Sermon Tone Analysis

Holidays

When I think of Holidays I think of food, family and friends.

When I think of Christmas, I think of Jesus, I think of food.

I think of white trees, dustings of snow.

Warm fires.

Sweaters, and Smiles.

Hot Chocolate and Ice Skating.

When I think of thanksgiving I think of food and family.

I think about what I am thankful for.

This was not always the way it was.

I remember thinking of Black Friday, and what I would get for Christmas.

Thinking of the excitement of what deals I could find, of what things I could buy.

It seems like now every time I go into a store there is one holiday or the next exploding all over the store.

I am almost sick of Holidays.

When you go to the store there is Christmas stuff, decorations of every kind.

Wall to wall Santa’s and Elf’s Green things and red.

Snow globes and pj’s.

Everything Christmas the heart can think of is there.

And after Christmas, its all on sale.

When that sale ends, the shelves transition to Valentines.

Then Easter, Memorial Day, Mothers day and Fathers day.

No matter the Holiday the selves are stocked with those products and sales flow from one to the other.

More stuff!

More marketing!

More Sales!

More, More, More.

We are marketed to death.

When did Holidays go from family to things?

If you don’t buy this your holiday will not be complete.

When did kids go from being happy with 1 or 2 presents to needing a tree full of Greed.

What we are doing is opposite of what God does.

God is the Great Giver!

One of the questions I am always asking myself is, “Who is God?”

I think that this is the biggest question of all.

To ask who God is, is to get to know him.

Knowing God is the most important thing.

In the sermon on the Mount

In the sermon on the Mount in

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, r‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who sdoes the will of My Father in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we tnot prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And uthen I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; vdepart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthe 7:21-23

Have the holidays gone from, Celebrating the Giver.

To Celebrating the Greedier

God, gave us: Life, Love, Redemption, Sanctification!

God is our supply, our life.

When we need He is there.

When we cry He is there.

God is the giver, Sacrificial in every way.

God gives, and we take.

A Shift in Society

A Shift in Society

Listen to the difference in these Christmas songs.

Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Jolly old St. Nicholas, Lean your ear this way!

Don't you tell a single soul, What I'm going to say;

Christmas Eve is coming soon, Now, you dear old man,

Whisper what you'll bring to me: Tell me if you can.

Its Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,

Toys in ev'ry store

Santa Baby

Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me;

Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue

Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot

Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born,

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn.

Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

Christmas, the session of Gratitude for the birth of Christ has gone from:

Gratitude to Attitude.

Joy to Selfishness.

Service to Serve me.

Bring Your Gifts

Bring your gifts.

It is almost Christmas time, are you ready?

When we think about ready for Christmas we think about, the trimmings, the decorations, the lights the presents.

I am sick of buying presents for the wrong reasons.

Have you brought your gifts?

When we think about Christmas its about me.

Its not about thanks, or blessings.

Its not about the true giver.

We set up the tree.

We fill it to overflowing.

We go in debt, to surprise, and its almost like the more in debt we go, the greater we feel.

At least until Jan 30, when the credit card bill comes do.

The amazing thing is we are going into debt to please others.

We go into debt to please people.

Friends we are all ready in debt.

But someone gave.

Someone paid the debt for us.

You don’t have to go in debt this Christmas!, Someone already paid your debt!

If we are celebrating Christ’s birth,