Sermon Tone Analysis

We are always thankful for the light

When we are in a room, at home, or in the basement, and the power goes out.

It is pitch black, so black you cannot even see you hand in front of your face.

Now, wait long enough and your eyes will adjust on their own, but that can take a lot of time, and not completely adjust to the environment.

Now I don’t have kids, but do know when you step on a lego in the dark… OH MAN!

That hurts.

So, in an effort to not puncture our foot, we try to get help.

“Can someone turn on a light.”

“Hate it when you forget the prop for your illustration, does anyone have a flashlight or a cell phone with a flashlight I can use?”

Who are you Thankful for?

Flashlight illustration:

Who are you Thankful for?

Who are you thankful for?

Who is thankful for you?

Have you ever noticed what kids are usually thankful for?

Sometimes they say things like, “I am thankful for my toys...” but almost always they include, “…and Mommy and Daddy and Gus our dog…” and on the list goes.

You see when we are faced with life’s real challenges it isn’t about “What” but rather “who.”

As I was getting ready for this message.

Steve expressed to me that he was really going through a lot, he had something like three funerals in less than a mont or so, and what he noticed was that no one, including himself, was asking questions about their “stuff.”

But rather it was about “relationships.”

Who is thankful for me?

This questions is a little more tricky.

We can easily answer the question of who am I thankful for, but now your asking me to think about my impact in another person’s life?

And the answer to that is yes.

We cannot go through life without doing a self assessment every now and then.

Asking the question of “how am I doing in the area of Spiritual Growth?” for example.

We just came off an incredible series where we touched on some of core principles here at Keystone in regards to moving forward in your Spiritual Growth, in your understanding of who God is, and your understanding of how that impacts your everyday life.

Those questions in your journal are tailored to help you do some assessment.

So, the first question

So WHO IS THANKFUL FOR US?

You don’t just tell people they need to be better at something.

You cast a vision for what could be, if they do these types of things.

This will make you think through what your are trying to dialogue with them about as well as point out to them, that you really do want whats best for them.

This then empowers THEM to accomplish and achieve.

Practical Application:

Add To the Mix: Might not be a conversation.... but might be a felt need; “Let your good deeds shine before man so that your brothers will glorify you father in heaven.”