Sermon Tone Analysis

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Years ago, when my wife and I were leading a High School Sunday School class at the church she grew up in…the church I was radically saved in, we had a guest come and share.

The young lady said something I’ve never forgotten.

“You can talk the talk, you might even walk the walk - but can you live the death?”

TALKING THE TALK

- The way I interpreted it - I think she was sharing how easy it is to engage in religious talk.

SOME SETTLE FOR RELIGIOUS TALK.

(Think of the rich young ruler in …said the right things, but it when it was time to walk - he bailed.)

LOOK BACK AT OUR TEXT

See the talker?

The “hearer” only?

Yes, I go to church.

I’m a faithful member of West Cabarrus Church.

I say “yes” and amen to every sermon.

WALKING THE WALK

- Some personality types are more prone to ACTION - WALKING THE WALK…but their heart isn’t pure and their motives don’t glorify the LORD.

(Think of the people that were doing all the big things, in Jesus name in , but their hearts weren’t his!

They had skipped the great commandment and shot right to the needs of their neighbors…)

The Pharisees were also great examples of these.

They put their faith into action, forgetting that the LORD rejects the boastful ()

LOOK BACK AT OUR TEXT

See the walker?

The one who almost has it?

He’s walking it out, but can’t control his tongue.

/ She talks about all the wrong things, (self too much) while she’s going.

They want to do cool Jesus stuff…but they make sure everyone knows what they’re doing

LIVING THE DEATH

- Can you live the death?

What a question…seems morbid.

But it threw me immediately, as I’m sure it did many of you, to Paul’s note about dying daily in

…or this thought of dying to the sinful desires of the flesh in

Can we put to death our pride, our need for congratulations, our self-centered, self-advancing, self-preservation, pleasure-driven, adrenaline-addicted (OR leisure-junkie), me-focused motives to love one another with brotherly affection so that we endeavor to selflessly reveal the gospel as we outdo one another in showing honor.

()

Can we put to death our pride, our need for congratulations, our self-centered, self-advancing, self-preservation, pleasure-driven, adrenaline-addicted (OR leisure-junkie), me-focused motives to love one another with brotherly affection so that we endeavor to selflessly reveal the gospel as we outdo one another in showing honor.

()

Love one another with brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

LOOK AT OUR TEXT

jam 1.22

See the talker?

The “hearer” only?

Yes, I go to church.

I’m a faithful member of West Cabarrus Church.

I say “yes” and amen to every sermon.

See the walker?

The one who almost has it?

He’s walking it out, but can’t control his tongue.

/ She talks about all the wrong things, (self too much) while she’s going.

See the walker?

The one who almost has is?

See the selfless, baseline outworking of a pure religion that is focussed on Jesus and looking out for others?

The whole, “it’s not a religion, it’s a relationship” could better be expressed: Biblical Christianity is not an outward religion of showing up to hear about God-things, then doing enough stuff so that we look like Christians.

It is an all out surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, obedience to the Scriptures and submitting to the authority of the local church.

These relationships affect and give shape to our views, our affections, our passions, and our conversations.

________

BACK TO VERSE 27

BACK TO VERSE 27

Let’s bear down on verse 27 for a moment.

If we look at this whole picture we see this dichotomy of Hearing vs. Doing.

If we look at this whole picture we see this dichotomy of Hearing vs. Doing.

Hearing only = Deceived.

Doing =

Engaged in Pure Religion (displayed as Gospel-revealing)

Blessed in his doing (v25b)

Bridled tongue (v26)

stand before the Father (v27)

visit the afflicted (v27)

orphans

widows

keeps oneself unstained (v27)

THE TONE OF Verse 27 reveals conduct more so than exhaustively defines.

Key Terms

KEY TERMS MENTIONED HERE:

Visit = (episkeptomai) to mark, choose, look after, take care of, to see to...

Affliction = (thlipsis) tribulation, suffering, trouble, anguish, persecution, burden

Orphan = a child who has lost both parents, either to death or separation.

[Scripture recognizes them as a vulnerable group of people to whom God shows special kindness.

He expects his people to do the same.

Those who exploit them incur God’s judgment.]

Orphan = a child who has lost both parents, either to death or separation.

[Scripture recognizes them as a vulnerable group of people to whom God shows special kindness.

He expects his people to do the same.

Those who exploit them incur God’s judgment.]

Children whose parents are dead; a vulnerable group of people to whom God shows special kindness.

He expects his people to do the same.

Those who exploit them incur God’s judgment.

Widow = a state of woman who has lost her husband and has not remarried.

This was often a dangerous state for a woman in ancient times because economic security was often based on a husband’s income and work.

[God’s tender concern for bereaved wives is declared throughout the whole of Scripture.

He defends their rights and expects his people to do the same.]

NOTE: outlines how the Christian community - the church - is to identify and care for widows.

Affliction = (thlipsis) tribulation, suffering, trouble, anguish, persecution, burden

QUESTION: WHAT OTHER SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY DO YOU BELIEVE THE CHURCH SHOULD VISIT?

ALLOW FOR RESPONSE

Prisoners

Homeless

Sick (terminal)

Elderly

Marginalized

THOSE ARE VALID AND LIKELY NECESSARY GROUPS…BUT THEY ARE IN ADDITION TO THESE, NOT IN THE PLACE OF THESE.

“Together in Serving - Our First Order of Service” - before we build a children’s or student ministry or begin serving one another in the functions of the liturgy of the local church WE MUST RUN TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR THE VOICELESS AND THE VULNERABLE.

Together in WORSHIP - Real religion looks a certain way from God’s perspective / Bible