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
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.1UNLIKELY
Fear
0.09UNLIKELY
Joy
0.56LIKELY
Sadness
0.45UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.51LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.17UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.77LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.5LIKELY
Extraversion
0.21UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.74LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.67LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."
Today we're going to look at being **lost**, a parable from Jesus.
You've likely heard this story before, it's often known as the parable of the prodigal son.
The story is so rich, so deep, and so wide.
I am going to focus on the sons of this story, and their relationship with the Father in the story, who is God.
This is "A Tale of Three Sons".
Yes, you heard it right.
Three sons.
Turn with me to Luke, chapter 15.
Jesus has been accused by the Pharisees and scribes of "receiving and eating with sinners and tax collectors" In response, he tells 3 parables.
I'll begin in verses 1-3, and then jump ahead to verse 11 to the end.
## Let's Pray
Who is his audience?
V1-3 - tax collectors & sinners, plus pharisees & scribes
Sinners.
Who are they?
In other parts of the gospel where "sinners" are mentioned, it's things like drunkards, gluttons, prostitutes.
Tax collectors were some of those sinners, mentioned in v15.
Who were they?
Roman collaborators.
Lets feel that: say a member of this church goes to work for the IRS...and audits church members!
These people were *hated*.
Pharisees & scribes as a parallel to tax collectors & sinners.
These were the religious leaders of the day.
The parallel today is pastors who have a M.Div from Southeastern Smeinary.
The scribes & pharisees were grumbling...the same word used of Isreal's grumbling against God in the wilderness.
Jesus's parable is in response to their grumbling.
Both Tax Collectors & sinners and the Scribes & Pharisees were God's people.
Who are God's people today?
Us!
This is, first and foremost, a parable for **the Church**!
Not to say it can't be applied to all, Rom.
3:29 "is God the God of Jews only?
Is he not the God of Gentiles also?
Yes, of Gentiles also,..."
But, church, don't miss this!
In this parable he had an audience of church people.
If you are sitting here, in church today, this parable is for you.
You're meant to find yourself in one of these sons and see that **Because God the Father desires a true relationship with his children, we need to respond to his welcome.**
First, let's look at how God's welcome is extended to younger sons.
### Since God the Father desires a true relationship with his younger sons, we must respond to his welcome.
Standing in front of Jesus were sinners and tax collectors.
They were those who *know* that they were separated from God.
And they are scared and wondering if God will take them back again.
They needed to see the father's love as free.
There might be some of you just like that sitting here today.
Let's look at the beginning of the parable to hear what Jesus says to those who need to grasp the father's welcome as free.
v12, "And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’
And he divided his property between them."
Rude! Especially in that society.
I want you to feel the weight of this request.
You've paid off your mortgage, are getting ready to retire...then one of your adult sons says "hey, how much of your estate would I get when you die? 1/3rd, right?
Why not give that to me now?"
And you do!
You take your retirement, cut it in thirds, re-mortgage your house, take the tax hit, and give that money to one of your sons.
This was the younger son saying **you are dead to me**
Prov.
28:7 says "The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father."
He has disgraced his father.
which means:
**The younger son did not deserve a family relationship**
*And he knows it.*
v17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
Treat me as one of your hired servants.”
He thinks he's gone too far from a true relationship with his father to return and be a son.
##### What separated him?
his hearts desires: He wanted the things of this world more than a relationship with his father.
The younger son's desires promised joy, but separated him from his father and caused misery.
So it has been from the beginning, so it always is with every lie we're told.
We're told alcohol will make us brave.
Told sex outside marriage will prove our power.
**All of those lies comes from the Father of lies.**
Standing against the father of lies is our father, and let's look at how he welcomes those who *don't* deserve the family relationship:
v.20 **He runs to welcome them.
Embraces him, gives the best robe, ring, sandal, and brings him into a feast**
The younger son's repentance is not glamorous.
he's hungry!
Really hungry!
(Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for your own prodigals is let them go.
Let them experience hunger.)
##### He returns because of hunger and finds that in his Fathers home is a feast.
==App==: Do you feel far from God?
Before this man could ever go to his father, he first had to come to himself.
See himself as he really was, and turn from that to his true home.
So! Here's the question for you, sitting right here, in the Church, today.
- Is there a persistent sin that is separating you from God?
I am not talking about nitpicking yourself over perceived wrongs.
No, persistent sin, that thing which you are afraid to let people here know about.
- Come to yourself!
This message right here today means that God is welcoming you back, and will send the Holy Spirit to be the power to break those chains of misery.
- Or, do you believe that past sin is keeping you from God? Have you ever heard that little voice say "look at what you've done.
There is no way God could ever love you."
###### If you've heard that voice, which is the voice of the Fahter of lies or one of his many minions, don't deny it.
Admit it.
"Yes.
I did that.
I sinned.
And guess what!
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9