Sermon Tone Analysis

Series Intro

This year’s Vacation Bible School theme is Rolling River Rampage, where will be inviting children on a white-water rafting adventure to experience the ride of a lifetime with God!

In the weeks leading up to VBS, we will look at stories of water in the Bible, and like any story in the Bible, they aren’t written for us to enjoy (although they are exciting), but their primary purpose is to actually help us better understand God.

This morning I want us to wrestle with that side of God that we may not like so much.

People all around the world need to know that God loves us.

There are so many hurting people, who have not experienced love that desperately need to experience God.

It makes me sad to hear preachers who preach guilt, wrath and judgment more than they preach love.

Love is the most important thing that we need to know about God.

But we can’t forget God’s justice.

Judgment is also a part of God’s character.

This sermon is about a God who loves, but who also punishes evil.

When I was putting this series together, the most obvious story about water that came to mind is one of the most well known stories in the Bible: Noah’s ark.

One of the reasons why this story is so well known, is that you can see pictures of the story in many places:

Shopping for baby stuff.

Murals in Nurseries: The theme of in the new baby rooms.

Baby clothing.

Toys.

You can imagine the picture: Pairs of cute animals lined up, Noah standing on top if the boat, with a beautiful rainbow over his head.

Nothing inaccurate about that, but it’s only part of the story.

This is where I wish we had the screen (but maybe that’s a good thing).

Use your imagination when I read this story: paint a mural in your minds:

This is the Word of God for the people of God.

Sermon Intro

Imagine painting that on a nursery wall.

The story of Noah shows how easy it has become for us to gloss over the ugliness of the Bible.

Some of that might be because children’s curriculum and children’s story books leave out the graphic stuff.

Part of it might be that we don’t like that stuff.

There are so many stories of violence, stories of God’s wrath being poured out on entire civilizations.

If we believe that Bible reveals God to us, then we have to wrestle with the ugly stuff too.

But I’m not just going to ruin the story of Noah for you.

Even though it is an ugly story, it can help us.

Noah can show us the kind of people we should be.

The flood can actually give us hope: God’s judgment is a part of God’s good plan.

sanitized stories, teachers facing tough questions (why did God?)

Russel Crowe’s Noah had too many hollywood inaccuracies, but they got two things right: they didn’t overlook how bad things had gotten in Noah’s day, and they showed how this story is ultimately a story about God’s story, and God’s judgment leads to human suffering.

but there is good news:

God makes new beginnings to continue his good kingdom on earth.

like a parent horrified at the behaviour of their children

Noah: Walking with God

Genesis 6:

what if we measured every decision, every action, every situation, every thought with the question, “Am I walking in agreement with God?” That’s a high standard.

e.g.

confirmation, is sin ever avoidable?

easy for us to say no? yes, God has given us everything we need to avoid temptation

I don’t expect to ever walk in full agreement with God, I do expect to fall and need forgiveness, but I must try;

walking with God - not literal; it means to be in agreement; to fundamental

how many of you are in complete agreement with the person sitting next to you? (I could really have fun with that) the people riding in your car on the way home today?

disagreeing with people is a very human experience.

we can’t expect to agree with everyone about everything.

but you have to admit, fundamental disagreements in a marriage (or courtship) can create a challenge in your relationship: I’m not talking about politics.

How do discipline children.

Inlaws.

Household responsibilities.

How to spend or give money.

there is no agree to disagree with God.

we have doubts.

we question the will of God.

we get confused about God’s will.

we might

Try this out for a litmus test: what if we measured every decision, every action, every situation, every thought with the question, “Am I walking in agreement with God?” That’s a high standard.

e.g.

confirmation, and I read the words of Jesus:

I don’t expect to ever walk in full agreement with God, I do expect to fall and need forgiveness, but I must try;

I don’t expect to ever walk in full agreement with God, I do expect to fall and need forgiveness, but I must try;

Living in agreement with God, walking with God means...

e.g.

Living in agreement with God; roommate; Alexander Hamilton?

Living in contrast with the world;

walking with God

Noah: Living in Contrast

what is the real difference?

choosing to do, and choosing not to do;

biblical separation - in the world but not of the world; going to far (isolation from the world,

the only catholic at the table; but there was consistency; outward act was consistent with their actions;

I need to be in worship this morning, can’t do that; Im not watching that movie.

I’m not using that language.

I’m not laughing at that disrespectful, irreverent joke;

The best way to live in contrast, is the way we deal with conflict.

Our relationships.

By this will all know you are my s

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people.

the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and was full of violence.

Genesis 6:11

Genesis 6:9

A natural outcome of walking with God.

s

what is the real difference?

choosing to do, and choosing not to do;

Noah stuck out.

He didn’t belong.

He didn’t fit in.

The way he lived was so different.

biblical separation - in the world but not of the world; going to far (isolation from the world,

e.g.

no red meat on Fridays, a sign for penance for traditional catholics; the only catholic at the table; but there was consistency; the that dietary tradition would have been a joke if she hadn’t lived

(maybe there is an outward act for us (ashes on ash wednesday; driving to church; wearing a Christian shirt or hat (honk if you love Jesus) a symbol without the reality - those outward signs can create opportunities for our witness or they can be detrimental to our witness if we they are not consistent with our witness

One of the things I’ve observed in Christianity, is that

Noah stood out.

He was noticed for his actions.

His behavior.