Sermon Tone Analysis

*Scripture: Jas 1:22-24*

/22 But *be doers* of the word, and *not hearers* only, deceiving yourselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was./

Loving people must move from theological principles to practical realities.

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I. Exhibit God's /Agape/

God's love is not to be *talked* about but *shown*.

How do we obtain /agape/?

!! A. Be Born Again

/Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot *see* the Kingdom of God.

(Jn 3:3)/

/Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot *enter* the kingdom of God.

(Jn 3:5)/

/The *natural* person does *not accept* the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not *able to understand* ... *spiritually* discerned.

(1 Cor 2:14)/

!! B. Be Born of God

/Beloved, let us love one another, for *love is from God*, and *whoever loves* has been born of God and *knows God*.

(1 Jn 4:7)/

* Love is from God: divine *source*

* Whoever loves has been born of God: divine *ability*

* Knows God: */ginosko/* not mental assent but experiential consent

!! C. Be Conformed to Christ's Image

/... God... predestined to *be conformed to the image of His Son* ... that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

(Rom 8:29)/

/Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith... being *rooted and grounded in love*... comprehend... *breadth*... *length*... *height*... *depth*... know the love of Christ that... you may be filled with *all the fullness of God*.

(Eph 3:17)/

/... *be imitators* of God... *walk in love, as Christ loved us* and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 5:1-2)/

* walk: */peripateo/*

* Samaria : "woman at the well"

/Come, see a Man who told me all that I ever did.

*Can this be the Christ?*

They went out of the town and were coming to Him. (Jn 4:29-30)/

* Jericho : "blind Bartimaeus"

/And the life I now live in the flesh *I live by faith in the Son of God*, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

(Gal 2:20)/

/14 For *the love of Christ controls us*... 15 and He died for all, that those who live might no longer *live* for themselves but *for Him* who for their sake died and was raised.

(2 Cor 5:14-15)/

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II.

Express Generosity of Spirit

It is more blessed to *GIVE* than to receive.

!! A. We Give Because We Have Received

/The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.

(Psa 24:1)/

/... *not grow weary of doing good*... in due season we will reap... as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone... *especially to those who are of the household of faith*.

(Gal 6:9-10)/

/... whatever you do in word or deed, *do all in the name of the Lord Jesus*, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

(Col 3:17)/

Do *ALL* for Christ.

/... God and... our Lord Jesus... make you *increase and abound in love for one another and for all*...

He may establish your hearts blameless... (1 Th 3:11-13)/

!! B. We Give Because We See A Need

*Find* a Need and *Meet* It.

/There was *not* a needy person among them.

(Acts 4:34)/

/17 But if *anyone* has the world's goods and *sees his brother in need*, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

18 Little children, *let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth*.

(1 Jn 3:17-18)/

*Giving* is a God-thing.

/Greater love has no one than this, that someone *lays down his life for his friends.*

(Jn 15:13)/

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III.

Edify by Speaking Life Into Others

/*Death and life* are *in the power of the tongue*, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

(Pro 18:21)/

/4 Look at the ships... so large... driven by strong winds... guided by a very small rudder... 5 *tongue is a small member... boasts of great things*.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 ... tongue is a fire... set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

(Jas 3:4-6)/

/… my beloved brothers: let every person be *quick to hear, slow to speak*, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.

(Jas 1:19-20)/

/Set a guard over my *mouth*, Lord; keep watch over the door of my *lips*.

(Ps 14:13)/

/Do not let your *mouth* lead you into sin.

(Ecc 5:6)/

/*Words* from the mouth of the wise are *gracious*, but fools are consumed by their own lips.

(Ecc 10:12)/

/Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is *helpful* for *building others up* according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

(Eph 4:29)/

The tongue has no bones, *but is strong enough to break a heart*.

/Whoever *guards his mouth* preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

(Pro 13:3)/

/A *word fitly spoken* is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Pro 25:11, KJV)/

!! A. Speak Truth in Love

/If I *speak* in the tongues of men and of angels, *but have not love*, I am a *noisy gong* or a *clanging cymbal*.

(1 Co 13:1)/

*HOW* you say is more important than *WHAT* you say.

!! B. Encourage Others with Words of Affirmation

5 Love Languages:

* *Words of affirmation*

* Quality time

* Physical touch

* Acts of service

* Receiving gifts

Speak *Life* into Others.

/*Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly*, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16)/

/Let your *speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt*, so that you may know *how* you ought to answer each person.

(Col 4:6)/

Go and Love People.