Sermon Tone Analysis

My Assignment

One of my greatest assignments when I preach is to convince you that serving the Lord is better than anything else you might choose to do.

More than dishonesty

More than pleasure from things that make you feel good temporarily.

More than what your instincts tell you to go a different way.

The task is absolutely ridiculous because He is so great that he is indescribably higher and more glorious than I can put into words.

Panera - someone showed up not to talk with the pastor, but with a word of encouragement for a pastor.

I go to SC simply to see my father as he is getting up there in years, but coincidence and testimony of previous pastors, youth pastors, grocery store managers, all with words of encouragement that reminded me that my call is real and true and worth more than any other path I might have chosen.

At this moment in time my life was disrupted and rearranged so that I could be the pastor that God called me to be.

Being in the right place and the right time with the right word to help someone meet their answer in Christ Jesus.

You might say coincidence--- but it can’t be… it happens over and over and over and over again

But these words are insufficient… they don’t even come close.

I will often brag to people and tell them that God has blessed me so much that I got to marry the Home Coming Queen.

If that person that I was bragging to said, “Here is a paint brush and some paints and a canvas, show me how pretty she is.”

I would do my best but my representation wouldn’t match.

That’s how I feel sometimes..

I have 30-40 minutes to tell you how great God is.

But the time doesn’t matter… my words won’t even come close.

Today is another miracle...

As I read over our dear sister, the Lord quickened that word to me enough so that I wondered if I should speak on it Sunday, but I wanted to stay with what I planned for in the series we are on.

But I couldn’t settle on that.

I’ll tell you a secret.. sometimes if I am not sure what to preach on I take a look at what the Revised Common Lectionary tells me I should preach on.

And if I have a considerably busy week I will look at what the Psalm for that week is… Guess what it was.... that’s right.... .

Coincidence… cmon.

God cares to much for that.

While I feel the pressure (that I place on myself) to use these 30 minutes to demonstrate to you how great a provider and guide and host He is, I’d rather use His.

The Lord is MY

Intro: David a shepherd boy, called to be a king, knew well the responsibilities and duties, the watchful care and diligence that are required of a shepherd.

He sees Jehovah as his shepherd yet more also as Guide and Host.

The Lord is My Shepherd

David as a Youth

David

He new the responsibilities of a shepherd

Protecting them from Danger

Finding good pasture

Bringing them to still waters

Keeping them from straying

He loved to thing of the LORD in that light

“I shall not want”

Think of the want in the world.

a.

We usually think in material terms: food, shelter, transportation, safety.

We usually think in material terms: food, shelter, transportation, safety.

b.

Think of the spiritual wants.

Deeper & more persistent.

Think of the spiritual wants.

Deeper & more persistent.

Others who are wiser than I may want.

Others who are stronger than I may want.

2. Others who are wiser than I may want.

Others who are stronger than I may want.

For provision "He maketh me lie down in green pastures."

For refreshment "He leadeth me beside the still water."

4. For refreshment "He leadeth me beside the still water."

For spiritual satisfaction "He restoreth my soul."

5.

For spiritual satisfaction "He restoreth my soul."

JEHOVAH IS MY GUIDE.

"He leadeth me in the path of righteousness."

How confusing our lives can sometimes become.

How important that we make the right decision.

2. How important that we make the right decision.

a.

Our entire future sometimes dependent.

Our entire future sometimes dependent on the decisions we make.

The decisions we make can also effect the lives of those around us.

b.

Young man in for counseling.

Agnostic.

"I can't afford to make a mistake."

The LORD leads us in paths of righteousness (as long as we are His sheep)

"I feel very sorry for you."

How beautiful and comforting as I walk the path of life to know it is the right path.

3. How beautiful and comforting as I walk the path of life to know it is the right path.

Not the easy path the right path.

a.

Not the easy path the right path.

Here is where I mess up.

The easy path is not always right.

1.

Here is where I mess up.

The easy path is not always right.

It may lead to a cross.

b.

It may lead to a cross.

And somehow, He can make our mess ups a thing to bring glory

1 co 12:8-10

"For His name's sake."

4. "For His name's sake."

"Yea thought I walk through the valley of the shadow of death."

If Jesus does not rapture His church first, this is inevitable for each of us.

Note "shadow of death."

2. Note "shadow of death."

a.

What does that tell you?

There is light on the other side.

What does that tell you?

There is light on the other side.

The darkest times in our lives are simply shadows of things that are blocking the light and require light to exist.

b.

Death to us is not as Goethe described "I am about to take my last journey..."