Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Introduction: Efforts To Earn God’s Favor

dIntroduction: Efforts To Earn God’s Favor

*

Some sports superstitions are stranger than others.

For example, Michael Jordan (a graduate of North Carolina) always wore his blue North Carolina shorts under his Bulls uniform for good luck.

Watched each of 4 children being born

Each one came w/ nervousness of unknown, heaviness of responsibility, wooziness of watching childbirth

Firstborn, the doc has me cut the chord > Adventure began

Baseball players may be the most superstitious.

Pitcher Turk Wendell brushes his teeth and chews licorice between every inning.

Wade Boggs would eat only chicken the day of a game and used to draw a symbol that means “To Life” in the dirt before every at-bat.

Former pitcher Mark “The Bird” Fidrych used to play with the dirt on the mound and talk to himself and the ball before he pitched.

Fathers have a God-given authority in the home

Red Sox shortstop Nomoar Garciaparra gets dressed the same way every day, makes sure to step on each dugout step with both feet, and tugs at his batting gloves and taps his toes during each at-bat.

How This World Seeks Favor From Higher Power

Man w/ unchecked authority is scary

Superstition in our culture .

Man under Christ’s authority is blessing

Should use authority to represent Christ as pastor of home

You are a steward of those God entrusted to you

Thinking there is some “force” out there we need to please so that we might have favorable circumstances.

Kingdom to come, you will no longer have that authority in your family > So how will you hand off your wife & kids to the LORD?

How We Receive God’s Favor

Not found in the same tactics as false religions

Not Found in visiting holy sites or holding certain objects > superstition = an irrational but usually deep-seated belief in the magical effects of a particular action or ritual, especially in the likelihood that good or bad luck will result from performing it

Not Found In Tradition or Religious Rites (works based)

.

God doesn’t respond to these things.

All other religions in the world are man trying to work their way to God.

Christianity is the only one where God reaches down to helpless man.

There is nothing you can do to earn God’s favor.

It is unearned and undeserved, as it says in "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Today we will look at various stories that will bring to life these truths and refresh them in our minds.

I. DO WELL UNDER EARTHLY AUTHORITY (7:1-5)

1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Just finished teaching Sermon on the Plain outside town

Enters Capernaum, His adopted hometown & base of ministry > where He performs many miracles

2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him.

Highly Respected Centurion

Centurion = commander over 100 soldiers

Must be steady, reliable, able to follow orders & give orders > men of excellence & integrity

From what we learn about them, they must be steady and reliable, able to follow orders and give orders.

Each example in NT is one of excellence, strength & integrity

See this kind of character displayed by centurions mentioned in NT

Unusual to have such a close relationship w/ servant > servants usually seen as possessions > masters could put slaves to death without any ramifications

Slaves were usually seen as possessions > A master could put his slave to death without any ramifications.

Takes care of everyone under his roof & under his authority

3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

Hears of Jesus, miracles, gracious teaching

Turns to religious authorities to find Jesus for him

Learn more about this particular centurion

Worthy

Loves the Jewish people

Build synagogue

He is a “God Fearer” > Not an official proselyte > Not circumcised

GOOD MAN

Good reason to believe the Jews came up with reasoning on their own

Continue to read the story & centurion approaches Jesus differently

Operated on works based acceptance & obligation

Continue to read the story & centurion approaches Jesus differently

.

Humble Faith of Underserving Centurion (7:1-10)

Centurion did well w/ authority

Did well submitting to Caesar & representing emperor to world

Did well using authority for good & serving others

Could not exert own authority to solve problem

Could not appeal to earthy authority to solve problem

Found himself IMPOTENT to carry out his role > Impotent w/ family, employment, spiritual condition

“Centurion ”—Commander over 100 soldiers, but at the time, the number varied (possibly 80)

1. “Centurion ”—Commander over 100 soldiers, but at the time, the number varied (possibly 80)

From what we learn about them, they must be steady and reliable, able to follow orders and give orders.

Must be men of strength & integrity, as we see this kind of character displayed by centurions mentioned in NT.

It was unusual for him to have such a close relationship with his servant.

his servant.

Slaves were usually seen as possessions > A master could put his slave to death without any ramifications.

Jesus just finished teaching the Sermon on the Mount outside of town, and He enters Capernaum, His adopted hometown where He performs many miracles.

In , Matthew makes it sound as if the centurion goes to Jesus himself.

There is no mentioning of sending anyone.

The Centurion’s Faith In Jesus’ Authority

His point is illustrating the idea that those he sent did his bidding just as if he was there in person.

This brings out an interesting relationship between the gentile centurion and the Jewish Elders.

He must’ve been a man who feared God, because he built their synagogue and loved the Jews.

Elders respected him enough to go at his word and represent him.

Said that he was worthy & deserved God’s favor for what he did.

The centurion felt comfortable enough with the Jewish Elders, but was aware of his unworthiness in the presence of Jesus

It has been said, "God sends none away empty hut those who are full of themselves.

”—unknown

This is the focal point of the story: Jesus was amazed at this man’s faith!

TURNS TO HEAVENLY AUTHORITY

The centurion compares Jesus’ relationship with the Father to his own relationship to his superiors.

Because of his faith in Jesus, that He had authority over sickness, his servant was healed. .

The centurion’s faith was in stark contrast to the Jew’s Faith

The Israelites were expected to have faith because they had the Word of God ().

Text

They showed no humility before Christ, rather thought themselves righteous before God, and worthy of God’s favor.

Knowing Our Unworthiness Before God!

*Making mistake of not owning my mistake!

Time when I was concerned about protecting my reputation even when I was wrong, by making excuses.

Until I worked for a godly man who wouldn’t put up with this.

I quickly learned that if I admitted my mistake, that’s all he wanted to hear, then he would (help you through it.

Peter’s response to Jesus... “Go away from me Lord; lam a sinful man!” ()