Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Mom was Right
It’s Christmas, a magical time of year.
The decorations, the parties, the food, and the presents.
The angels came and declared “Peace on Earth”
Why, then, is this the time of year that strikes terror in the hearts of husbands around the world?
One question will turn the strongest knees to jell-o.
When your wife asks, “What did you get me for Christmas?”
Is there a scarier, harder question that is as important to answer and answer right?
Sara and I agreed early on in our marriage not to exchange Christmas presents.
Right!
Don’t fall for that one guys.
It makes sense.
We were poor seminary students, then we had kids.
“Let’s spend our money on the kids.”
Let it be known, 34 years of marriage, I have never shown up empty handed.
Though some years I probably should have, it would have gone better.
Early on I was just dumb.
Appliances are generally a bad idea for a gift for your wife.
My heart was in the right place, it was practical the year I gave her a new, fancy cordless phone.
She spent so much time on our old one.
I thought this would be great that she was not tethered to the wall while she talked forever to all her friends and family.
Here’s where I learned that my mom was really right.
You know what your mom said, “It’s more blessed to give than receive.”
It will make you happier.
Sermon on the mount.
State of contentment.
When you’re a kid, or just immature, you’re like, whatever!
What am i getting for Xmas?
At some point, maturity happens, and the reality sinks in that mom was right.
When i get it right, which is not very often, and Sara loves what I got her, it means more to me than anything I could receive.
It’s not natural.
That’s why it requires some maturity to get beyond the selfishness to get you to a point where there is a real sense of fulfillment at Christmas.
How many Christmases have you left empty b/c you didn’t get exactly what you wanted.
Or, maybe you got exactly what you wanted but as soon as you started using you realized the marketing people had fooled you and it really would do what they said it would do.
When your perspective is to give the right gift you’ll never leave empty no matter what you get.
B/C, it really is more fulfilling to give than to receive.
This morning, we’re looking at the stories of 2 kings and a carpenter.
Herod the Great, Jesus, and Joseph where mom got her truth.
First, we’re going to look at a lesser recognized, but major player in the Christmas story.
He’s never depicted in a manger scene.
But, he plays an important role with those who do.
King Herod the Great
Herod started out as a military leader.
He was known for his successful campaigns on behalf of Rome.
As a reward, he would receive promotions; first military then political and governmental.
Eventually, he left the military and was given charge of a small region, like being a mayor or commission chmn.
That went so well he was promoted to being in charge of a larger region.
After several promotions, he was finally put in charge of a large region that included Judah and Jerusalem.
He was super impressive.
A rising star.
He was also an architect.
Some of the buildings he built are still some of the most impressive among the ruins.
Early on he earned the title “Great”.
He didn’t choose this for himself.
It was given to him b/c he deserved it.
Then, when he given charge of Judah, Rome also gave him the title of King.
King of Judah.
King of the Jews.
So, then it was King Herod the Great.
Fast forward a little bit when the Magi show up they say they are looking for the king of the Jews born in Bethlehem.
Competition?
Conflict that will need t/b dealt w/.
I’ll get to that.
All Rome wanted from regions like this was peace and taxes.
And Herod was a master at these 2 things.
He was a master b/c he was ruthless.
If anybody stirred up trouble, it was a capital offense.
In fact, he’d execute a few extras.
Just like a surgeon removing a cancer, he will take a little extra to get a clean margin.
Take some healthy tissue just to make sure he got all the cancer.
You didn’t want to be close to Herod.
If you worked your way up the ranks and became one of his close advisors and he suspected you at all of insubordination he’d quickly have you killed.
Military, political, even family.
He didn’t care if you were a family member.
If He had any hint that you were plotting something, he’d have you killed.
It was an art form.
He was dangerous.
He had 10 wives and 14 children.
He had 2 of his wives killed and 3 of his own sons.
All b/c he suspected them of plotting something against him.
All of his marriages were political arrangements.
He didn’t marry for love.
He married so that he could expand his territory command more for himself.
One wife he did fall in love w/.
Merriamne.
Her father was part of the ruling family in Judah.
He married her so that her family would still be considered royalty and less likely to undermine his authority in the region.
He loved her but didn’t like her family.
There’s a news flash.
The in-laws don’t get along.
They were a ruling family so he didn’t trust their loyalty.
He feared competition, conflict, a coup.
So, he had her brother killed.
That upset Merriamne.
But, he was able to calm her down temporarily.
Her father got upset and got a little uppity.
So, he had him killed.
That upset her mother.
You guessed it, he had her killed.
Then, Merriamne is beside herself and he’s had enough.
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