Sermon Tone Analysis

I’ve contemplated today this thought…Is the end of the story more important than the beginning?

You see, I’ve read the end of the book.

As a matter of fact, I read it many times and rehearsed it over the last few days.

What does the end of the book say?

 

Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.

Amen

 

The inspiration of God concludes its narrative by praying grace over God’s people, then affirming it with an AMEN.

What I realized and came across as I looked at this is that the beginning and the ending has little significance when the story is viewed from a distance.

It is the means, or the manner to which you have reached the end that matters.

The beginning is just experience you can draw from or an excuse you can fall back to, and the end is just the result of the means.

“If I served God faithfully for my entire life, and died and still went to hell, it would have still been worth serving God for my whole life.”

We are free slaves.

Luke 17:7-10

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep.

Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, `Come along now and sit down to eat'?  Would he not rather say, `Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?

Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

1grace \ˈgrās\ n

[ME, fr.

AF, fr.

L gratia favor, charm, thanks, fr.

gratus pleasing, grateful; akin to Skt gṛṇāti he praises] 12c

1 a  : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification

 b  : a virtue coming from God

 c  : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

2 a  : approval, favor 〈stayed in his good graces〉

 b  archaic : mercy, pardon

 c  : a special favor : privilege 〈each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage —Rudyard Kipling〉

 d  : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency

 e  : a temporary exemption : reprieve

3 a  : a charming or attractive trait or characteristic

 b  : a pleasing appearance or effect : charm 〈all the grace of youth —John Buchan〉

 c  : ease and suppleness of movement or bearing

4   — used as a title of address or reference for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop

5   : a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks

6   pl cap : three sister goddesses in Greek mythology who are the givers of charm and beauty

7   : a musical trill, turn, or appoggiatura

8 a  : sense of propriety or right 〈had the grace not to run for elective office —Calvin Trillin〉

 b  : the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful synonym see mercy