Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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\\ /Scripture: John 8:12-30/
/ /
/I believe in Christianity as I believe the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else. /
/ /
/ -- C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory./
/" When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “*I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.*”
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
*You judge by human standards;* I pass judgment on no one.
But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone.
I stand with the Father, who sent me.
In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “*You do not know me or my Father*,” Jesus replied.
“If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put.
Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.
Where I go, you cannot come.”
This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself?
Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above.
You are of this world; I am not of this world*.
I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.*”
“Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied.
“I have much to say in judgment of you.
But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.
So Jesus said, “*When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be* and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him."
(John 8:12-30, NIV) *[1]* /
*/1.
/**/ We struggle with the “exclusivity” of the Christian faith./*
More and more, I am realizing that faith singles a person out.
Not long after I came to Fredericton I attended a seminar sponsored by a government agency.
The proceeding were opened by an aboriginal medicine man of some sorts.
As an act of “blessing” of some sort, he was burning some sort of smoke producing material in a shallow bowl and coming around the room to people.
The response that was appropriate was to move your arms through the smoke, embracing it and drawing it to yourself.
I do not remember the total symbolism that this signified but I felt personally that to do this was to compromise something that God had put in my heart.
I didn’t want to offend anyone there that day.
I was participating in the seminar because I wanted to cooperate in what I felt to be a good cause.
I still believe that the cause was good.
But I felt trapped by what was taking place around me.
While the sentiment that this ritual was expressing may have been good, it was tied to a religious belief that I was unwilling to validate by my participation.
I had a choice to make.
What would you do?
Is there room for us to live as spiritual eclectics and still experience vitality in our relationship with God or will our high-mindedness reduce our experience to form and function?
It’s what we */don’t want to say/* to people that many times inhibits us in communicating the gospel.
The things that we refuse to be a part of make a statement.
In our silence and non-participation we will stand apart by times.
I have never wanted my life to make another person feel condemned or driven away from Christ.
I want them to believe when they look at me that I am human, flawed, forgiven, pursuing a crucial connection with God that impacts the way that I live.
And I want them to be able to see my mistakes as much as my successes, the end being that they will believe that God loves us and delights in our diligent efforts to integrate our faith with everyday living.
I don’t believe that God is upset with my failures unless I deny them or refuse to maintain an honest accounting with Him.
My prayer is that people will want to know Christ because they find a joy or a peace in my heart that is desirable.
*/I don’t believe that Jesus is a Divine option, I believe that He is the only way./*
There are consequences to what I have just said that I don’t like.
That means that I believe that no person in this world can find their way to eternal peace with God apart from His Son.
Does that mean I am intolerant?
I hope not.
I accept the right of any person in this world to believe differently than I do and I won’t treat them differently because of that.
But I cannot tell them that their path will lead them to God.
I know of only one way.
I realize that my beliefs and the way that I live my life will create discomfort for some people.
I don’t think we can help that totally.
/"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
*To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.*
And who is sufficient for these things?"
(2 Corinthians 2:14-16, NKJV)/
/*[2]*// /
I enjoy this thoughtful poem by Carol Wimmer who gracefully expresses the heart of a person who wants to communicate their faith to another.
*/WHEN I SAY, "I AM A CHRISTIAN"/*
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not shouting "I am saved."
I'm whispering "I was lost";
That is why I chose this way.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble,
And need someone to be my guide.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak,
And pray for strength to carry on.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed,
And cannot ever pay the debt.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are too visible,
But God believes I'm worth it.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches,
Which is why I speak His name.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority;
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