Sermon Tone Analysis

Pillars of Grace

We believe God Reveals

We Believe God Creates

We Believe God Redeems

Salvation transforms how we see our world.

We no longer fear our pasts or future, but embrace a present full of hope, love, passion and praise as the Spirit lives in us.

By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil.

He who subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and made certain their ultimate doom.

Jesus’ victory gives us victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace, joy, and assurance of His love.

Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us.

Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds.

No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life.

In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word, meditating on it and on His providence, singing His praises, gathering together for worship, and participating in the mission of the Church.

We are also called to follow Christ’s example by compassionately ministering to the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of humanity.

As we give ourselves in loving service to those around us and in witnessing to His salvation, His constant presence with us through the Spirit transforms every moment and every task into a spiritual experience.

Pray

American Museum of Natural History

The Great Sequoia story

Museum > Tree > Liberty > Seed

The Growth Process

God often uses nature to help us understand who He is and what he is doing.

Psalms teaches us that our walk is like that of a growing tree.

Seed > Germination > Growth >Reproduction

Seed

Gerinmation

Growth

The New Life (Water, Air, Sunshine)

Shine

Reproduction

Seeds come in various shapes and can range in size from nearly invisible (in the case of tropical orchids) to quite large (like avocados or coconut palms).

Every seed contains an embryo, or a miniature version of the plant, ready to sprout and grow when conditions are right.

In addition to the embryo, seeds also contain food for the plant to begin its journey, the beginnings of a root structure, and a protective outer shell called the seed coat.

Some seeds, such as the lotus, can lie dormant for many years and still sprout when conditions are right.

Others, like some annual grasses, must sprout within a few weeks.

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Seeds can be small but they are mighty.

Within they contain everything needed to grow.

It is God in us that helps us grow.

(Walk in good counsel)

(greater than he who is in the world)

(greater than he who is in the world)

It is not our work but Good that delivered us as we read in Colossians.

(He delivers us and saves us)

(He delivers us and saves us)

It is even God that preserves us during the growth process

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(Blameless at Christ’s coming)

(Blameless at Christ’s coming)

We need to remember that the entire growth process is not one that we are to do alone.

God is working in us and with us.

Often we use this belief to make sure we clean folks up and “call sin by its right name.”

Or we see this as our work to do for God.

I like that way that Morris Venden puts its

Anyone who does not seek for salvation through fellowship with God and through knowing Him on a one-to-one basis is a legalist, trying to gain heaven by his own works.

Venden, Morris L.. To Know God (Kindle Locations 340-349).

Review & Herald Publishing Association.

Kindle Edition.

Venden, Morris L.. To Know God (Kindle Locations 325-327).

Review & Herald Publishing Association.

Kindle Edition.

Venden, Morris L.. To Know God (Kindle Locations 340-349).

Review & Herald Publishing Association.

Kindle Edition.

Germination

When conditions are right, the seeds germinates, which means it begins to grow.

While different seeds require different conditions to germinate, seeds generally require water and warmth.

Some seeds also require light, others must go through fire or even the digestive tract of an animal to begin their germination.

Germination begins when, under the right conditions, the seed absorbs water and swells, breaking the seed coat.

It then grows a tiny root called a radicle which anchors the plant and absorbs water.

With this in place, it sends a shoot (plumule) that eventually sprouts above ground.

When this happens, it is called a seedling.

(nothing to separate us from the love of God)

(nothing to separate us from the love of God)

(Singing and giving thanks)

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(Singing and giving thanks)

(Meditate on your work)

(Meditate on your work)

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(Pray without ceasing)

(Pray without ceasing)

(forsake not the assembling)

(forsake not the assembling)

These are the water and warmth that are typically need to start the growth process.

Each seed needs something a little different but all need water and the right conditions.

Growth

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The first leaves of the seedling are called cotyledons.

These are actually not proper leaves, but nutrient stores that were present in the seed with the embryo.

These nourish the plant as it develops the capacity to harvest nutrients from its environment.

The plant then begins to develop its first proper leaves, called primary leaves.

These leaves start the process of photosynthesis, or turning the energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into sugars which the plant uses for food.

The plant does this by using chemicals called chloroplasts.

Many plants continue to grow upwards and form new leaves at the top of the stem (meristem), as well as downwards, growing more root hairs.

This growth increases the amount of nutrients it is able to gather and helps it withstand weather, disturbance from animals, and competition from other plants.

(Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus)

(Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus)

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(Transformed into God’s Glory by His spirit)

(Transformed into God’s Glory by His spirit)

(Walk in good counsel)

(Walk in Jesus)

(Walk in Jesus)

1 thess.

5:23

(whats in your wallet)