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
0.18UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.12UNLIKELY
Joy
0.62LIKELY
Sadness
0.53LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.45UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.21UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.63LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.98LIKELY
Extraversion
0.31UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.91LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.81LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
INTRODUCTION: Open your Bibles to Isaiah 40
Today is the second Sunday of Advent
We have entered into the great season of waiting
In fact, our Advent series this year is titled for exactly what Advent is:
Waiting on Jesus
Last week, we talked about the fact that as Christians our waiting is different
As we wait for Christmas, for the celebration of our Savior’s Birth
we are also reminded of our wait for His return
Our wait for Christ is filled with hope because
God’s promises are certain
because we know that our God does amazing things
And because what God is leading us to will be life changing
And the hope that fills us in Christ should spur us into faithful obedience
And this is the focus of our time together this morning
As we journey through this Advent season, let me ask you: WHAT DO YOU DO WHILE YOU WAIT?
What does it look like in your life, as you wait for Jesus?
I was in the mall recently, shopping for gifts
I saw a man sitting on a bench in a dazed stare.
He wasn’t drooling, but it was getting close
A little further down from him were some teenagers, glued to their phones
And it struck me that both the man and these teens were completely unaware of what was going on around them.
And I had the thought: I wonder if that isn’t how most of us are waiting for Jesus
We’re here, but we have happily found a seat on the bench
We are unengaged and uninterested in what’s going on around us.
We know that Jesus is coming, and so, we’re happy to just check out and wait
And maybe, just maybe, if we keep our heads down, we won’t have to do anything
Is that how we’re waiting?
I’m afraid that it might be.
Maybe, sometimes more than we’d like to admit
I saw another person at the mall that day
She had bags from several stores and two kids in tow
Her kids were complaining about needing food or wanting stuff
We were in a long line for checking out that wasn’t moving
But this woman had a smile on here face, and a voice full of laughter
She was patient with her kids and gentle in her responses
And when she got to the counter, the woman behind the counter teased her
“I see we’ve been busy today!”
And the woman with the bags and kids laughed
“You know it girl!
Christmas is coming, and I’m getting ready”
Something echoed in this woman.
In her attitude and in her answer
Christmas is coming.
Jesus is coming
He will be here before we know it
Perhaps He will come even before His birthday party!
Jesus is coming soon, and right now we’re waiting.
What do you do when you are waiting for Jesus?
In the book of Isaiah, God gave us a clear directive for our waiting on Jesus
John the Baptist quoted it to us ahead of Christ’s earthly ministry
This morning, let me share it with you as well
Pray, Invite the church to be seated
*LISTENING GUIDES OUT
What do you do while you are waiting for Jesus?
He is coming quickly.
He is coming soon
What do you do while you wait for Him?
For thousands of years, the people of God waited for Jesus to come
Some were found ready
Most, though, were found dazed and asleep
How do you wait for the Savior?
For thousands of years, we have waited for Christ to return
But as we wait, we cannot afford to be among the sleeping saints on the bench of ministry
This prophecy about the coming of Christ promises that we will see His glory
It promises that He is coming for all the nations to see
But it also commands us to get ready!
Now, in this time of waiting, you and I need to get ready
Christmas is such a tremendous celebration!
It is good for us to enjoy the hustle and bustle,
the festivities and joys of the season giving, receiving, visiting, sharing, singing, gathering and celebrating
But just like Christmas, Jesus is coming soon, and in this season of Advent, we need to get ready
In some ways, we remain in Advent each and every day, waiting for Christ to come
This morning, I want to take you to three different parables of Christ that point us to how we can be ready when He comes again.
Here is how to get ready while we wait
Turn with me to Matthew 25
I’m not going to read this word for word, but you can follow along as I tell the story
There were ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive so that they could enter into the wedding feast
5 of the virgins were wise.
They didn’t know how long they might have to wait
So, these 5 wise women brought their lamps, but they also brought extra oil for their lamps, so that they would have everything that they needed
The other 5 virgins were foolish.
They looked at their lamps and the oil that was in them
They said to themselves, “that’s good enough”, and they came with just their lamps
Well, the night drug on, and they all fell asleep-but at midnight, there was a cry
“He’s here!
He’s Here!
The bridegroom is coming!
The virgins got up and trimmed their lamps
But the foolish 5 were running out of oil!
They begged the other 5, “please give us some oil”
but the women with extra oil said “NO WAY!
We only brought enough for our lamps.”
“If we give it to you, we’ll run out”
So, the 5 that were short on oil went running off to but more
And while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived
He took those that were ready into the wedding feast, and the doors were locked
And in the middle of the party, the other 5 women showed up
They pounded on the doors of the house
They begged and pleaded to come in
But the bride groom said
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9