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.
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Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Analytical
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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\\ Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11; Luke 2:8-20
/You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”/ Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)
\\
!! I. From Fear to Joy
A.
The Terrifying Glory of God
1.
The angels in the Bible don’t seem to be as pleasant in appearance as Roma Downey!
a.
Popular images of angels depict them as cute, friendly, certainly approachable
b.
Angel stories, angel pictures, angels in movies and on TV are so . . .
/nice/.
c.
Those angels aren’t in the Bible.
2.
The universal response to the presence of God, or his Angels is fear.
a.
People who see them are usually seized with terror.
b.
In fact the standard way people respond to angels is here in Luke.
3.
The Angels do not seem to tire of saying “Do not be afraid.”
a.
They are always saying this.
b.
It seems necessary for them to assure those they appear to.
B.
The Horrifying Truth about us
1.
One of the reasons we experience fear in God’s presence is our sinfulness.
a.
In the presence of purity, impurity becomes so much more obvious.
b.
The horrifying truth about is gets exposed.
2.
Isaiah’s response to this was utter dread
/“Woe to me!” I cried.
“I am ruined!
For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
/Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)
3.
God knows the horrifying truth about us, but comes to be with us anyway!
a.
God announces his Good News to us, who could only expect bad news.
b.
The terrifying presence of holy angels is changed to great joy!
!! II.
Surprising Joy
A.
In the middle of the Ordinary
1.
There is nothing especially good about watching sheep eat the grass.
a.
It was usually done by those who were marginally employable.
b.
Shepherds weren’t considered the cream of the crop spiritually either.
2.
God comes unexpectedly, to people who didn’t expect him.
a.
The shepherds weren’t expecting anything extraordinary that night.
b.
They didn’t say “It’s about time!” they were shocked.
3.
He still does!
a.
God comes in surprising ways.
b.
God comes with a surprise: Joy!
B.
In the middle of Despair
1.
Isaiah prophesied that God would come when things were bad for Israel.
a.
After Israel had suffered ([[v.2|bible:Isaiah
40:2]]) God’s discipline.
b.
God brings joy in our sorrow for sin.
2.
Things were bad in Babylon, things were bad under Roman rule.
a.
These were hard times, violent times.
b.
They were times of oppression.
c.
These were times when hope was fading, when joy was a distant memory
3.
Sometimes when it seems all hope is lost, or at least unreasonable, He comes!
a.
God comes bringing Joy to those who have no reason for it (on their own).
b.
He gives us more joy when all is dark.
C.
In the middle of Scandal
1.
God comes as an infant!
a.
If this didn’t happen, wouldn’t we think this a horrid idea!
b.
God a helpless baby!
Who needs to be fed and have his diaper changed!
2.
He comes into a stable!
a.
Not in a castle, or a hospital.
b.
There is no one to protect him, honor him, or even really notice
3.
Foreigners and nobodies hear the news.
a.
Mary and Joseph are just plain folks
b.
The shepherds and the Magi are the only others who even knew.
!! III.
The Joy of Salvation
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