Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Intro:
“Jesus and” memes.
Not that Jesus cares if you love coffee or pumpkin spice, etc.
The challenge is when we equate two things by using “and.”
In our hearts we know that our hobby, etc aren’t truly equal to Jesus but language matters.
When we’re navigating life, it’s very easy for us to find comfort, meaning, significance in our hobbies, other people, careers, just about anything.
At times, the stress gets to the point that we’re counting on the “fill in the blank” to get us through.
The problem is, nothing else can do what Jesus does for us.
We turn into “Jesus and _______” people.
Paul addresses this tendency in Colossians.
Begins with prayer.
It has several purposes:
Intro Paul, remind them of who they are, introduce the subject he wants them to know and teach them what to pray for.
Being “Jesus Only” People
Paul is giving us a reputation to live up to.
Holy - set apart by our faith in Christ.
(Jesus only.)
Already Paul is asking us to evaluate who we belong to, what are the fundamental qualities of life we seek?
Is it grace (God’s favor and love) and peace (wholeness in relationship with God and others?)
This is what Jesus only people look like.
Qualities of “Jesus Only” People
Paul begins his encouragement to be Jesus only people with prayer.
Gospel leads to hope (expectation of heaven) leads to loving one another.
All based on faith in Christ.
Hope for everything in eternity results in strengthened faith and expressions of love.
Not in the abstract, but in word and deed.
Gut check: In what have I sunk my faith?
Gut check: does our love for one another and lost people demonstrate our knowledge of and acceptance of the gospel?
That we were lost (literally) and needed salvation?
Gut check: What is my hope based on?
Where does it come from?
If hope is only in here and now (Jesus and) we lose sight that we are already promised everything in heaven (hope).
This is the basis for being “Jesus only” people.
Being Transformed
Word of truth has impacted not just the Colossians but the whole world.
Epaphras serves as an example of the “Jesus only” model that Paul has in mind.
Clearly, the gospel is supposed to transform us.
“Jesus and” implies that there is something/someone else who can or should make a difference in our lives.
The truth is, everything we’ve ever tried to give our lives eternal meaning and significance fails at some point.
Christians have made a conscious decision to turn themselves over to Christ.
Do we really want to fall back into “Jesus and”?
Living Transformed Lives
What does Paul say that transformation looks like?
Knowledge = practical obedience
Wisdom = mental excellence, having a correct orientation to reality as a whole – understanding how things work.
Understanding = insight, ability to draw appropriate conclusions, the ability to apply wisdom appropriately to daily life.
“Jesus and” becomes a problem when we can’t properly apply these qualities to our everyday life.
We begin to drift when we’re not sure what to do or where to turn.
How can we respond effectively to what’s going on in life if we don’t know God or what He wants for/from us?
Knowing God and His will has a direct impact on how we live (walk).
We produce fruit and mature.
Gut check is to ask whether my actions (prompted by mind and heart) are honorable and pleasing to God.
Can I say that I am growing, maturing, in this walk?
Paul reminds us that a “Jesus only” walk is the only walk that is worthy of God.
Staying Strong
When we’ve been transformed by Jesus and live with and for him only, we can not only survive, but thrive.
Have the strength to stick it out over the long haul – not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.
It is the strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy.
(Mess.)
Paul wants us to recognize that the Christian life isn’t a sprint.
It’s a marathon.
But not a horrible, tortuous life.
No matter what we experience, we can have joy.
Endurance – ability to continue toward a goal regardless of the obstacles.
(Heb.
12:1)
Patience – stand firm against opposition without giving up.
Also, self-restraint.
This is a big part of “Jesus and” vs. “Jesus only.”
We start looking for other ways to fill our lives with fun, joy, meaning besides Jesus.
We need a direction for life – Jesus.
We need to know that we’re doing right, headed right in spite of peer pressure, temptation, fatigue, etc.
Enabled = authorized, qualified, made us competent or fit to some activity.
Headed Home
Jesus Only people know where they’re headed...
Conclusion:
What’s the “and” in your life?
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