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
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
0.53LIKELY
Sadness
0.55LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
0.57LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.65LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.72LIKELY
Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
0.67LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
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Hard Things
The rocks in the ground here.
When you try to dig a garden, plant a tree, build a house, add on to your deck, etc.
Most men’s heads
OK, and women, too.
Losing weight.
Getting in shape.
Tennis fans, hard to win a point against Rafael Nadal; much less a game or a match.
Football fans, hard to tackle David Johnson or keep Larry Fitzgerald from catching a pass.
And, do you really think you can dance?
Or, sing.
Just b/c you sound so good in the shower?
You could win The Voice if you really wanted to.
Hard to admit you’re not really as good as you think you are?
Speaking of...
Not just physical feats, hard conversations.
Admitting to your wife you were wrong.
Hard conversation w/ your son, or daughter, about their life choices.
All of these things are hard.
However, there is one thing that is harder.
Hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Forgive.
It’s natural to hang on to things; grudges.
It’s like we think we’re in control when we hold something over someone’s head.
Get even, even if only in my head.
Convince myself they will fail at something and I’ll be able to say, “Told you so.”
Everyone else will know it then, too, like I do.
In the table is set.
Anger, hurt, public humiliation.
Then, something happens.
Forgiveness may be the hardest thing you ever do.
It’s nearly impossible, absolutely improbable.
But, you can do it.
Here’s the set up.
New Places, New Faces
Acts 18:1-4
Corinth
A major Mediterranean Sea port.
A crossroads for east to west transportation.
Known for its prosperity and immorality.
The Las Vegas of its day.
Money spent, money lost, fortunes made, lives ruined.
A strategic location for a church.
Paul and his group meet a couple who will be great friends and partners in this venture.
Partnership
Aquila and Priscilla.
Tent-makers from Rome.
Or, leather-workers.
This is how Paul had been supporting himself as he spent time in these cities on his journey so as not to be a burden on anyone.
Once a wealthy and powerful Pharisee.
Now, a hard-working, blue-collar missionary.
AD 49 Claudius passed a law expelling all Jews out of Rome.
Riots, civil unrest had become a major issue between the Jews and Christians as they debated Jesus.
Claudius saw them as members of the same family, but since the Jews were more established he named them specifically.
Besides, most Christians had been Jewish, anyway and got caught up in the new law.
There was a civil war brewing w/in Rome’s boundaries and Claudius sought to end it by Judaism, and everything related, illegal.
Aquila and Priscilla left Rome and came to Corinth.
No mention why Corinth.
Business?
Family?
Either way, they connected w/ Paul as fellow tent-makers, former Jews, and Christians committed to the growth of the new movement.
To the synagogue first, as they always did.
God’s priority was always here so Paul’s was, too.
And, as usual, he got a response.
Same Old Responses
The rest of the group arrived so they could share responsibilities.
Paul did what he did best, connect the Jews to Jesus.
This time, it didn’t go well.
Most rejected all of it.
Rejection
There was a substantial and organized opposition here.
Much like Thessalonica, but not Berea.
He made his case for Jesus the same way he always had.
They accuse him of blasphemy.
Claiming someone is God who isn’t.
Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good, emotional argument.
This is one of the only emotional reactions by Paul that was written about.
He’s done w/ them.
You ever get so frustrated that people won’t see the obvious that you just want to give up and walk away?
This time, he did.
A symbolic gesture of shaking the dust off his clothes.
He’s completely done w/ them.
Which, of course, leads him to fulfill his calling to non-Jews.
Peter was known as the apostle to the Jews.
Not that either had no influence w/ the others.
Just by calling and reputation.
Peter to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles.
Paul tried.
Though called to the Gentiles, he knew he had responsibilities w/ Jews, too.
He knew their positions well and had made the transition himself.
He was an obvious choice to help them make the transition, too.
If only they would just pay attention to the facts.
It frustrated him and angered him.
Thus, the gesture.
I’m sure he knew he was only responsible for what God called him to do.
He was not responsible for their reaction.
So, he fulfilled his responsibility before God.
Sometimes we think we know where we’re supposed to end up but God only tells us where to start.
Paul was faithful for sharing his experience.
Their response was on them.
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