Sermon Tone Analysis

*John 12:20-26* \\ \\

One of the big new concerns in the church today is the concern to " market the church".

The idea is that God's people need to better market their product - salvation.

There are some positive benefits from these surveys and observations.

These folks are right that we need to get the gospel message before the people.

It is important to find new and more effective techniques for communicating the gospel.

When we find that people don't understand us because of the words we use we must carefully translate the truth into a language that is understood.

Removing language and cultural barriers to understanding God's truth is vital to our outreach.

In this sense I wholeheartedly embrace the insights provided through church marketing experts.

However, the very notion that our *product* needs an overhaul is ludicrous.

We do not have to make the gospel more relevant to modern ears . . .

there is nothing more relevant than how to be cleansed from sin and how to find life beyond the grave.

We must be careful that as we seek to promote the church . . .

we are promoting the true church and not a watered down, cheap imitation.

Many today are removing offensive *doctrines* in order to make the gospel more attractive.

This is to lead people into idolatry.

But . . .

.if we were to find some principles that are sure fire ways to help people respond more positively to the church, maybe these guidelines would help: [I AM PLANTING MY TONGUE FIRMLY IN CHEEK]

* Use the Bible Sparingly.

There are things in the Bible people will find offensive.

(Things like sin, absolute truth, a narrow road to salvation, eternal punishment and so forth).

I have found that these are not popular subjects with contemporary folks.

Keep the people away from them.

[remember where my tongue is!]

* When quoting the Bible focus on the passages that talk about the personal benefit of following Christ.

People like these things.

* Throw out any songs, readings and prayers that are theologically deep.

Those might expose people to those unpleasant aspects of the faith like sacrifice, trials, responsibility.

Instead focus on experience oriented songs, prayers and readings.

Find things that will help people feel good about their experience without ever having to encounter the true and living God

* Never ever, don't even think about, don't even talk in whispers about . . . .

this passage.

This is not the kind of discipleship the world we live in is looking for.

Just cast these verses from your mind.

But . . .

.since we are more concerned about proclaiming God's truth than being more "attractive" let's look at our text.

!!! Jesus' Understanding of His Mission

The Greeks who had heard about Jesus came to Philip with their request probably because they recognized Philip to be a Greek name.

They also might have heard that Philip was from Bethsaida which I understand was more Greek tolerant than some Jewish cities.

They wanted to see Jesus.

We don't and can't know for sure what was meant by this request.

Surely they could "see" him just by watching for Him as He walked about.

Did they want to discuss faith with Jesus?

Were they looking for spiritual counsel?

I think all they really wanted was to be introduced to Him.

Jesus was a favorite rabbi . . . .

and up-and-comer.

Jesus was a rising star on the political front and they wanted to be able to tell people that they had met Him.

I've stood in line to have a book signed by an author.

This doesn't mean I know the person, it just means I have met the person.

I think these Greeks may have been looking for a similar encounter.

When Jesus is asked if they can meet Him Jesus gives one of those "non-answer answers".

Listen,

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The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed.

But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

The man who loves his life will lose it, whole the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.

My Father will honor the one who serves me.(John 12:20-26, NIV) }}}

The response you or I might have to this statement initially might be: "So, does this mean you will meet with them, or you won't?"

Jesus understood that these men saw Him as one rising in power.

He knew that they did not understand what His "mission" was.

Jesus wants them to know that this is not the time for Him to be a celebrity . . .

.it is time for Him to die.

Jesus uses a agricultural illustration.

It's a picture we can all grasp.

If we want to raise a garden we know that it must start by putting seeds in the ground.

We must bury the seeds.

We can't dig the seeds up every day to check on them . . .

we must bury them and leave them there.

The seed is abandoned (as it were) to death.

Only then can the seed make the harvest possible.

In like manner, Jesus must die in order to bring many to faith in Christ.

His death became our means of salvation.

Jesus faced the wrath of God so that we would not have to.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God". 2 Cor.

5:21

Jesus understood the cost . . .

no salvation without the sacrifice of His life.

Our choice is simple: we can stand behind Christ as One who has faced the wrath of God for sin . . .

or we can face that wrath ourselves.

!!!

The Important Truths Christians Want to Forget

The words that follow Jesus' illustration of a seed dying are words that are not popular to the ears of the world . . .

or His followers today.

Lest we think they are an isolated gloss in the Word of God consider these texts:

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*Matthew 19:28-30*..29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

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*Luke 9:23-25* Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

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*Luke 14:26-27 *"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.

27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

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*Luke 9:48 *Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest."

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*Matthew 20:26-28 *Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.26

Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

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What every one of these verse are trying to say is this *CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP IS DYNAMIC NOT STATIC*.

Jesus wants us to understand that "being a Christian" is not about walking an aisle or saying a prayer.

It is about a life commitment, a change of heart, a new orientation for living.