Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.07UNLIKELY
Fear
0.13UNLIKELY
Joy
0.64LIKELY
Sadness
0.57LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.63LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.65LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.72LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.64LIKELY
Extraversion
0.12UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.79LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.7LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
[1] Title
Many of us know that God is calling us to something more, but we don’t know where to start.
Throughout this series, the challenge is to leave our lives of ‘good enough’ behind as we embrace a life that is greater.
To begin, let’s look at the calling of Elisha to understand how God has issued three invitations to all of us.
[2,3,4,5,6]
I want to read one more verse from the New Testament.
Jesus talking.
[7] Title
Prayer
3 INVITATIONS FROM GOD:
Parallels of Elisha’s life and ours.
Entire book is about Elisha from before he knew it.
Elijah - depression.
Scared for his life, took off running.
Tired of fighting battles with wicked people.
1.
A HIGHER CALLING
Entire book is about Elisha from before he knew it.
Elijah - depression.
Scared for his life, took off running.
Tired of fighting battles with wicked people.
“Most of us are not in danger of ruining our lives.
We face a much greater danger-wasting them.”
Elisha wasn’t searching for greater when he was invited to a higher calling.
Elisha was plowing his fields when Elijah’s cloak hit him, signifying the calling God was passing on to him.
God’s greater calling happens in a moment.
But it’s your response to accept this greater calling.
Requires willingness to follow a person, not a plan.
God is inviting you to escape the same scenery of defeat, negativity, o reven material possessions.
This doesn’t always mean doing something different, but perhaps living where you are with a gerater passion and purpose.
2. A DEEPER SURRENDER
When Elisha accepted God’s invitation to a greater life, he left nothing for himself to go back to.
Elisha accepted God’s invitation by literally burning everything that tied him to his previous life of ‘good enough.’
God doesn’t wait for you to be ready to accept the invitation to deeper surrender.
He wants you to burn everything tethering you to the world behind you and fully trust him as you move forward.
You must make the decision to leave the world behind you, placing the Cross before you.
What are the plows God wants you to burn?
Dependencies
Ways of Thinking
Bitterness
Resentment
Excuses
3. GREATER THINGS
Jesus didn’t say that we would do greater things than him, but that we would do greater things through him. .
Whoever beleives in him...
He wants your open-ended obedience to say, “Yes, God, I will follow you.”
Accepting the invitation to greater things starts with a decisive break with everything tying you to a life of good enough.
If God takes something from you or removes you from a situation that you thought was good to begin with, he is inviting you to something greater.
Double Portion, No Remorse
Elisha gave up a lot to chase after Elijah, but he got back something even greater.
Years after Elisha began following Elijah, just before turning the ministry over, the student asks the mentor for a staggering blessing: a double portion.
Elijah was regarded as the most powerful prophet in the history of God’s people.
His miracles were unparalleled, his stories unprecedented.
Their story together ends with chariots of fire and and horses of fire as Elijah ascends in a whirlwind.
Yet, as Elijah is ascending, God delivers: a double portion .
It would have been remarkable enough to simply share in the miracles - but God wanted to give him something greater.
Greater signs, greater wonders, greater authority, greater faith.
(we don’t have because we don’t ask)
I don’t know if Elisha had any second thoughts about going with Elijah or burning the plows or asking for a double portion - but I bet he didn’t when he was doing double the amount of miracles.
And you won’t either, at least not when you’ve taken your greater place in God and left your lesser life behind.
If you start having second thoughts about a wide-open journey with God, consider what’s at stake:
Greater authority and confidence in God than you’ve ever known.
Greater purpose as you approach everyday tasks
Greater joy in knowing that you’re in the sweet spot of God’s blessing
Greater influence over the people around you
Greater impact in the world.
Burning the plow is great.
The rewards you experience on the other side of obedience are so much greater.
Discover what the greater life looks like.
Burn the plows.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9