Sermon Tone Analysis

The Heart of the Christian

DT: When we live with a pure heart we will see God.

Aim: We will live to please God and bring God Glory

Introduction: After winning their 2nd championship in 1995 the Houston Rocket’s coach, Rudy Tomjanovich was interviewed about his team overcoming what looked to be a long shot of the Houston Rockets winning.

Coach Tomjanovich responded by saying, “don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion” .

Introduction: After winning their 2nd championship in 1995 the Houston Rocket’s coach, Rudy Tomjanovich was interviewed about his team overcoming what looked to be a long shot of the Houston Rockets winning.

Coach Tomjanovich responded by saying, “don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion” .

Today I believe the same can be said of the heart of the Christian.

Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a Christian.

Jesus, as we continue to read His sermon on this mountain, explains that the heart of the Christian is the doorway to seeing God.

Jesus says, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

This word pure in the original language means, to be clean and free from moral guilt.

Knowing this allows us to establish that Jesus is challenging His disciples to have a heart that has no hindrances to a relationship with God.

The call is to live righteously towards God without spots or contaminants of the world.

The pure heart is to be single-minded, without ulterior motives.

It is to be single-minded, without ulterior motives

psalm

The pure heart is free from the immoralities of the world and its influences.

The pure heart is pointed to God.

The pure heart is aimed at seeing God.

Transition: Since the heart points to God and aims at seeing God then it is imperative that we address what distinguishes the heart of the Christian from that of the world.

The Heart of the Christian is Pure in Worship

The Heart of the Christian is pure in worship

As Jesus speaks of purity, He is speaking of the relationship of the Christian and God.

The purity of the heart begins by positioning oneself with God.

One of those things the Christian must resolve is the purity in worship.

Worship is solely for God

Worship is solely for God

The heart of the Christian cannot be torn in worship.

We are called to worship God and God alone.

Worship is reserved for God.

God is to be adored and lifted with our complete hearts and nothing nor anyone should take His place.

Worship is totally about God

Worship is not about the worshipper; but worship is every bit about God.

Worship that is pure is not about us being seen worshipping, it is about the God we worship.

When worship is totally about God there will be no discontent for the worshipper.

The pure heart makes worship about God not about the response of those around them.

Illustration: A visiting minister was substituting for the famed pastor Henry Ward Beecher.

A large audience had assembled to hear the popular pastor.

At the appointed hour, the visiting minister entered the pulpit.

Learning that Beecher was not to preach, several began to move toward the doors.

The visiting minister stood and called out, “All who have come here today to worship Henry Ward Beecher may now withdraw from the church!

All who have come to worship God, keep your seats!”

No one then left.

John 4:

A visiting minister was substituting for the famed pastor Henry Ward Beecher.

A large audience had assembled to hear the popular pastor.

At the appointed hour, the visiting minister entered the pulpit.

Learning that Beecher was not to preach, several began to move toward the doors.

The visiting minister stood and called out, “All who have come here today to worship Henry Ward Beecher may now withdraw from the church!

All who have come to worship God, keep your seats!”

No one then left.

Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1651.

Application: Worship God not people.

Pastors, preachers, deacons, ushers and choirs are also worshippers and are not the object of worship.

We are each vessels which should pour ourselves out at the feet of God.

Worship God not things.

Make certain our possessions do not take the place of God.

We owe all our worship to God.

Transition: Jesus is teaching you and I the necessity of pointing our hearts to God not only in worship but also in our commitment.

The Heart of the Christian is Pure in Commitment

It is said that commitment is staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you.

This statement, I believe, adequately describes what it means to have a heart of purity.

We exhibit commitment regardless of the circumstances or problems that may occur.

As a Christian heart we live this way with a:

Commitment to God

Commitment to God

This is to say that we are commited to God as His child.

God is our master and we are subject to His authority.

We are not confused about this commitment to God; we are very much intentional about our commitment.

Nothing and no person can tear us away from God.

Our successes, failures, triumphs, losses, jobs, hobbies, influences, I mean nothing.

The Christian heart is commited to God.

Commitment to God’s Way

God’s way is not like the world’s way.

The world offers all sort of ways and suggestions for life.

These are not God’s ways.

There is no purity in self-seeking and self-exalting actions.

The Christian is challenged to resist the ways of the world and cling to those of God.

Commitment to God’s Word

As believers we must face the reality that our life can only be at its best when we are committed to the Word of God.

We read God’s Word, we study God’s Word and we hear God’s Word.

This is the commitment the Christian makes and we must do it with out wavering.

God’s Word purifies and cleanses us and our commitment to God’s Word allows us to exemplify the pure heart.

Illustration: “Will you please tell me in a word,” said a Christian woman to a minister, “what your idea of consecration is?” Holding out a blank sheet of paper the pastor replied, “It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, and to let God fill it in as He will.”

Illustration: “Will you please tell me in a word,” said a Christian woman to a minister, “what your idea of consecration is?” Holding out a blank sheet of paper the pastor replied, “It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, and to let God fill it in as He will.”

Illustration: “Will you please tell me in a word,” said a Christian woman to a minister, “what your idea of consecration is?” Holding out a blank sheet of paper the pastor replied, “It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, and to let God fill it in as He will.”

“Will you please tell me in a word,” said a Christian woman to a minister, “what your idea of consecration is?”

Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002).

Holding out a blank sheet of paper the pastor replied, “It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, and to let God fill it in as He will.”

Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002).

Application: Are you committed to God and His Will? Have you signed your name without limitations and personal reservations?

The pure hearted have commited to God.

Make God THE PRIORITY in your life.

God must be included in every facet of your life.

Transition: The heart of the Christian should always look to bring God glory.

Worship and commitment are elements of the Christian heart that lead the way; but also, The Heart of the Christian has Pure Motives.

The Heart of the Christian Has Pure Motives

When we speak of motives, we are speaking of, why we do what we do.

The pure heart does not look for ways to get over on nor undermine other people.