Sermon Tone Analysis
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What are you living for?
;
Well.... It’s a New Year....
I pray that your holidays have been blessed with the love of God, your families, and your church family.
As I look at the coming year, I want you to know how much of a blessing you are to our family.
We are overwhelmed with Joy and thankfulness that God has called us to serve here with you all.
You are our family, and we want you to know how much we love you all!
As we look forward…with anticipation…to what this next year has in store for us, it is natural to look back at the previous year.....
It has been an indescribable year!
We have laughed together, we have cried together.... We’ve seen good things happen.
We’ve seen not so good things happen.
We have watched as this church has grown in numbers, lost a few, and been blessed with a growing, loving fellowship.
I hope you have come to see this little community as your family, just as Melinda and I have.
We have truly been blessed by God.
We have watched the finances struggle.... We’ve watched our brothers and sisters struggle....
We have stood beside each other in times of plenty, and times of little.... We’ve seen people leave this church for various reasons, and wondered “Why?”
But through it all, we have remained faithful to God.... Trusting Him to see us through, and “Knowing” that He has a plan.
God has blessed us by never allowing us to be without, and giving us the means to minister to this community.
We reached out at Christmas and Thanksgiving, and various other times providing aid to 10 different families in need.
We were blessed to receive 6 brand new believers into our family, watch 2 others recommit themselves to God, and celebrate the baptisms of all 8! It has been an awesome year!
Looking back at the year, I can say that we focused pretty much on one question, “Who do you say I am?”
That is a question that has helped us to define ourselves, and to focus on God for the answers.
Today, as we enter a New Year, we have a new question ahead of us....
What are you living for?
It’s not an easy question, is it?
(What are you living for?)
How would you answer that question?
— Some people live for money.
— Some people live for fame.
— Some people live for approval.
What are you living for?
(That is) Christ’s Question today.
Are you willing to live for me?
If we are going to understand and answer this question, then we need to take a trip back in time… to Caesarea Phillippi.... a Roman City located North of the Sea of Galilee.
A huge rock cliff dominates the landscape.
At its base is a small stream that winds its way through the countryside, flowing to the Jordan river.....
It is a critical moment in Jesus’s ministry....
All Israel buzzes with word of this man from Galilee… Who is He?
By what power does He do the things He is doing?
Where do these miracles come from?
What is it that He wants?
Who is He?
Who is Jesus?
Who do you say He is?
Some are saying He is a prophet, but not like any we’ve seen.... Some say He’s the Messiah.... Some say He’s a fake…a charlatan.... Still, others.... have put their faith in Him.
The early wave of popularity has left the nation divided.
True, he has a wide following of common people.
It is also true that among the rich and powerful, opinion is slowly crystallizing against Him.
In the distance, the angry drums of opposition have begun to beat.
It won’t be long before their sound will become a deafening roar.
Knowing all this…Knowing that it would end in His death, Jesus gathers His disciples in this quiet place…this place of solitude… to ask them a question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ()
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ()
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.
Print.
()
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
We know how the conversation goes.... Peter answers…which leads Jesus to ask, “But who do you say I am?” () Peter confesses: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ()
We know how the conversation goes.... Peter answers…which leads Jesus to ask, “But who do you say I am?” (16:15) Peter confesses: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (16:16)
Peter’s confession of Christ leads to one of the most profound statements in Christ’s ministry.
Look at verses 17-18....
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.
Print.
What is this “rock” upon which the church will be built and Hades will not prevail against?
— Some say it is “Peter”.....
— Some say it is “Peter’s confession”....
— Some say it is the fact that “Jesus is the ‘Son of God’”....
The truth is that it is each of those things and more.....
Jesus “renamed” Simon, previewing the new life He intended for him in His service.... (and He does the same with us....
He has a plan for us....we are not who we once were.)
Peter’s confession is a foundational truth..... Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God.....
But, you see…Christ wants more….
Not just a confession of who He is – He already knows that!
Christ’s desire is our heart....
He is asking: “Are we willing to live for Him?”
“Are you ready to commit your life completely to Jesus?”
— Not just to receive Him, but to give Him EVERYTHING..... It’s not about the Cross right now..... not yet!
Notice that the conversation did not end with Peter’s confession, and Jesus’s recognition of it.
Jesus is seeking more than a confession....
He is seeking commitment!
He is saying to them: “Now that you know who I am, are you willing to commit your life to me?”
Look at how Jesus puts the issue in :
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.
Print.
The NIV and the NKJV twice uses the word “Life,” and twice uses the word “Soul” in this verse.
The Greek word is the same — “psyche.”
(where we get psychology)
Psyche means the “real you”— the part that lives, breathes, and makes decisions.
You see....”life” is more than simply physical existence.
Life—Psyche—is everything that makes us who we are…our words, our actions, our abilities, our purpose....
What Christ is saying to the disciples…and to us... is this:
“Now that you know who I am, are you ready to take up your cross and follow me?
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