Sermon Tone Analysis

is a reflection of the Christian Journey wherein sheep pilgrim under the supervision of the shepherd.

Life is a pilgrimage.

It is a story about progress and changing landscapes.

The 23rd Psalm is a reflection on that journey.

Nothing about the world we live in is static.

Everything is fluid.

It is constantly changing and evolving.

It is constantly shifting and shaking.

Our environment changes.

Our culture changes.

Our geography changes.

We’ve gone from we want change to let’s take it back to what it used to be.

Life is a journey.

We travel down a sometimes rough and rocky road; looking out of the window to our right only to see the oppressive hand of the morally self-righteous whose hunger for more power has led them to care more about politics than the people.

Then looking to our left and seeing a nation unchain itself from all of its Christian values.

As you travel your location changes.

You will enter storms and you will exit storms.

You will be surrounded by people who love you and you will be surrounded by people who hate you.

You will find yourself at times in the fertile lands of abundance, and at other times in the barren lands of scarcity.

You will ascend mountains of joy, and descend into valleys of sorrow.

I like because it reminds me that no matter how much the things around me change, the God above me doesn’t.

David knew well the difficulties of the journey.

David’s journey began as a shepherd boy tending his father’s sheep.

He was appointed to be the next King.

He killed Goliath.

He earned the respect of the people.

But then David spent 15 years running for his life.

Think about the disillusionment that he experienced after being promised a Kingdom.

Being forced into a cave when he knew it had been appointed for him the castle.

When the powers to be abuse their power so that they can abuse you, it’s good to have someone on your side that has more power than they do.

It’s good to have an advocate who both knows your problems and has the power to fix them.

I can relate to David because David had experienced life in the cave and in the castle.

Between shepherding his father’s sheep and leading his father’s people David understood life to be a journey full of green pastures, still waters, low valleys, and high tables.

I like because it reminds me that no matter how much my circumstances change, God is still in charge.

is both a look back into the past and a look forward into the future.

It is an examination of where the Lord has brought us from with anticipation of where he’s leading us to, while trusting him where he has us right now.

Life is a journey, and every year is a chapter.

In the last chapter the Lord was my Shepherd, in this chapter the Lord is my Shepherd, and in the next chapter the Lord will be my Shepherd.

You’ve got to be able to view what is transpiring in light of what has transpired.

Somewhere in the last chapter he made me lie down in green pasture, because somewhere in the last chapter I was in a pasture that had no green grass.

So he gave me food to eat and a place to rest.

Somewhere in the last chapter the billows rolled and the water was rough, but in order to keep me from drowning he led me beside still waters.

Somewhere in the last chapter my soul became troubled, my heart became broken, my dreams were deferred, but he restored my soul.

Somewhere in the last chapter I went through a low dark valley, but he led me through.

What happened in the last chapter will give me the strength to march on in this chapter.

Because of what happened in the last chapter I have confidence in this chapter.

Because he was with me in the last chapter I know he’ll be with me in this chapter.

I will fear no evil for though art with me.

God hasn’t just watched over us, he’s walked with us.

He was with us then, he’s with us now, he’ll be with us always even until the end of times.

God was with us on January 1, 1865.

God was with us on November 4, 2008 when Barack Obama was elected and he was with us on November 8, 2016 when Donald Trump was elected.

He hasn’t and he won’t be a lazy spectator in human affairs, he has been and will be a super natural shepherd.

He walks before us and carries with him a rod and a staff.

A rod for protection, and a staff for correction.

God has defended his people from enemies from without and enemies from within.

In a world where everybody is vying for a seat at the table and the Lord’s table has plenty room.

Our assurance will outweigh our anxiety.

Our journey is not complete until we cross the Jordan river.

“When your journey is completed,

If to God you have been true,

Fair and bright the home in glory,

Your enraptured soul will view”

The Lord was, is, and always will be my Shepherd.