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.
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Announcements:
Welcome.
We’re continuing along in Matthew.
We’re watching the beginning of Jesus’ ministry unfold before us.
And one of the big questions we must reckon with revolves around the person of Jesus.
Who is Jesus?
Is Jesus a nice, sandal wearing hippie?
Is Jesus some spiritual mystic?
He said he was the Son of God; so is he a liar?
Did he lose his mind?
Or is he who he said he was?
Is he God’s very own son?
Because that means that many of us are living in God’s world and acting as if God doesn’t exist.
If Jesus is really God; if Jesus is ultimate reality; if Jesus is our Savior; it should change the way in which we do life.
Shouldn’t it?
It should change the way by which we engage the world.
It should change the way we treat others.
It should change the way we do everything.
Because that means that many people are living in God’s world and acting as if God doesn’t exist.
If Jesus is really God; if Jesus is ultimate reality; if Jesus is our Savior; it should change the way in which we do life.
Shouldn’t it?
It should change the way by which we engage the world.
Something I think we should ask ourselves right as we start this morning:
When you are faced with a big decision; who is the first person you consult for counsel?
When you are stressed; who is the first person you run to for comfort?
When you are tempted; where is the first place you go to for safety?
When you are restless; where is the first place you go to for peace?
How you answer those questions reveals much about how you view Jesus.
If Jesus is not the first person you turn to in all the critical and mundane moments of life, then how can you claim him as being the ultimate reality of your life?
If Jesus is not the source of truth from which every other point of your life submits, then Jesus is not the Lord of your life?
How you answer those questions reveals much about how you view Jesus.
If Jesus is not the first person we turn to in all the critical and mundane moments of life, then how can we claim him as being the ultimate reality of our lives?
If Jesus is not the source of truth from which every other point of our life submits, then Jesus is not the Lord of our lives?
John Mark is showing us the king who is ushering in a new kingdom.
Tim Keller calls it something like, “the upside down kingdom.”
Because Jesus contradicted all of the ideals of the culture and flipped them.
The writer is showing us the king who is ushering in a new kingdom.
God’s kingdom on God’s terms.
If you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.
Again, we’ve been talking about kingdoms because Jesus has been talking about kingdoms — and we’re trying to learn from Jesus.
We’re attempting to be guided along by Jesus.
Jesus ministry has started.
He is fulfilling the prophesies of old.
He is claiming to be God’s Son!
All of this is new, bizarre, and exciting!
Now, today what I’m intrigued about is that I think what we see in the text today runs so parallel to our current cultural climate.
There are so many similarities going on between what’s happening in this Biblical text and what is happening now — it’s interesting and there’s so much to learn and be encouraged, and also challenged by.
so first:
Power Dynamics
This is what intrigued the philosopher Nietzsche so much… this idea that everything is really about power.
We’re in a power struggle… everyone is advancing ideas and beliefs that give them influence and ultimately, more power.
I’m not saying I agree entirely with that idea, but it’s what Nietzsche spent a lot of time wrestling with.
Now I want to read this text along with the Gospel of Mark’s account, because Mark gives some extra interesting details.
So waht
So what in the world is happening here?
Try to follow this one: “Herod had married one of his brother’s nieces.
She became the wife of another one of his brother’s.
And Herod persuaded her to leave his brother and to marry Herod.
Healthy family dynamic, right?”
According to Jewish law, this was sinful because it was adultery and it was sinful because it was his brother’s wife.
Now, keep in mind, Herod isn’t a Jew, he’s not a Christian, he’s not a believer in the God of the Bible, but John is calling him out for his sin.
It’s interesting isn’t it.
It’s interesting because we’ve been told to compartmentalize these things… What are some cultural messages we’ve been influenced by whether we realize it or not:
Separate faith from public life
Not everyone is held to God’s standard
We see right away that John the Baptist didn’t do this!
He called a pagan, Herod, out for his sin!
What does this mean?
This again points to the idea of Kingdom, God’s kingdom.
If God is over all then his power is NOT limited or confined by whether or not people believe in him.
Truth is truth!
And if God is creator, if Jesus is the Son of God, then God’s truth will prevail.
Saint Augustine said:
“The truth is like a lion.
You don't have to defend it.
Let it loose.
It will defend itself.”
As Christians, we need not fear.
So many Christians are freaking out.
Historically, as Christianity moves to the margins of culture, it prevails all the more… a richer, truer church prevails.
I think it was Matt Chandler who said something to the effect of, if you want to see Christianity rise and flourish, persecute it!
Come against God’s Church and you will see God’s Church blossom!
Truth is truth.
You cannot nullify what is true, no matter how hard you try.
We can try and spin it, undermine it, ignore it, but in the end… TRUTH prevails and and the truth is God’s Alone!
Why is it so important to talk about AUTHORITY and POWER in our current time in history?
These are themes we talk about a lot.
I think power and authority are such important themes to talk about: (1) Because Jesus talks about them a lot.
(2) The Bible talks about them a lot.
(3) Our postmodern context (i.e. the world that surrounds us) has a major authority problem!
Historically, the Church would talk about our primary problem as being sin.
Now, we live in a time when people don’t believe in sin!
And even Christians are numb and misunderstood about sin and its pervasiveness in every sphere of life.
My suggestion, is that one of our biggest problems is rooted in the reality that most people think they can determine what is good and right for them.
Each person has become their own god.
Each person, is operating in their own autonomous creation of justice, right-ness, and meaning.
Each person is now responsible for what is right and good for them, on their own.
“Be yourself.”
“Do what feels right to you.”
“You do you...”
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