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
0.08UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.14UNLIKELY
Joy
0.65LIKELY
Sadness
0.49UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.27UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.45UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.83LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.86LIKELY
Extraversion
0.11UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.91LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.77LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
No Detour from Calvary
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
()
Now you would think that if God so rules the world as to use an empire-wide census to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, he surely could have seen to it that a room was available in the inn.
Yes, he could have.
And Jesus could have been born into a wealthy family.
He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness.
He could have called 10,000 angels to his aid in Gethsemane.
He could have come down from the cross and saved himself.
The question is not what God could do, but what he willed to do.
God’s will was that though Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.
The “No Vacancy” signs over all the motels in Bethlehem were for your sake.
“For your sake he became poor” ().
God rules all things — even motel capacities — for the sake of his children.
The Calvary road begins with a “No Vacancy” sign in Bethlehem and ends with the spitting and scoffing of the cross in Jerusalem.
And we must not forget that he said...
We join him on the Calvary road and hear him say, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” ().
To the one who calls out enthusiastically, “I will follow you wherever you go!” Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Yes, God could have seen to it that Jesus have a room at his birth.
But that would have been a detour off the Calvary road.
Peace to Those With Whom He’s Pleased
Peace for whom?
There is a somber note sounded in the angels’ praise.
Peace among men on whom his favor rests.
Peace among men with whom he is pleased.
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
So Christmas does not bring peace to all.
“This is the judgment,” Jesus said, “that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil.”
Or as the aged Simeon said when he saw the child Jesus, “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against . . .
that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
O, how many there are who look out on a bleak and chilly Christmas day and see no more than that.
“He came to his own and his own received him not, but to as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, to as many as believed on his name.”
It was only to his disciples that Jesus said,
“Peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
“Peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
The people who enjoy the peace of God that surpasses all understanding are those who in everything by prayer and supplication let their requests be made known to God.
The key that unlocks the treasure chest of God’s peace is faith in the promises of God.
So Paul prays, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”
And when we do trust the promises of God and have joy and peace and love, then God is glorified.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men with whom he is pleased — men who would believe.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9