Sermon Tone Analysis

Pre-Introduction:

At this time, we invite any children who desire to join team for a children’s service to follow them in the back where you can hear a wonderful bible lesson and sing some uplifting songs about Jesus.

For those joining us virtually or by other means, you’re listening to the Services of the First Baptist Church of Westminster.

This is the Co-Pastor bringing the Sunday Morning message entitled "A Nation’s Response to Christianity.”

We invite you to follow along with us in your Bible in the Book of Matthew, chapter twenty-five, and verses thirty-one to forty-six.

Introduction:

[Start Low]

A. Get Attention - Striking Statement:

Did you hear about that Sheriff in South Carolina who refused to take down the Bible verse (Phil.

4:13) he had on the wall in his office?

B. Raise Need - Illustration:

Show me a nation who has opened her doors to genuine born-again, bible-believing followers of Jesus, and I’ll show you places where people are better off, and where captives are freed, and where joy abounds even when material possessions might not; a place where burdens are borne between each other; a place where griefs are present but never debilitating; a place where children are loved and women are elevated; a place where men are strengthened together; a place where Creation’s groan under the curse of Adam is lessened.

On the other hand, throughout the history of nations on the earth, show me where God’s people have been persecuted, marginalized, tormented, shamed, and martyred, and I will show you a nation that soon ceases to exist.

It has never bode well for the nation that forgets God and neglects the people of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nor shall it ever.

C. State Purpose/Theme-

I would speak to you today on the subject of Christ’s great climax of His Olivet Discourse.

Main Thought:

What makes a nation righteous or cursed in the End: its response to Christ & His disciples.

Sub-introduction:

Provide a brief treatment of the immediate context of Matthew’s Gospel and Christ’s Olivet Discourse.

Be sure to mention the parallel verses discussing the nations early on in the Discourse and the trouble that God’s people can expect to endure during the Tribulation and leading up thereto.

Body:

I.

The Throne of His Glory (Mt.

25:31-33)

[Go Slow]

A. Christ’s Glorious Ascension (Mt.

25:31)

Note - Adj. “holy” excludes the fallen angels and is abundantly witnessed as part of the Received Text.

There is therefore no need to see this as some “scribal addition” to the TR but rather a “scribal omission” in the CT.

Contextually, it serves to answer in semitic parallelism v. 41.

Our Savior provides a clear distinction between the 2/3 Angelic Host that remained faithful to the Throne of God and those 1/3 that “left their first estate.”

The fact that "holy” was omitted in a few obscure mss may rather indicate concern over opening the door to any heretical leanings in Angelology where the texts might have been obscured.

How awful would the Millennial Reign be should the Slanderer maintain his minions amongst the leadership ranks with Christ?

There would be no reason for the devil to then wait a thousand years to revolt then if he could simply maintain his tyrannical leadership over the kingdoms of the earth from a distance through his planted worm-tongues.

If there is ever an area of theology prone to heresy, is it not the doctrines of angelology?

How many deviant teachings surrounding “angels” are in abundance today?

Note - could be taken as an Attributive Genitive: lit.

“. . .

upon His glorious throne”

“Αὐτοῦ is poss.

gen.

The Son of Man is no intruder or usurper.

The throne is reserved for him, and he alone is to occupy it.”

[Charles L. Quarles, Matthew, ed.

Andreas J. Köstenberger and Robert W. Yarbrough, Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (B&H Academic, 2017), 304.]

B. Nations Gathered for Separation (Mt.

25:32-33)

Note - discuss various aspects of separation mentioned by Jesus

GOD’S PLAN

When Jesus first called his disciples, he said, “Come, follow.”

Here, at the end, he said to all his disciples, “Come, take.”

What can we learn about our spiritual pilgrimage during the time in between?

• Jesus is forever calling us closer to himself.

We are never too close, never close enough.

Jesus invites us closer all the time.

• Spiritual life is movement.

We’re always approaching (or conversely, retreating from) God, never standing still.

All the physical movements in your life (changing jobs, changing homes, traveling to serve others) are pictures of your spiritual journey: moving closer to God, finding how faith works, reaching heavenly goals.

All the emotional movement in your life (loves found and lost, loved ones dying and new ones born) reflect the need we all have to find a stable place to build our lives.

That stable place is a person, the Lord Jesus.

You are God’s plan.

Since the very moment of creation, the wonderful kingdom of God—you included—has been the goal that now comes to its fullness and finality.

You have been part of the world’s most important movement—faithfully living as a disciple of Jesus—and now you are part of the world’s biggest celebration.

Are you lucky?

No, you are God’s plan, now fulfilled.

[Bruce B. Barton, Matthew, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 495.]

C. Each Nation to an Appointed Destination (Mt.

25:46)

Application:

A number of features, many of them uncomfortable, stand out.

It tells me that I am accountable.

I am free to live my life just as I please, but at the end I shall have to give account to the one who gave me my life.

It tells me that judgment awaits everyone.

There will be no exceptions.

There will be no [favoritism].

There will be no excuses.

It will be totally fair.

It tells me that we are not all going in the same direction though by different roads, as we would dearly love to think in this tolerant and pluralist age.

We will not all end up in the same place.

It is possible to be utterly lost, and Jesus warns us of that possibility here.

It tells me that there will be great surprises on that day.

Lots of people who were very confident of their condition will be undone.

Lots of people who rated themselves very lowly will be astonished by their reception.

It tells me that the heart of Christianity is relationship with Jesus himself, which shows itself in loving, sacrificial care for others, in particular the poor and needy.

It tells me that [the nations] . . .

will be judged by their response to what light they had, and in particular by their response to the brothers (and sisters) of Jesus. . . .

But most of all this great [climax] brings us face to face with our Judge, and we need to be clear about three great realities which it underlines.

[Michael Green, The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 263.]

Transition:

Having noticed the Ascension of the Son of Man to the Throne of His Glory, let us hasten to enjoy thoughts regarding the promised,

II.

Inheritance of the Righteous Believers (Mt.

25:34-40)

[Climb Higher]

A. The Blessing: The Matchless Kingdom (Mt.

25:34)

Note - “THE Kingdom. . .

“ - Par Excellence use of the Article:

Par Excellence

a) Definition

The article is frequently used to point out a substantive that is, in a sense, “in a class by itself.”

It is the only one deserving of the name.

For example, if in late January someone were to say to you, “Did you see the game?” you might reply, “Which game?”

They might then reply, “The game!

The only game worth watching!

The BIG game!