Sermon Tone Analysis

Grinding Down the surface.

Date

Grinding Down the surface.

Illustration: When I was in Graduate school my friend and I started a business paining.

We were busy about the work of prepping and painting houses.

I did not like painting the new ones.

They lacked the character of the

The work of Grinding.

Took off what was flaking and smoothed down the surfaces of the remaining so that it would blend into the new life that the house would have after we gave it some new character.

Things that I have learned from the gospel.

1.

Where have we been?

Over the past few weeks we have been in 1 and 2 Timothy looking at Pauls admonish emend to Timothy to be diligent about the the work of the gospel.

A. Aspire to have the character worthy of being chosen for leadership.

i. Paul lays out the character of leaders.

This gives you a template of what it looks like to follow Jesus and allow yourself to be like Him.

B. Don’t rush ahead but live in the space you are in.

i.

C. Be prepared for the difficulty that life will bring to you as you cut against the grain.

(HCSB): “… along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me…”

i. Scripture for Today is supposed to be…

“ (HCSB): 4 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

5 But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

i.

A closer look at vs 3.

It bugs me that people lose sight of the things that actually help them in life.

Because they are impatient or just shallow.

They don’t want to get int deeper things because it not exciting enough for them.

We are all at risk of that.

Shiny distractions of this life cause us to lose grip on what matters and risk slipping away from having a firm hold on what does.

I am reminded of Hebrews 12:1 let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us.

Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus…..

So I found myself in …..

(HCSB): 12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us.

Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, 6 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.

7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons.

For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline—which all receive —then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them.

Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness.

11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.

I found myself reading this during the week and considered it in light of the difficulty I face in living day to day.

2. How Much Does Jesus Love Me?

A. I am A Joy to Him

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

He was on the throne before.

So that was not new.

It’s about being with us.

That’s new.

B. I am worth His Sacrifice

(Continued) ….2 …. endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

He endured the worst of me.

Was willing to take that on.

To Despise the cross.

(Give it no thought)

C. I am invited to share in his inheritance

10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness.

His holiness.

Eternal life doing whatever he gives us access to do…

D. I am worth the time to be trained.

11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

E. He cares about my emotions.

12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us.

Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

I Know this might sound a bit weird to you but what I get from this text is we need cheerleaders.

1.

People who have set the example therefore the courage to know it can be done because the trail has been blazed before us.

2. And the image that there is a cloud or grandstand of those who are ahead of us and cheering us on to carry forward the hope of Jesus.

3. Conclusion

A. He gives us two things to do here.

Look and Consider

(HCSB): 10 “Stop your fighting—and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

i.

Take the time to stop and Look

ii.

Take the time to stop and consider.

Consider where God is at work in your life.

Consider what distracts you and fights with your desires.

Where is God grinding down on your life right now?

What parts need to flake away and what needs to be smoothed down so that the surface can be ready to take new paint?