Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
WELCOME LIVE STREAM
Week two of our series Evergreen
Last week we talked about Growing Deep
Forgiven, Free, Forever
This forms the foundation for growing deep.
If we are to remain evergreen, it starts with an understanding that our identity is cultivated in the truth of who God is and what He has done on our behalf.
>>> It is by growing deep that we are able to stand tall.
Too often we want to stand tall, to be someone, to be recognized, without undergoing the process of growing deep.
Then, when the winds of life begin to blow our roots aren’t deep enough to keep us grounded.
[PICTURE - Tree downed by Hurricane Florence]
You’ve all seen or heard of these individuals.
Individuals who soared to the top and, just as quickly, came crashing down because their roots weren’t deep:
Athletes who have gone bankrupt
Celebrities who have committed suicide
Politicians who have failed morally
Executives who have laundered money
Pastors who have sacrificed their character in pursuit of larger attendance
>>> This morning I want to help you learn how to stand tall, even when the gale force winds blow against you.
You were made to be evergreen.
To display life in dry spaces.
Even so, many of us look at our lives today and would admit that we are a lot things, but evergreen isn’t one of them.
Thorns?
Got ‘em.
Nettles?
Yup.
Ever..green… ?
Polarized Glasses
-[IMAGE] Greens are greener.
Images are sharper.
Glares are eliminated.
-It’s amazing how much detail these lenses bring to life.
-Images are sharper
>>> I think many of us look at life through another set of lenses.
Like polarized sunglasses, these lenses help shape the way we see the world.
How we see our life, our career, our relationships… It what leads us to believe that it’s always greener somewhere else.
“WHAT IF?” LENSES [IMAGE]
These lenses have “What if?” inscribed across the front.
What if I...
Had a marriage like that?
Drove a car like that?
Had the connections they do?
Had the talent he has?
Looked like she does?
Had the kind of money they have?
What if… What if… What if…
Filtering our lives through these lenses leaves us discouraged and discontent.
Always Greener — Elsewhere
This mindset, that it is always greener elsewhere, has some pretty serious side-effects.
They’re not always easy to see and identify, especially within us, because they come so naturally and the consequences usually don’t cause physical harm.
Yet, we’re shedding leaves and dying out.
Three Consequences of the Always Green Mindset:
Never leads to joy
As I constantly compare my life to others, I hinder my ability to recognize God’s favor in my life.
I’ll never be content with my car as long as I’m comparing it to Ron or Kyle’s truck.
Makes me the victim
Gives me permission to stop taking responsibility for my life.
I’ll convince myself that they just have better soil and I wasn’t meant to live a life of joy.
Robs us of life
The shadow of greener grass is discontentment
The shadow of greener grass is discontentment
As soon as we see someone else that is happy, we immediately discover something they have that we never knew we needed.
As soon as we see someone else that is happy, we immediately discover something they have that we never knew we needed.
Ladies — Target
Men — Home Depot
Me — Starbucks
The Problem of Discontentment
In Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, He illustrates four different responses we can have to the Word of God.
Like us, the disciples that followed Jesus, wanted some clarification.
So, after pulling Jesus aside, He explains:
mark 4:
In one word, these individuals were “discontent.”
They were discontent with their lot in life
Not enough talent, etc...
They were consumed with the worries of life
Emails!! Bills, retirement, overloaded schedules, etc.
They were drawn towards what they didn’t have
More money, more stuff.
Newer, bigger, faster, better.
Their desires were focused in all the wrong places
It’s exhausting to constantly desire what you cannot have
We miss the blessings right in front of us
Timothy Keeter - “The desires that rule in our hearts are directly linked to our behavior.”
But let’s not forget the main emphasis of Jesus’ teaching.
Not only did these actions have an adverse effect on their satisfaction with life, but it also caused the Word of God to be choked out.
Our discontentment will cause us to miss the provision of God in our lives.
To miss His leading and directing.
It will cause us to be blown about and wither away.
Saul’s Discontentment
We just finished up our summer series on Samuel and a large part of our summer was spent following David as he ran from King Saul’s vicious attacks.
To illustrate how powerful discontentment is, I want to take you back to the genesis of Saul’s problem with David.
The Israelite army was in battle with the Philistines
On opposite sides of the Valley of Elah, Goliath, the Philistine giant, would come out and taunt the Israelites day after day
The entire nation of Israel, including King Saul, was paralyzed by their fear.
Then David, a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem, shows up to drop off a cheese tray to his brothers and hears Goliath’s taunts.
David quickly had enough with Goliath running his mouth and volunteers to kill the vile giant
Saul says, “Ah, What the heck!?” and off David goes.
Kills the giant with a single blow to the forehead and then cuts off his head
After defeating the fleeing Philistine army, it is time for the men of Israel to return home.
What on earth is Saul talking about?
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