Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Jr church dismissal instructions

Good morning.

Another amazing day in the church house.

This morning we will be finishing our series refocus.

We have seen how there needs to be a focus on Jesus, on His purpose in our life, and on prayer.

With this final installment of the series I’d like to bring to your attention the foundation for each of the previous messages.

This morning we will see why we need to Refocus: On the Word.

The written word of God is what we have as a means to learn the intimate details of God and the relationship He desires with His people.

Turn to this morning.

It is a book of great value to some and of no value to others.

Illustration: Have you ever seen the different values of your home as viewed by a real estate agent, the county tax assessor, and the appraiser?

Isn’t it amazing how neither of those numbers match?

Based on your taxes, especially here, you’d think we all own a mansion.

The appraiser however sees it as a shack, and the real estate agent is somewhere in between.

Christians are the same way.

We each place a different value on the Bible.

We aren’t able to fill out a form to determine the value we place on it though.

How we value the Word of God is determined by how we use it.

Is it a staple in our daily lives?

Do we turn to it’s truths and precepts to guide our lives?

Is it a dusty decoration on the coffee table?

I want you see some statistics on the Bible in American culture.

88% of American homes have a Bible

The avg American home that owns a Bible owns 3.4 of them

18% of Americans that own a bible confess to reading it daily.

23% of Americans that own a bible never read it

In a country where many of our countrymen own a Bible, we can tell by the statistics there is little value placed on the word of God.

The Bible tells us that we are not to live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Want to know what you should believe?

The Bible has the doctrine.

Want to know the right direction to go?

The Bible gives correction.

Want to know to do about a situation?

The Bible has instruction.

Maybe your here today though and you don’t understand all that the Bible is?

Maybe your a Christian that doesn’t pick it up because you believe it’s too hard to understand.

Maybe your tired of certain sins plaguing you.

You don’t like your temper.

You need to offer forgiveness to someone.

You need encouragement and strength to be the parent God would want you to be.

No matter which situation you are in I want you ask yourself this question today: Based on my daily interaction with it, how much value do I place on the Bible?

Follow along as I read “ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned:

And in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me:

Then shall I be upright,

And I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth,

And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,

O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

PRAY

Notice first that the Bible is Profitable.

I.

The Bible is Profitable

Notice how verses 7-9 give us 5 different names for the Bible.

The Law, The testimony, The statutes, The commandments, The judgements.

The Bible is so much more than a book.

We are given these 5 different titles for the Bible here as well as 5 different effects of it.

4 of those 5 have similar meanings to them and I want to bring them to your attention in this way by saying the Bible is the Rule and Guide of our Faith.

A. It is the Rule and Guide of our faith

It is the law, the statues, the commandments, and the judgements of the Lord.

These relate to the list of do’s and do nots.

While this is not all that should be preached they should not be neglected either.

While some of this list may pertain to what wear and how we should dress modestly and cover our nakedness.

the Bible also speaks to the Christians relationship with alcohol.

If your curious about what I believe the Bible speaks of that relationship being, I believe it shouldn’t exist but thats another message for another time.

It also contains the dos and don’ts of our spiritual walk.

Do worship the Lord your God.

Don’t believe in reincarnation.

Do get baptized.

Don’t get baptized because you believe it washes away sin.

Do tell others about Jesus.

See where I’m going here?

Illustration: I was having a discussion with someone recently regarding spiritual matters.

This person professed to know God through Jesus but had their own beliefs about a number of things however when I mentioned the Bible and how it should guide our ideas of Christianity and what God desires for us I was told he had never read it.

Too many Christians are in the same boat as non-Christians.

We either no little or just enough of the Bible to talk to the talk but we aren’t willing to dive in so we can begin to walk.

The Bible provides us a way of living our lives that I’ve never heard a person regret following.

I’ve never found a truth, principle, law, commandment, or precept, that would cause me harm or direct me down a bad path.

We need to understand the Bible and see it as the rule and guide of our faith but trying to live the Christian life in a holy manner will breed resentment in your heart if you don’t see the Bible as more than just a rule and guide, you must also see it as the reason we follow.

B. It is the Reason we follow

The other name we see in this text that points us to what the bible is, is the name testimony.

The word testimony means a witness.

Illustration: When a person convicted of a crime takes the witness stand to give a testimony they are giving their defense, their reasoning, for their actions.

The Bible is the Lord’s testimony of why we should seek first His kingdom and righteousness.

Notice in verse 7 what the testimony of the Lord is.

It is sure.

Illustration: The word sure there means to build up, to support.