Sermon Tone Analysis

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

(ENGAGING OUR CULTURE)

 

1~/26~/02 AND 1~/27~/02

 

Introduction:

 

Jesus is coming back.

It could happen soon, or it could happen in the next century.

I want to introduce a mindset and worldview that gets us ready and keeps us ready in case we are that single generation that doesn’t experience death but sees Jesus coming in the clouds.

At the same time, if we aren’t that generation, we should leave a legacy of faith and a changed culture.

I’m sure the early church believed that they would see Jesus return in their lifetime.

They didn’t begin to write things down for decades because they didn’t think anyone would need them.

They hustled to get the gospel to the world.

They weren’t planning on you and I being a part of this whole deal.

Over the years, revival would also produce a lot of people who wouldn’t totally submit to Jesus but would go off with their own ideas.

Out of a real revival in upstate New York came Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other movements that set dates and had this real intricate system of the end times.

They all preached that they had “inside information” about the way things were ending up.

That doesn’t happen in our lifetime does it?

How about 88 reasons why Jesus is returning in 88 or the revised version, 89 reasons why Jesus is returning in 89?

They was a man a few years ago who is well known that had this real intricate system of why things would wrap up in 2000 or 2001.

Needless to say, they were wrong.

*/We should live our lives as if Jesus were returning today but plan and prepare as if it will happen after we die./*

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-So the real question is:  WHAT IF WE STAY?

 

*/1.

/**/LEAVE A LEGACY TO FUTURE GENERATIONS/*

 

Exodus 1

5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,

 7 but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

8 ¶ Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

9 "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us.

 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country."

11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites

 13 and worked them ruthlessly.

14 They made their lives bitter with hard labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labour the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.

15 ¶ The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,

 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live."

17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.

18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this?

Why have you let the boys live?"

 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."

20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.

21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."

Matthew 2

16 ¶ When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

 18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

-It is interesting that the devil hates generations.

He hates the posterity of the righteous.

-In order to win we are going to have to value those we are training.

-Success must have a successor.

2 Timothy 2

1 ¶ You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

-Notice four generations here spiritually.

PAUL

TIMOTHY

RELIABLE MEN

OTHERS

 

John 17

20 ¶ "My prayer is not for them alone.

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

 

-That is three generations.

-Who are you pouring your life into?

-Who are you discipling and training?

-Do you have an intentional plan to leave a spiritual legacy?

-Jesus had a plan to reach the world.

So He poured His life into 12 leaders.

-We believe now through their efforts.

-We are fast food oriented.

Jesus developed a long-term plan.

-IT WORKED!!!!!

 

 

*/2.

/**/DON’T YEILD TO DESPERATION/*

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-Someone who is desperate becomes reckless.

Luke 21

5 ¶ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.

But Jesus said,

 6 "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."

7 "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen?

And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

 8 He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived.

For many will come in my name, claiming, `I am he,' and `The time is near.' Do not follow them.

9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened.

These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."

 10 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you.

They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

13 This will result in your being witnesses to them.

14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

17 All men will hate you because of me.

18 But not a hair of your head will perish.

19 By standing firm you will gain life.

20 ¶ "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.

21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.

22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been written.

23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.

24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.