Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

ILLUSTRATION: WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER

The story is told of two men riding a tandem bicycle up a steep hill.

After much effort, they  finally made it to the top of the hill.

The front rider said, “That was a tough ride.”

To which the second rider replied, “Sure was, and if I hadn’t kept the brake on we might have slipped backwards.”

Statement: We want to be sure that we are a blessing to each other, in every circumstance.

Are your efforts contributing to helping your fellow believer carry the burdens of life?

Paul’s challenge to the Galatian church thus far has been mixed with reproof and instruction.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul continues to challenge these young believers in the way they treat each other.

His instruction is relevant to the way we as Christians and members of local churches treat each other today.

The prayer and desire of every believer’s heart in response to the way he treats others should be threefold:

Make Me Helpful

Consider two ways in which each and everyone of us can be helpful:

In Love

Statement: Did you noticed the standard of our love — the bar that has been set was set by Jesus Christ Himself, on the cross.

Statement: Does your love have limits?

Does it come with expectations?

Is it only guaranteed if all conditions are met?

That’s not the love that Christ showed us.

(In Love)

In Labor

The word burdens means, “heaviness, weight, trouble.”

According to this passage, it is our duty to carry the heavy weights of other believers.

Statement: True love always labors despite difficult trials and burdens.

Quote — There are two times when a man doesn’t understand a woman — before marriage and after marriage.

ILLUSTRATION:

My wife and I just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary.

It’s gone by quickly, it’s had its up and downs — mostly ups.

In watching our wedding video, I remembered how important it was to us to use the traditional wedding vows.

They sounded old and a bit outdated, but we were determined to have vows that still promised for better or for worse, and till death do us part.

Committed love takes effort to maintain.

It’s a labor of love.

In light of the context of verse 1 in restoring the fallen brother, it would be logical in the context that the burden bearing is specifically referencing the realm of others’ spiritual burdens and needs.

This burden-bearing can carry over into physical needs as well.

ILLUSTRATION:

Years ago, the founder of Salvation Army, General William Booth, was on his death bed.

The workers of the Salvation Army were gathered for their annual conference when they received a message from General Booth.

The message simply read, “Others.”

Statement: In this self-centered society, are you laboring to show love to others?

(Make Me Helpful)

Make Me Humble

Statement: One of the dangers of bearing burdens is a know-it-all attitude.

ILLUSTRATION:

A young man who had been hired by the personnel department of a large supermarket chain reported to work at one of the stores.

The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, handed him a broom and said, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.”

“But,” the young man said, “I’m a college graduate.”

“I’m sorry,” the manager said, “I didn’t know that.

Here, give me the broom and I’ll show you how.”

Sometimes when we are restoring and burden bearing we can begin to think too highly of ourselves.

Beware of False Pride

ILLUSTRATION:

The Reverend Walter Chellberg discovered the following two epitaphs in a local cemetery.

“She lived with her husband fifty years and died in a confident hope of a better life.”

“Here lies Jane Smith, wife of Thomas Smith, marble cutter.

This monument was erected by her husband as a tribute to her memory and as a specimen of his work.

Monument of the same size: $350.”

(Reader’s Digest, March 2007, p.180)

Statement: When you are helping others, don’t forget how many times you needed others help.

And should you think that you’ve always made it on your own, the day will come when you’ll discover the hard life is the one lived alone.

(Beware of False Pride)

Beware of Self-Deception

Statement: If you have a proud attitude, you will eventually say something or do something that will show your pride.

Everything eventually reveals its source.

pr

We are all just sinners saved by grace.

Our service is not indispensible.

Our tithe and talents are not indispensible.

All of our service should be done as unto the Lord.

The spiritual man does not think he is something or that he is nothing — he simply doesn’t compare!

(Make Me Helpful)

(Make Me Humble)

Make Me Honorable

gal 6

Notice two ways in which we can be made honorable:

As I Prove My Work

The word prove means “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals; to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, to deem worthy.”

The metaphor the Apostle Paul gives here is the obligation Christ lays upon his followers to examine their own works—whether they are genuine and worthy—because every believer will bear the load of the work he has done for Christ.

The only thing that sets us apart from the lost world around us, is our relationship with Jesus Christ.

We will all stand and give an account for ourselves before Jesus Christ.

On that day, our work will be proven.

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

Our entire lives, every effort, should be tied up in the will of God.

Things done in our strength, and for our glory and gratification may be good in our eyes, but our focus should pursuing what is good in God’s eyes — how’s your perspective been lately — whose eyes are you looking through?

2 thess

(As I Prove My Work)

As I Bear My Burdens

Some may question why verse 2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens while verse 5 commands us to bear our own burdens.

The answer is simple: verse 2 is speaking of our service.

Verse 5 is speaking of our personal responsibility.

Note — We are commanded to assume personal responsibility for our actions and works.

ILLUSTRATION:

The sign in the store window read: NO HELP WANTED.

As two men passed by, one said to the other, “You should apply—you’d be great.”

A spiritual Christian is willing to be helpful, humble, and honorable in bearing other Christians’ burdens, but he is also prepared to stand alone in carrying his responsibilities.

ILLUSTRATION:

WEIGHT-LIFTING TRIAL

Topics: Body; Commitment; Consequences; Dedication; Exercise; Laziness; Parenting; Promises; Responsibility; Teens

Reference: Galatians 6:9

Though skeptical of his teenage son’s newfound determination to build muscles, one father followed his teenager to the store’s weight-lifting department, where they admired a set of weights.