Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Emotion Tone
Anger
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Analytical
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Introduction
What was the first thing you wanted to do when you were old enough to actually pursue it?
What was the first thing you wanted to do when you were old enough to actually pursue it?
Did you pursue it?
Are you doing it now?
It could be a profession or a hobby.
There are some people who know what they want to do when they’re young and never veer from it.
Itzhak Perlman decided as a little boy he wanted to play the violin.
Me
Me
Most of us aren’t that way.
My story is that at the age of 13 I felt the call of God on my life.
It’s hard to explain but I was in a church service and Pastor Freeman challenged people to dedicate their lives to Christ.
I went forward and did that and felt God called me to a life of itinerant Bible teaching.
I pursued that purpose by going to Bible college.
Mid-way through I lost my compass, left Bible college and worked in various jobs in business until the age of 30.
I enjoyed business but in my heart I knew that wasn’t what God wanted me to do.
God blessed me but I was wandering aimlessly because I didn’t have a purpose.
At the age of 30 God tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me.
That’s when I first became a pastor.
Since then God has opened many doors for me to fulfill the purpose I have in my heart.
We
We
Most of us do not spend a lot of time thinking about our purpose, at least on a cosmic scale.
But the times we do can be troubling, especially if we suspect that there is no purpose.
On the other hand, even for those who believe that our lives are heading somewhere—who believe there is an ultimate meaning—finding answers to life’s simple, everyday questions can be difficult.
Most of us do not spend a lot of time thinking about our purpose, at least on a cosmic scale.
But the times we do can be troubling, especially if we suspect that there is no purpose.
On the other hand, even for those who believe that our lives are heading somewhere—who believe there is an ultimate meaning—finding answers to life’s simple, everyday questions can be difficult.
Who should I spend time with?
Where should I work?
How should I spend my money?
Is life all about my family?
Does life have meaning if I make a positive difference in someone’s life?
A few quotes about purpose:
Leo Tolstoy said,
“Then what is life for?
To die?
To kill myself at once? No, I am afraid.
To wait for death till it comes?
I fear that even more.
Then I must live.
But what for?
In order to die?”
The Devil and Other Stories (OUP Oxford, 2003).
Ernest Hemingway wrote,
“Life is just a dirty trick, a short journey from nothingness to nothingness.”
Quote taken from Cliffe Knechtle, Give Me an Answer (Westmont, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1986), 71.
Samuel Beckett said,
“They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it’s night once more.”
Shmoop Editorial Team, “Waiting for Godot Life, Consciousness, and Existence Quotes,” Shmoop University, Inc., 11 November 2008, http://www.shmoop.com/
waiting-for-godot/life-consciousness-existence-quotes-6.html.
Henry David Thoreau said,
“The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation.”
Walden (1854).
Solomon’s Quest
The first person to write, in detail, about this search for meaning was king over the ancient nation of Israel.
King Solomon was more rich, powerful, and wise than any living person.
He had it all, tried it all, and discovered some profound things as a result.
· : His introduction (and conclusion) implies that riches, power, status, education, sex, adrenaline, knowledge—you name it—are not the things that will give us meaning.
They can temporarily distract us from the question, and even give us some temporary satisfaction.
But they will not reveal to us our purpose.
His introduction (and conclusion) implies that riches, power, status, education, sex, adrenaline, knowledge—you name it—are not the things that will give us meaning.
They can temporarily distract us from the question, and even give us some temporary satisfaction.
But they will not reveal to us our purpose.
His introduction (and conclusion) implies that riches, power, status, education, sex, adrenaline, knowledge—you name it—are not the things that will give us meaning.
They can temporarily distract us from the question, and even give us some temporary satisfaction.
But they will not reveal to us our purpose.
Attaining great wisdom doesn’t give life meaning.
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Success and accomplishments such as building home, gardens, orchards doesn’t give life meaning.
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Obtaining wealth, power, any human pleasure imaginable doesn’t give life meaning.
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The normal course of events in life won’t give you meaning.
The thought that purpose is just a short time away is vanity.
Ecclesiastes ; 5:10; 12:1, 7, 13
, ,
Solomon’s conclusion was: Life is meaningless without God.
But God gives everything meaning.
· Conclusion: Life is meaningless without God.
But God gives everything meaning.
How is this possible?
It is by
How does God give life meaning?
Life has meaning when we see it from God’s perspective.
The world’s future is dark.
Life on earth is temporary.
Our future is bright!
Our eternal destiny is tied to Jesus.
Knowing this changes how we live right now!
Psalm 73:21
We can see God in all of life’s circumstances both good and bad.
Sometimes life is good and sometimes it is bad.
When life is hard, knowing our future gives our daily life meaning.
Psalm 17:
Life without God makes it meaningless.
We wander without direction.
Even if we focus on tasks and goals to do in this life, it isn’t enough.
What does “life without God” mean to you?
What does it look like to live as if God exists?
What do you do when you acknowledge God’s existence?
Life with God gives us direction and purpose
Life with God means we:
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