Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.04UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.05UNLIKELY
Fear
0.08UNLIKELY
Joy
0.52LIKELY
Sadness
0.15UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.58LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.57LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.88LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.51LIKELY
Extraversion
0.18UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.76LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.56LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
++
SLIDE 3
2 Cor 12.1-
++
2 Cor 12:
SLIDE 4
++
Intro: (read 1-7)
Needless to say, our recent studies in the book of II Corinthians have been difficult ones..
If Paul wasn’t talking about giving… he was was talking about himself…
++
And as he talked about himself.. in a positive light..
He did it, to set a contrast… - to combat the campaign that was set against him by a movement of influencers that were gaining a foothold in that church.
++
He would take opportunities to highlight others.. in a negative light..
So… chapter 11 ended, with Paul talking about himself… and now, as we move into chapter 12, he’s doing it again.
++
Suddenly.. we read on..
And here it is.. the same thing.. it’s continuing..
If you haven’t been with us in the past few weeks, let me quickly re-cap the context.
Paul.. is talking about himself.. here again.. in chapter 12…
Corinth was a very modern, very wealthy city.
It was a trade port, so it was inundated with many different cultures and traditions.
If something was new and culturally hip, it would quickly take root in Corinth.
++
One of the most popular forms of entertainment in this day was the sophostic speaker.
They were of a philosophical tradition of speaking and entertaining that combined an elaborate and outrageous appearance, with a speaking style that set out to combat and disprove a topic.
They came with recommendations and reviews in hand and were a very sought after form of entertainment.
They weren’t sincerely out to disprove fact… it was simply a form of entertainment.
++
Like anything that becomes popular… this fad began to influence the church.
Speakers in elaborate dress with impressive titles and letters of recommendation would come into the churches.
They impressed the people with their speaking skills, with their appearance and with the letters of commendation they brought with them.
++
As the church was being entertained by these speakers… by these guys that Paul just mockingly called, “super apostles”… they would occasionally get some push back from those who were taught by the Apostle Paul.
++
“Wait a minute… that’s not what Paul taught us.” - To which they would reply… “Who is this Paul, and what is this Paul saying?
Does this Paul come with letters of commendation like we do?
Does this Paul speak as well as we do?
Does this Paul look as impressive as we do?”
++
Paul is an apostle who brought the Gospel to us early on.
Paul taught us about grace and how to live lives that honor Jesus.
Paul did not come with letters of commendation.
Paul is not, at all, a good public speaker.
And Paul does NOT look impressive.
In fact, he would often show up after working all day… still sweaty and dirty.
++
Culturally, the Corinthians were gaining an expectation of what a church leader should look like.
One which was influenced by culture… and not influenced by the methods and doctrines that Paul taught them.
++
If we carried this context over into modern terms…
-
-People might visit a church and say, because of the cultural expectations that they have gained:
“I didn’t enjoy the worship… it wasn’t very good.
The speaker who gave the talk wasn’t engaging.
There isn’t a cool coffee cup in my visitor bag.
There are weird people here.”
++
To which we might answer.
“ - The worship was for God, not you.
Only God could call it good or bad.
-There was no speaker… there was a pastor.
It wasn’t a talk, it was a sermon… and maybe it wasn’t engaging to you, because you were expecting entertainment, and not discipleship.
-Yes, there are weird people here… we think you’ll fit right in.
“
++
This is the kind of thing that Corinth was dealing with… and because of it, the people were beginning to sympathize with the complaints against Paul…
++
Paul knew, that if they followed the teaching of these super apostles… they would be led away from the Gospel..
So he fought, to defend his credentials… and his message…
++
Not for the sake of his own validation… but ultimately, for the sake of the Gospel.
++
Though the theme of his conversation varies..
the message.. remains the same..
Paul is using a petty method…
To communicate an important truth..
To a petty group of people..
The people in Corinth.. had begun to embrace a tainted gospel..
Impressive teachers were coming into their midst..
And they were bringing.. a different gospel.. than the one which Paul had already preached..
And to validate their new message..
They had to invalidate.. the old messenger..
++
It wasn’t good enough.. that a message would remain the same..
…unencumbered by the persuasive presentation of some charlatan.
No..
The perception of truth that the people of Corinth began to embrace…
was directly linked.. to the messenger.. .
++
People have always been this way… they can be swayed to think and believe a different way… if they are impressed with the one who brings new ideas to them.
++
Paul had been discredited..
Therefore.. his message was discredited..
For this reason.. Paul reluctantly concluded that it would be necessary (though foolish) to give a personal defense..
++
And it’s been a long one..
Sharing first.. his heart and his intention for the church at Corinth..
That he could present them to Christ.. as a pure virgin
He shared then: his fear..
That they have possibly:
“been deceived, by one who preaches another gospel”
++
He reminded them: of how he came..
Taking care of his own needs..
Not being a burden.. not seeking profit or gain from them..
As some had probably accused him.
++
He reminded them:
That the works of Satan.. don’t always come as a manifestation of darkness and evil..
But they come.. more frequently.. in the church..
…in the appearance of: “righteousness”
++
He reminds them.. of his qualifications..
Not only.. by way of who he was..
But also.. by what he had gone through.. – sacrificed.. suffered.. and endured..
++
As Paul has given this direct message to the church in Corinth..
He has given to us..
An example..
..of which.. we spoke quite extensively last week..
++
For we live in a world where our faith has been.. and continues to be..
.. misrepresented in the eyes of humanity…
++
So many people.. so many organizations.. so many churches..
Have claimed the gospel of Christ.. as their motivation..
While simultaneously carrying out.. deeds that are contrary to the Gospel…
++
Because of this… The faith that we represent..
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9