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
0.47UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.06UNLIKELY
Fear
0.1UNLIKELY
Joy
0.62LIKELY
Sadness
0.17UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.8LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.28UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.84LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.82LIKELY
Extraversion
0.17UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.46UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.62LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Introduction
In our house we have a swing.
This swing is attached with a rope.
The rope that attaches the swing to the ceiling is quite possibly the most frustrating rope that has ever existed.
Every time I have had to cut this rope, it immediately begins to unravel.
It turns itself into a tangled mess because it lacks cohesion and unity.
The local church has been designed by God to be a place of safety, security, and growth.
That is only possible if we stay unified under pressure.
If we are like this rope, and we come apart in stressful times, we will not be useful and effective servants of Christ.
As a local church, we can only fulfill our mission if we are unified.
Principle:
Unity in the local church is possible.
Guidance:
There are two requirements to experience unity.
Outcome:
When we are unified we can minister effectively to others.
Two requirements to experience unity.
Requirement #1…
1. Unity Must Be Preserved vv.
14-17
You cannot preserve something you do not have.
Unity is our present possession.
Our responsibility is to maintain it.
How do we know that we already have unity?
Go to Ephesians 4:1-6.
Ephesians 4:1-6
This is the unity we have.
One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, one Father of all.
We have unity, we must preserve it.
The source of our unity is Christ.
Therefore, anytime we place something above Christ, we sacrifice unity.
The exercise of Christian liberty is always done in tension with the good of others.
When I place my desires and freedom above the needs of others, unity is ruptured.
How do we preserve our unity?
Two methods.
Method #1…
a. Practice exclusive worship vv.
14-15
I love how Paul addresses the church here.
Beloved.
This is a reminder.
Paul is not writing them as someone disconnected and uncaring!
Paul is writing to them out of love!
It is love that compels him to correct them.
Flee idolatry.
He has just reminded them of the idolatry of Israel.
He reminded them of where that leads!
Idolatry leads to death!
Flee from it!
Flee - φεύγω (pheugō) flee; escape.
to flee v. — to run or move away quickly, so as to escape.
Finite verb, present, active, imperative, second person plural.
Flee - φεύγω (pheugō)
We must escape!
If we linger in the presence of idolatry, it will ensnare us.
Now, most of us would never even consider bowing to an idol.
There are other forms of idolatry.
The idolatry of self.
We place ourselves before Christ.
We allow our wants and desires to rule our lives instead of Christ!
This is the exact problem Paul is writing to address.
The Corinthian believers were prioritizing their own wants and desires ahead of others.
The result was that the weaker brothers were being hurt as others callously exercised their freedom.
The idolatry of a God in our own image.
Not worshipping God for who he has revealed Himself to be, but for who I want Him to be.
With these thoughts in mind it is evident that the only wise thing to do is flee idolatry.
That is Paul’s point in v. 15.
Wise - φρόνιμος (phronimos) prudent; wise.
judicious person n. — a person marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense; especially in practical matters.
Substantival adjective, dative, plural, masculine.
Wise - φρόνιμος (phronimos)
A prudent and wise person is going to flee idolatry.
We cannot flee idolatry unless we first recognize it for what it is.
Let’s make this as clear as we can.
Idolatry is having anything in the position that only Christ should occupy.
John MacArthur puts it this way
Idolatry includes much more than bowing down or burning incense to a physical image.
Idolatry is having any false god—any object, idea, philosophy, habit, occupation, sport, or whatever that has one’s primary concern and loyalty or that to any degree decreases one’s trust in and loyalty to the Lord.
Let me illustrate.
Scripture is clear about the requirement of church.
Hebrews states in no uncertain terms that we are to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
If I allow fear to keep me from church, safety is my idol.
If I allow sports to keep me from church, sports are my idol.
Family can be an idol.
My own mental health can be an idol if it causes me to prioritize myself over Christ!
Knowing what idolatry is, we flee from it.
That is the path of wisdom.
Paul says that common sense demands we flee idolatry.
Why is it common sense?
Because God judges idolatry.
In the nation of Israel idolatry led to death.
Even if my idolatry or yours doesn’t immediately lead to physical death, it will lead to spiritual death.
What do I mean?
I mean separation from God.
Idolatry breaks my relationship with Christ!
That relationship can only be repair through confession.
Paul closes v. 15 by inviting us to use our critical thinking, our discernment, to judge what he is saying.
Even just a cursory examination of history reveals that idolatry never ends well.
No nation has ever been made better by idolatry.
Idolatry destroys.
Remember, Paul is talking about this because of its effect on our unity.
The entire book of I Corinthians is centered on the topic of unity.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9