Sermon Tone Analysis

Lk 5:

I. What kind of friend are you?

Lk 5:17-

A. People matter.

Love goes to extraordinary lengths to care for those that matter to you.

Lk 15:

Illus: We are moving more and more into “stay in your own lane” lives.

In large part we are becoming more and more isolated from people.

In large part we have retreated from real relationships choosing to interact with the world from the other side of a screen.

More than that though, in our screen based relationships we have begun isolating ourselves farther.

When someone offends us, we end, unfriend, unfollow, the relationship.

In this way we are living more and more isolated lives.

We are living more and more through the screen, and only with people which match us.

To people well we need to get back to having real relationships.

Relationships are messy.

Relationships are difficult.

Relationships are where the gospel flourishes.

These men did not see their friend’s need and comment on his status with praying hands.

They took him to Jesus.

If we are going to reach our community again.

If your are going to reach your one, it will take real friendship where you spend time with other people.

It will take building relationships.

Perhaps the extraordinary act that God is calling your to is to simply get out of your lane and get to know another person.

B. We should be known for the lengths we will go to love people.

Illus: This past week I asked the question online about who was most influential in leading you to Jesus.

Here is what you said My Dad, My Friend, My wife, My Parents, My pastor, a preacher, My parents, A high school friend, A comunity of friends, My parents, My Sunday School Teacher, Friends, A friend who invited me to church, My mom and dad, My maw maw, A host of people from FBC Vidalia, an older teenager, My parents, My wife who made me go to church, friends who kept inviting me to church, my parents, My Grandma, My mawmaw, someone who said “we need people like you in church”, my mother in law, people who never stopped praying, Dr. Lisk who would not go away, a best friend in college, my son… do you catch the picture.

I was not surprised that very few mentioned the a pastor or a stranger.

Why, because evangelism is not a program of the church, but instead the mission of individuals of the church.

When you care about someone.

You care enough about them to share with them the life transforming news of the gospel of Jesus.

More than that, the gospel is no longer a sales pitch to them, but a message of hope and life you give them out of genuine love.

Who have you share with recently?

God is ready to use you in someone’s story, do you love your friends and family enough to share the gospel?

2 cor

II.

Do you genuinely have faith in Jesus Christ?

Lk 5:20-24

A. Our ambivalence to spiritual needs communicates what we actually believe in God.

lk 5:

Illus: The fact that we don’t share speaks much to our unbelief.

If we believed that the gospel could transform lives then we would share it .

James 5:

If we believed that Jesus could heal the most broken hearts, we would tell others about him.

If we believed that the hope of our city and nation was in in our crucified king, we would care far more for souls than for politics.

If we believed that our children would be rescued from hell by faith in Christ, we would completely re-prioritize our lives.

If we believed the gospel, our lives, words, and actions would magnify the life of Christ in all that we do.

But our silence, ambivalence, and reluctance to share shows how little faith we have in the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:16-

B. God has the power to heal and restore those whom we love.

Illus: God is ready to work.

He is ready to heal.

He has the power to transform your family and our city.

Because of these men’s act of faith, an unbelieving world saw two miracles.

The lesser, a paralytic was given the ability to walk.

The greater, a man was forgiven of His sins.

We can see this miracle today.

You can see God transform the lives of your kids, spouse, friends, parents.

The question is whether you are willing to bring your friends to Jesus.

Here in this passage you have to decide who you are.

Are you the pharisees standing on the side, gossiping among themselves about Jesus while doubting his power?

Are you the friends whose faith is so great that they tore the roof off of a building to get their friend to Jesus?

2 Corinthians 5:

III.

Are you ready to see God work?

lk

A. Can you imagine the incredible things that will happen when you bring your friend to Christ?

Illus: Last week I challenged you to identify one person for you to bring to Jesus.

It is easy to write their name down and walk with the crowd to put it in the basket.

Your belief in the gospel, and love for others will be seen by what your do.

Will you be bold and bring your friends, family, neighbors to Jesus?

Do you believe God can spiritually transform your friends and family?

What extraordinary act is God calling you to for your one?