Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.6LIKELY
Disgust
0.1UNLIKELY
Fear
0.13UNLIKELY
Joy
0.6LIKELY
Sadness
0.6LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.55LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.76LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.72LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.89LIKELY
Extraversion
0.32UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.88LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.66LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Introduction
$360 to fix dryer - Could have bought a brand new dryer!
But, clothes were piling up.
House was going on market.
Urgent - needed to get it right immediately.
I was willing to pay the cost to make it right.
This morning - I want you to feel a sense of urgency because in this passage James describes a war that you are in - and when you’re at war - you act with urgency.
The war manifests itself in conflict with others and conflict with God.
We titled this series “Growing in the Wisdom of the Word” because James is practical - giving us wisdom to know how to live out our faith.
But, we could have titled this series, “In Your Face.” James has been in our faces, and he’s definitely in our faces in this passage.
But, James gets in our face to ultimately get into our hearts so we might allow God to do a work in us to change us for His glory.
You’re here and you feel conflicted.
You know something’s not right in your relationship with God.
You know something’s not right with your relationships with other people.
How do you fix it?
You’re here and you feel conflicted.
You know something’s not right in your relationship with God.
You know something’s not right with your relationships with other people.
How do you fix it?
Two simple challenges: know the source of your conflict AND embrace the solution for your conflict.
Know the Source of Your Conflict
James probably the earliest letter we have in the NT; written just a few decades after the resurrection of his brother, Jesus.
Church is barely getting started and it’s full of conflict because the church is full of imperfect people.
James already addressed some of the conflict: class wars (2:1-9), battles in the church because of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (3:13-16), battles between the rich and those they have employed (5:4-6).
Conflict!
We can’t seem to get away from it.
You’ve seen lots of conflict and you’ve been involved in lots of conflict.
Question: What causes quarrels?
(4:1)Legit question for these believers.
Why were they fighting?
Why do you fight?
Your answer: Not me.
It’s someone else’s fault.
I’m at war with my wife because of what she said to me.
I’m mad at the church because of what they did to me.
I’m mad at my boss because he never gives me a break.
I’m mad at God because He put me in these terrible circumstances.
We think the source of conflict must be outside of us - someone did something to me, so I must retaliate, get revenge, etc. - and the result is lots of conflict.
James: Nope.
Source of conflict is not outside of you it’s inside of you.
The reason why you often find yourself at war with other people is because there is a war going on inside of you.
vs. 1 - passions - hedone - Where we get our word hedonism.
Hedonism = a philosophy of life that says that pleasure is the highest good and the proper aim of the human life.
vs. 1 - passions - hedone - Where we get our word hedonism.
Hedonism = a philosophy of life that says that pleasure is the highest good and the proper aim of the human life.
Hedonism says the primary question you should ask is: “What is going to make my life most enjoyable?”
- If asking that question expect conflict with others and with God!
Problem: Life isn’t always enjoyable!
You’re not always going to get what you want!
When you don’t - the rage starts to come out and conflict ensues!
(You can’t hide the war inside!
It’s going to come out!
Staci making mac and cheese with squash - trying to poison me!)
vs. 2 - You desire and do not have, so you murder!
Maybe literal murder but most likely figurative.
(Sermon on the Mount) - If you harbor anger just as bad as murder.
Truth: some people are dead to you because they stood in the way of you getting what you want.
Someone stood in the way of your enjoyment, your pleasures, etc. Conflict ensued, and now that person is dead to you.
vs. 2 - You covent and cannot obtain.
You see someone who is enjoying the pleasures of life more than you are, so you covet (bitter jealousy) - you get mad - you fight and quarrel.
Be honest: How many of your conflicts are a result of you not getting what you want?
James exposes our hearts!
There’s a war within us that leads to a war outside of us!
This internal doesn’t only produce conflict with others, it also produces conflict with God!
Prayerlessness - You do not have because you do not ask.
() - Every good gift comes from God. He’s the One who gives real pleasure, but you don’t believe it.
You don’t ask!
You have no desire to pray because you have no real walk with God.
Prayer with the wrong motives - You view God as a spiritual being who exists for your pleasures.
You only pray to get from God instead of praying to know God and walk with Him.
Prayer with the wrong motives - You view God as a spiritual being who exists for your pleasures.
You only pray to get from God instead of praying to know God and walk with Him.
“You adulterous people!” God has betrothed Himself to you but you are unfaithful!
Bible uses language of marriage to describe our relationship with God.
How could James call us adulterers?
Isn’t that a bit too strong?
Not if you’re asking the wrong question.
If you’re constantly asking, “What is going to make my life most enjoyable?”
You’re missing the point of the Christian faith!
The question we should be asking: “What is going to make my life most purposeful for the Kingdom of God?”
If you’re asking, “What’s going to make my life most enjoyable?”
You’ve shown your allegiance, and it’s not to God! It’s to the world!
Friendship with the world = intimate knowledge of the world and longing for everything the world offers.
Friendship with the world = enmity with God.
You can’t be a friend of both!
You can’t have divided allegiance (double-minded)!
God is jealous for you - He longs for you to be in a relationship with Him.
(Theme of OT.) (Mocking bird attacking me - jealous for her children - everything to protect - God has done everything to protect you from what will corrupt your soul but we choose to live outside His protection.)
() Are you more comfortable with the things of the world or the things of God?
James not telling us to not enjoy the things of this world.
God wants us to enjoy this world, but He wants us to enjoy Him more - wants us to realize that everything is a gift from His hands.
()
James not telling us to not enjoy the things of this world.
God wants us to enjoy this world, but He wants us to enjoy Him more - wants us to realize that everything is a gift from His hands.
(Psalm 37:4)
Which question dominates your life: 1.
What is going to make my life most enjoyable?
Or, 2. What is going to make my life most purposeful for the Kingdom?
If 1. dominates your life - you’re always going to find yourself at war with yourself, war with others, and ultimately war with God.
If 2., you’ll find the desires of your heart in Christ.
Embrace the solution to your conflict
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9