Sermon Tone Analysis

Grace and Forgiveness

Jesus at the center of all we do.

Jesus is the center of all we do.

Hey You! (Get the audience’s attention)

I like to have control of where I am going.

I have gotten used to it.

Turning, planning routes, taking care of my vehicle, making these crucial decisions.

I am comfortable.

No longer like a novice, newbie, maneuvering around possible accidents, seeing ahead in anticipation of what might happen.

However, I am still Getting used to hailing a ride, you know Uber, Lyft.

as I am a passenger, in the backseat, a backseat driver, I have a perspective.

It’s my perspective, from my years of experience.

As I am white knuckled, I have to learn to let go, and let the driver drive.

However, I am thinking, what gps app are you using?

What, you aren’t using Waze?

Now how will we know about upcoming traffic, accidents in time?

I will surely be late to the airport.

You see, I like to have control of my environment.

I have gotten used to it.

I imagine that’s why I pat myself down and look two or three times in the seat after I leave a ride, to make sure I haven’t lost control of my environment, especially concerning losing control of my possessions, by forgetting them, losing them to the black hole abyss of the Uber backseat.

Uber Names Top Forgotten Items in 'Lost and Found' Index

Ethan Adams, PreachingToday.com;

source: Sylvie Brew, "Introducing the Uber Lost & Found Index," Uber (3-29-2017).

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Uber, the global ride-hailing service which has become a popular alternative to taxis in many cities, recently released some humorous data on items that riders accidentally leave behind in Uber vehicles after they arrive at their destinations.

And, as any good technology company should, the analysts seem to have examined the data from every angle to extract any useful information.

For example, the most common items lost include cell phones, rings, keys and wallets.

The "most forgetful" U.S. city is Los Angeles.

The most forgetful day in 2016 was October 30.

Sundays saw the largest average spike in lost wedding dresses, and Tuesdays saw the largest average increase in lost bathing suits.

The list rounds off with some of the "most unique" items left behind in Uber vehicles, including: valuable Nordic walking poles, a lobster, corn hole boards, a potted plant, elf cut out, Nintendo, money bag, and a violin.

I wonder what the accumulated data from a "Lost & Found Index" from God's perspective might look like, and who might top the list.

Liars?

Cheaters?

Thieves?

Executives?

Public servants?

Widows?

Teachers?

Children?

Pastors?

Californians?

Paul's words could round off the list for each one of us: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."

Look! (Examine the Scriptures)

Unpack .

It tells what the good news is, for whom it is meant, and what we are to do with it.

It is the good news of Jesus Christ.

What he has done for us.

It is to guide our living.

It changes how we approach ourselves and others.

We are saved through Jesus and so are those we are trying to share the good news with.

Paul is using it to guide his work and mission.

It gives meaning.

It keeps us grounded.

We remember where we came from.

It keeps us patient and understanding as we work with others, for we remember what it was like.

It gives us confidence, meaning, self-worth.

We demonstrate the gospel in how we relate to our fellow church members and the public as we face difficulties, conflict, and make ministry choices.

Let the gospel rule our lives.

Jesus is the center of all we do.

How can we better our neighborhoods?

Jesus is the center of all we do.

Forgiveness is at the center of the message.

See! (Explain the passage)

See! (Explain the passage)

Let’s start at the beginning.

It is a message of Jesus love for humankind, that he forgave us through his death on the cross.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ centers our lives around forgiveness.

The Beginning

At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. 2 You used to live like people of this world.

You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power.

This is the spirit of disobedience to God’s will that is now at work in persons whose lives are characterized by disobedience.

3 At one time you were like those persons.

All of you used to do whatever felt good and whatever you thought you wanted so that you were children headed for punishment just like everyone else.

4–5 However, God is rich in mercy.

He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong.

He did this because of the great love that he has for us.

You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus.

7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.

This is where we came from

8 You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.

This salvation is God’s gift.

It’s not something you possessed.

9 It’s not something you did that you can be proud of.

10 Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things.

God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.

Increasingly Teenagers Report 'Overwhelming Anxiety'

Benoit Denizet-Lewis, "Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety?" New York Times Magazine (10-11-17)

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Benoit Denizet-Lewis, "Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety?" New York Times Magazine (10-11-17)

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Over the last decade, anxiety has overtaken depression as the most common reason college students seek counseling services.

In its annual survey of students, the American College Health Association found a significant increase—to 62 percent in 2016 from 50 percent in 2011—of undergraduates reporting "overwhelming anxiety" in the previous year.