Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Wilma Glodean Rudolph was born prematurely on June 23, 1940, in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee, the 20th of 22 children born to dad Ed across his two marriages.

Wilma Glodean Rudolph was stricken with double pneumonia, scarlet fever and polio as a child, she had problems with her left leg and had to wear a brace.

But AGAINST THE ODDS, in 1960, Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics.

Althea Neale Gibson was born on August 25, 1927, in Silver, South Carolina.

At a young age, Althea Neale Gibson moved with her family to Harlem, a neighborhood in the borough of New York City.

Gibson's life at this time had its hardships.

Her family struggled to make ends meet, living on public assistance for a time, and Gibson struggled in the classroom, often skipping school all together.

But AGAINST THE ODDS, of being Black and being a Woman, Althea Neale Gibson was the first African-American tennis player to compete at the U.S. National Championships in 1950, and the first black player to compete at Wimbledon in 1951.

She also broke racial barriers in professional golf.

AGAINST THE ODDS, Althea Neale Gibson won the women's singles and doubles at Wimbledon in 1957, and won the U.S. Open in 1958.

The main objective of the sermon is motivate someone to know that you can make it against the odds!

The central idea of the text is tailored to teach us that HOW WE START OUT, is not necessarily indicative of HOW WE WILL FINISH UP!

I. His Story (9)

Everyone has a story!

She named Jabez out of her pain, at that time…But from all indication, this text is in the midst of a genealogical context, namely the son of Jacob, the fourth son of Leah and Jacob, whose name was Judah, whose name means PRAISE because in , “This time I will praise the Lord.”

Jabez = sorrow = pain

We cannot allow one negative circumstance or situation to define someone else...

honorable = better = to be respected

ONE’S NAME IS USUALLY ONE’S DESTINY

What people call you does not have to determine or dictate your destiny!

What people call you does not have to determine where you headed in life; where you start out in life does not have to be where you end up!

II.

His Prayer (10a)

Jabez prayed...

“His prayer was meant to counteract the threatening character of his name.”

to the God of Israel...

to the God of Israel...

bless - to bless (favor) v. — to invoke (or enact) divine favor, often implying a positive disposition or kind actions toward the recipient.

enlarge - to make great v. — to make great in size, scale, magnitude, or importance; increase/multiply...

territory - territory n. — the geographical area under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state.

“a particularly appropriate petition within a genealogy so focused on geography…”

hand - power ⇔ hand n. — power or possession of controlling influence conceived as in terms of the hand; can be used to highlight immanent activity.

hand - power ⇔ hand n. — power or possession of controlling influence conceived as in terms of the hand; can be used to highlight immanent activity.

“he requested the presence of God’s hand, which would be the opposite of having God’s hand against him.

Think of the promise in b*: “And it shall be known that the hand of Yahweh is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies.”

God’s hand with Jabez would be the opposite of his hand against him.

keep me - to keep (safety) v. — to maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger.

(NRSV)