Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.16UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.11UNLIKELY
Joy
0.55LIKELY
Sadness
0.59LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.38UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.82LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.78LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.38UNLIKELY
Extraversion
0.05UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.78LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.35UNLIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Sand spurs.
Bane of kid existence.
Sometimes we look and feel like we’ve been rolling around in a field of thorns.
We can be “thorny people.”
We get to the point where we say, “I just can’t take it any more!”
Paul tells us that’s really a good thing because NOW we’re in a place where God can work.
He wants us to understand that we must not identify ourselves by our thorns but by Christ who shines thru our thorns.
Context of the passage:
Paul is, in part, defending his actions and rights as an apostle.
At the same time, he is using his own experiences to teach a lesson.
Reasons for Thorns
Paul choses to reveal an amazing spiritual experience that no one else could match - including the “super-apostles” who are criticizing him.
It’s so easy to respond to criticism, complaints, aggression, with trying make ourselves look better, stronger, etc.
Sometimes we’re guilty of the “humble brag.”
Paul doesn’t want to do that and explains why.
Trouble With a Purpose
Thorns are “trouble with a purpose.
This puts some of our struggles in context.
Not every calamity or problem in life is a thorn.
It takes some discernment to figure out when we’re being guided or disciplined toward a new purpose by our thorns.
Here’s some hints from Paul:
Paul didn’t want to talk about his spiritual “highs” too much.
He really didn’t want to boast.
What topic do we keep coming back to over and over?
Perhaps a point of pride?
Thorn - “spike, thorn, splinter.”
What irritates or bothers you constantly?
It could be physical, emotional, mental.
Torment - “torture, jab over and over.”
God’s goal in leaving these thorns in place to reorient our thinking.
(too proud.)
In a seeming paradox, the thorns are where we find our greatest strength.
True Strength
It’s natural to want pain to go away.
Paul even prayed fervently 3x for his thorn to go away.
Eventually he got the concept that the thorn’s purpose was to cause him to quit relying on himself and fully depend on Christ’s power.
Paul’s mind and purpose were reoriented toward maturing in Christ in everything he did.
Weakness = frailty.
Resting in Jesus’ grace and power means “let him shelter you.”
Paul wanted the glory of Christ, who gave up all power and strength to save us, to shine through every word and deed of his life.
He expected to be victorious just as Christ was victorious.
We can and must do the same.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9