Sermon Tone Analysis

Pastor Tim Keller used the following example to show how to find ultimate joy and satisfaction in Christ:

Do you remember when your mother used to say, "Don't eat candy before meals?"

Why did she say that?

Because she knew it would ruin your next meal.

The trouble with eating candy is that it gives you a sugar buzz, and then you don't feel hungry.

Candy masks the fact that your body needs proteins and vitamins.

The sugar buzz from candy masks your hunger for the real nutrients that you don't have.

Things like sex, power, money, and success—as well as favorable circumstances—act like spiritual sugar.

Christians who have these spiritual candies may say, "Sure, I believe in God and I know I'm going to heaven," but they're actually basing their day-to-day joy on favorable circumstances.

When the circumstances change, it drives us to God, because when the sugar disappears, when the candy gets taken away, we're forced to pursue the feast that our souls really crave.

We'll hunger for the spiritual nutrients we really need.

Joy is something extraordinary and continues to bring continued wonder.

At least to me.

Have you even just sat and deeply thought about what James meant when he told us to take joy when we face trials and tribulations.

When Paul tells us to rejoice in our sufferings?

Jesus tells us in this world we will experience tribulation and that the world will hate us because of him, but we would receive the joy that He Himself possessed.

Real satisfaction, Real exultation, real strength.

So you see there is something clear and definite that we see in the Scriptures.

All throughout the scriptures… in the OT in Isaiah and in the Psalms.

God’s people in this world are supposed to be full of joy.

We are called to it… and we should see the undeniable truth that we Christians really have no right to be discouraged or unhappy about how things are in the World.

Joy does not come unless we are satisfied.

Christ is our satisfaction.

Joy does not come unless there is a reason for exultation.

Christ is our exultation.

Joy will bring strength to overcome all.

The Joy of the Lord is our strength.

Lets look at this more today.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

Fellowship

Joy

Everlasting Life

The first thing we will look at today is how vital biblical fellowship is to the life of a Christian.

Second, we will explore a bit the nature of joy and how important it is to overcoming the patterns of the world.

Finally, we will see the wonderful expression, foundation, and encouragement for the joy of a Christian it is and always will be Christ and His Gospel.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause us to lose hope because of the emptiness of the promises of the world and the lifestyle it promises, it is the good news of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit that will cause us to face suffering and persecution joyously proclaiming “blessed be the name of the Lord.”

I. Fellowship

- Fellowship means far more than we might think.

A. After the apostle gives us a beautiful introduction and informs us that he is a eye witness and an ear witness to Jesus the Son of God made flesh and now he wants to tell us why.

1 John 1:3

B. Let’s talk about fellowship today.

This word in modern evangelicalism has been used much and over time it might for some of us lost its full meaning.

Going out to have coffee to talk.

Going out to lunch.

Going downstairs to eat donuts and have coffee before service.

Even coming over to our house to have a BBQ.

Going over to someones house to have dinner play games watch movies.

This is all great ways and opportunities to fellowship, but this word means more than just hanging out.

C.

Many of us have heard the greek word used here.

Koinonian used here … or Koinonia.

Participation fellowship - the act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group.

And what is it that we get to share in?

Christ.

D. Only believers in Christ can have this kind of fellowship.

We may have friendships in the world, but only Christians share and celebrate genuine fellowship with each other and with the King of kings.

E. So you see that koinonia has two foci.

A horizontal and a vertical.

John teaches us that our fellowship is not only with other believers (the horizontal aspect) but is also “with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (the vertical aspect).

Allen, D. L. (2013).

1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family.

(R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p.

26).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

F. All throughout the known history of religion humanity has done everything possible to try to bridge the gap, the canyon, the chasm between God and man.

That clear separation that we all feel or felt deep down inside.

But the news that we are hearing from John today is that the bridge is Christ and is Christ alone.

It continues...

John teaches us that our fellowship is not only with other believers (the horizontal aspect) but is also “with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (the vertical aspect).

G. John implies here in this passage, and will make clear later in the letter, that fellowship with God is not possible apart from fellowship with Jesus.

You cannot be in fellowship with God but not in fellowship with his Son Jesus and vice versa.

And in this fellowship we share all that Christ has for us.

Can you say “inheritance.”

Can you say “partakers of the divine nature?”

Allen, D. L. (2013).

1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family.

(R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p.

26).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

H.

But it is also horizontal… we fellowship with each other.

And when it comes to fellowship with each other, one clear cross reference in the gospel of John.

John implies here in this statement, and will make clear later in the letter, that fellowship with God is not possible apart from fellowship with Jesus.

You cannot be in fellowship with God but not in fellowship with his Son Jesus and vice versa.

Think

John

Allen, D. L. (2013).

1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family.

(R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p.

26).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

I.

So here you have it.

The answer to one of life’s problems.

You are never alone anymore.

Even if you think you are, remember Christian...

- You may feel alone sometimes, but you are never alone.

Fellowship with God and Christ takes care of life’s spiritual loneliness.

You may feel alone sometimes, but you are never alone.

Fellowship with God and Christ takes care of life’s spiritual loneliness.

J.

But it does not stop there.

Another one of God’s answers to life’s loneliness is fellowship with other Christians through a local church.