Sermon Tone Analysis

! LIVING GODLY

!! Bible Text: Joshua 24:14-25

!! Subject: Choices

!! Title: Living Godly Means Making The Right Choices

!

INTRODUCTION

!! Biblical Orientation:

!!!

This is Joshua’s final final address to the people.

He reminds them of what God has done to establish them as a nation.

He tells them they have been blessed greatly.

Then he gives a final exhortation and statement of faith

!!!

It all begins with this phrase, “Now therefore fear the LORD”

!! Sermon Orientation:

!!! Verse 15 has some of the most famous words ever written outside of John 3:16; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua teaches much about living godly and here he shows us that living godly means making the right choices

!

EXPOSITION~/MAIN TEXT

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I. LIVING GODLY MEANS MAKING THE CHOICE TO BE SINCERE V 14

!! A. The Meaning And Application Of The Word “Sincere”

!!! 1. Definition- what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact[1]

!!!! a. Perfection

!!!!! ü Genesis 6:9 These/ are/ the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man/ and/ perfect in his generations,/ and/ Noah walked with God

!!!! b.

Complete

!!!!! i.

How much has to be missing for something not to be complete?

!!!!! i.

Will it make a difference?

Depends…

!!!!!! ü 1 out of 10,000 cookies: no

!!!!!! ü 1 portion of holiness required to go to heaven: yes

!!! 2. Joshua is speaking of how God’s children can serve Him in perfection and completeness

!!!! a. Jesus served His Father in absolute perfection and completeness

!!!! b.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do

!!!! c.

The tasks God has given us individually, they are possible to achieve

!!!!! i. Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld/ them/, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible

!!!!! ii.

To sincerely serve the Lord, we must perfectly and completely give ourselves over to Him

!! B. Sincerity Is Shown In Truth

!!! 1.

This has to do with that which is accurate

!!!! a.

The word is properly translated “firmness”

!!!! b.

To be firm means to be certain

!!!! c.

Certainty in life comes from faith

!!! 2. The godly man or woman must be completely sincere in their life with God

!!!! a. Would you call your relationship with the Lord complete?

!!!! b.

Would you say that you are so firm in your relationship with the Lord that nothing can even move your foundation?

!!! 3. Joshua says, if you are going to live godly; you are going to have to be sincere in your service

!!!! a.

Some people cannot decide if they are really going to serve God

!!!! b.

They go back and forth, they serve God one day and serve self the next

!!!! c.

That is not a sincere relationship with God

!!!! d. *One of the things you need to choose this day: is to quit playing around and sincerely live for the Lord*

!! C.

You Will Truly Know Your Sincerity By Your Purity

!!! 1. Joshua tells the people, “put away the gods which your fathers served”

!!!! a. *Get the gods out of your life*

!!!! b.

No, they were not in gross idolatry; they only had what people call the “normal” things in their lives

!!!!! i.

They had not completely kept themselves away from the heathen and their ways

!!!!! ii.

Just like when Christians refuse to give up their worldly things and ways

!!!! c.

How much corruption is corrupt?

Any, when you compare yourself to God

!!! 2. Get the sins out of your life

!!!! a.

Does a preacher have to preach on every sin there is before the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart?

!!!! b.

It would be a shame

!!!! c.

You know what sins are in your life

!!!!! i. Go to war against those sins

!!!!! ii.

Battle to defeat them

!!! 3. Get sinful things out of your life

!!!! a.

How many Christians refuse to get rid of the stuff they had as a worldling?

!!!! b.

No God, no, I can hold on to that and still be a Christian; that will not make me unholy

!!!! c.

If that will not make you unholy then why does God tell us Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon

!!! 4. *Until you begin to sincerely serve God; you will not have the godly life you desire*

!

II.

LIVING GODLY MEANS MAKING THE CHOICE TO SERVE THE LORD V 15

!! A. The Meaning And Application Of The Word “Serve”

!!! 1.

As you would think, it means to labor and to do work

!!!! a. Service has to do with one who is not just about being enslaved

!!!! b.

Service is a result of worship

!!! 2. Think of how well this fits our context

!!!! a. Joshua is telling the Jews to serve God

!!!! b.

He tells them to get the false gods of the world out of their lives