Sermon Tone Analysis

Before I get into the heart of our scripture lesson from 2 Timothy, I wanted to pose the question, Where do you work?

Or maybe a better way to say this, what is your occupation in life past or present.

Now, while this may seem strange take a couple seconds to think about your profession in how,

* How do you think others perceive your job?

* How do you think others perceive your job?

* How do you think others perceive your job?

* How do you think others perceive your job?

* How do you think others perceive your job?

* What are the expectations for your work?

* What are the expectations for your work?

* What are the expectations for your work?

* What are the expectations for your work?

* What are the expectations or responsibilities for your work?

* What responsibilities do you have?

* What responsibilities do you have?

* What responsibilities do you have?

* What responsibilities do you have?

* And also what was the attitude you had in your day to day routine?

* And also what was the attitude you had in your day to day routine?

* And also what was the attitude you had in your day to day routine?

* And also what was the attitude you had in your day to day routine?

* And also what was the attitude you had in your day to day routine?

(Pause)

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(Pause)

(Pause)

(Pause)

Alright now hold onto those answers because those answers help define who you are.

As a collective, not just those here but all of humanity loves categorizing everything that we can name and also associate some group of traits to the category.

This could be anything from personality types, cars, food, or profession.

If I was to start talking about a pediatric doctor, your mind would imagine a doctor who specializes in the care of children and to a certain extent, you may even presume what type of person they are because of their profession.

In the case of the pediatric doctor, that it would be a person with a particular strong carrying nature toward children.

The same would apply if I started talking about a police officer, or teacher, or utility worker, and so on.

As a student-athlete, at first, I did not believe that I had any job while I was in middle school or high school.

Unlike some of my friends, I did not work at a fast food place or any other restaurant, nor did I ever work at a retail store.

The closest I came to a real job was doing maintenance work on an aquarium for a church member one summer with my dad.

Despite thinking that I did not have a job, my parents drilled into my head that I did, in fact, have a job, and it was towards my education and my athletics.

Alright now hold onto those answers because those answers help define who you are.

As a collective, not just those here but all of humanity loves categorizing everything that we can name and also associate some group of traits to the category.

This could be anything from personality types, cars, food, or profession.

If I was to start talking about a pediatric doctor, your mind would imagine a doctor who specializes in the care of children and to a certain extent, you may even presume what type of person they are because of their profession.

In the case of the pediatric doctor, that it would be a person with a particular strong carrying nature toward children.

The same would apply if I started talking about a police officer, or teacher, or utility worker, and so on.

As a student-athlete, at first, I did not believe that I had any job while I was in middle school or high school, unlike some of my friends I did not work at a fast food place.

The closest I came to a real job was doing maintenance work on an aquarium one summer with my dad.

Dispute thinking that I did not have a job, my parents drilled into my head that I did, in fact, have a job, and it was towards my education and my athletics.

Alright now hold onto those answers because those answers help define who you are.

As a collective, not just those here but all of humanity loves categorizing everything that we can name and also associate some group of traits to the category.

This could be anything from personality types, cars, food, or profession.

If I was to start talking about a pediatric doctor, your mind would imagine a doctor who specializes in the care of children and to a certain extent, you may even presume what type of person they are because of their profession.

In the case of the pediatric doctor, that it would be a person with a particular strong carrying nature toward children.

The same would apply if I started talking about a police officer, or teacher, or utility worker, and so on.

As a student-athlete, at first, I did not believe that I had any job while I was in middle school or high school, unlike some of my friends I did not work at a fast food place.

The closest I came to a real job was doing maintenance work on an aquarium one summer with my dad.

Dispute thinking that I did not have a job, my parents drilled into my head that I did, in fact, have a job, and it was towards my education and my athletics.

Alright now hold onto those answers because those answers help define who you are.

As a collective, not just those here but all of humanity loves categorizing everything that we can name and also associate some group of traits to the category.

This could be anything from personality types, cars, food, or profession.

If I was to start talking about a pediatric doctor, your mind would imagine a doctor who specializes in the care of children and to a certain extent, you may even presume what type of person they are because of their profession.

In the case of the pediatric doctor, that it would be a person with a particular strong carrying nature toward children.

The same would apply if I started talking about a police officer, or teacher, or utility worker, and so on.

As a student-athlete, at first, I did not believe that I had any job while I was in middle school or high school, unlike some of my friends I did not work at a fast food place.

The closest I came to a real job was doing maintenance work on an aquarium one summer with my dad.

Dispute thinking that I did not have a job, my parents drilled into my head that I did, in fact, have a job, and it was towards my education and my athletics.

Alright now hold onto those answers because those answers help define who you are.

As a collective, not just those here but all of humanity loves categorizing everything that we can name and also associate some group of traits to the category.

This could be anything from personality types, cars, food, or profession.

If I was to start talking about a pediatric doctor, your mind would imagine a doctor who specializes in the care of children and to a certain extent, you may even presume what type of person they are because of their profession.

In the case of the pediatric doctor, that it would be a person with a particular strong carrying nature toward children.

The same would apply if I started talking about a police officer, or teacher, or utility worker, and so on.

As a student-athlete, at first, I did not believe that I had any job while I was in middle school or high school, unlike some of my friends I did not work at a fast food place.

The closest I came to a real job was doing maintenance work on an aquarium one summer with my dad.

Dispute thinking that I did not have a job, my parents drilled into my head that I did, in fact, have a job, and it was towards my education and my athletics.

As a student, I was expected to maintain good academic standings and turn in work that was of good quality.

I was personally responsible for keeping track of assignments, when they are due and letting my parents know if I needed aid, and in talking with my teachers if I encountered difficulties instead of waiting for my parents to say something.

While it was okay if I did not like or enjoy my classes day to day, I was still supposed to put my best foot forward.

As a student, I was expected to maintain good academic standings and turn in work that was of good quality.

I was personally responsible for keeping track of assignments, when they are due and letting my parents know if I need aid, and in talking with my teachers if I encountered difficulties instead of waiting for my parents to say something.

While it was okay if I did not like or enjoy my classes day to day, I was still supposed to put my best foot forward.

As a student, I was expected to maintain good academic standings and turn in work that was of good quality.

I was personally responsible for keeping track of assignments, when they are due and letting my parents know if I need aid, and in talking with my teachers if I encountered difficulties instead of waiting for my parents to say something.

While it was okay if I did not like or enjoy my classes day to day, I was still supposed to put my best foot forward.

As a student, I was expected to maintain good academic standings and turn in work that was of good quality.

I was personally responsible for keeping track of assignments, when they are due and letting my parents know if I need aid, and in talking with my teachers if I encountered difficulties instead of waiting for my parents to say something.

While it was okay if I did not like or enjoy my classes day to day, I was still supposed to put my best foot forward.

As a student, I was expected to maintain good academic standings and turn in work that was of good quality.

I was personally responsible for keeping track of assignments, when they are due and letting my parents know if I need aid, and in talking with my teachers if I encountered difficulties instead of waiting for my parents to say something.

While it was okay if I did not like or enjoy my classes day to day, I was still supposed to put my best foot forward.

We have all heard this line about, "putting our best foot forward," whether it was something one of you may have said to your child, or maybe heard from your parents.

When it came to my athletics, my responsibilities to my track and field team helped me to realize that I actually did have a job.

On my team, I was more than just another runner or thrower, but I was the team's chaplain and relay captain for the guys.

On that team, I was responsible for both the well being of my fellow runners but also in assisting with training of the next generation of relay runners.

Compared to my education, while the responsibilities were equally present and necessary I felt a greater pull to my position on the track and field team.

When people asked to learn more about who I am, one of the first things out of my mouth was "I am the chaplain for my track and field team and the relay captain for the guys."

This simple statement became part of my identity as a person.

We have all heard this line and drive before, whether it was something one of y'all said to your child, or maybe heard from your parents.

But when it came to my athletics, my responsibilities to my track and field team did I realize that I actually did have a job.

On my team, I was more than just another runner or thrower, but I was the team's chaplain and relay captain for the guys.

On that team, I was responsible for both the well being of my fellow runners but also in assisting with training of the next generation of relay runners.

Compared to my educations, while the responsibilities were equally present and necessary I felt a greater pull to my office on the track and field team.