the idea “Since we are made alive in Christ we are free to live like Christ.”

The verse we’re going to look at today is verse 15.

And if the overall theme of this series is that “Since we are made alive in Christ we are free to live like Christ.”

Then the theme of today’s passage is “Since we are made alive in Christ we are free to live in peace like Christ.”

So I want us to reread this passage and stop at verse 15 today which is where we’re going to focus in on today.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

Introduction & Recap

Hello Calvary!

Welcome.

If you’ve been here for the last couple of months we have been going through a series called “Alive!”

The series is based on and it centers around the statement “Since we have been made alive in Christ we are free to live like Christ.”

Over the last few weeks we have looked at how to be setting aside our old lives and setting our sights on our new life in Christ.

We’ve been looking at how Christ transforms us so we actually become MORE of ourselves as we come closer to the image of God, Jesus.

Phil talked about how our new self, our new identity is rooted in the love God has for us.

How is Christ an example of peace

So I want us to reread this passage and stop at verse 15 today which is where we’re going to focus in on today.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

What is the peace of Christ?

So off the bat there are a few questions about this passage.

The first one is “What is the peace of Christ?”

When I think of the peace of Christ one of the things that jumps out at me is an image of Jesus sitting in the boat during the storm.

The boat is rocking, the disciples are going nuts, and Jesus is just taking a snooze.

Not bothered, just completely rock solid.

Is that what this is talking about?

Is it talking about peace with God, peace with other people, inner peace?

I think the answer is yes.

All 3.

Where does the peace with God come from?

Well if we’re looking at

What does it mean to have the peace of Christ “rule” our hearts?

So the passage we’re

How does this make us alive?

If you have been watching the news this week you may have heard that the peace talks between USA and North Korea have fallen through and been cancelled.

A high-tension standoff had finally started to look like it was going to turn to peace only to have that hope, at least for now, torn away.

What is the peace of Christ?

Where does unity come from?

How does this free us to live like Christ?

How does that lead to thankfulness?

The natural response to a life lived like Christ

Wrap-up

What is the peace of Christ?

Looking at this passage it seems to have a few themes, peace, unity, and thankfulness.

So I want to be clear about where I’m going with this sermon off the bat because I think they are all tied together and they all link up with this main idea.

Like I said the main point of this sermon series is that “Since we are made alive with Christ we are free to live like Christ.”

The point of this verse and today’s sermon is that “since we are made alive with Christ we are free to live in peace like Christ.”

What does it mean to live in peace like Christ?

How did Christ demonstrate peace in his life?

Well there are a few ways that Christ demonstrated what it means to live in peace.

Peace with God

First off he demonstrated that what it’s like to live in peace with God.

Inner Peace

Secondly Jesus demonstrated inner peace.

Jesus despite his circumstances always displayed a constant calmness in the face of despair.

Peace with others

So off the bat there are a few questions about this passage.

One of the the first most obvious questions from this passage is “What is the peace of Christ?”

If we’reWhen I think of the peace of Christ one of the things that jumps out at me is an image of Jesus sitting in the boat during the storm.

The boat is rocking, the disciples are going nuts, and Jesus is just taking a snooze.

Not bothered, just completely rock solid.

Is that what this is talking about?

Is it talking about peace with God, inner peace, peace with other people?

I think the answer is yes.

All 3.

Where does the peace with God come from?

Well if we’re looking at

What does it mean to have the peace of Christ “rule” our hearts?

A few weeks ago, the conflict in Syria, which has lasted for over 7 years now, looked like it might actually get worse.