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
0.52LIKELY
Disgust
0.09UNLIKELY
Fear
0.12UNLIKELY
Joy
0.53LIKELY
Sadness
0.5UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.78LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.46UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.85LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.9LIKELY
Extraversion
0.03UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.47UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.65LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
The Bible in America Study reports that 62 percent of the people in the communities surrounding our churches would like to read the Bible more.
Another study reports 87 percent of the people in our churches want help understanding the Bible better.
Yet Bible reading is waning.
Recent studies demonstrate that in one generation the number of occasional Bible readers has fallen by 20 percent—the equivalent of 700 people per day.
If this trend continues, by 2040 two-thirds of Americans will have no meaningful connection with the Bible.
Which is absolutely ridiculous because the scriptures are our source.
Is it not?The scriptures is how we know.
Whats the point?
I remember in my undergrad studies in philosophy there was an and continues to be a real problem with coming up with the definition for what we understand as truth.
That which corresponds to to reality.
That which correlates to reality.
Possible world theories, categories…on and on.
But, I would define truth as the 66 books of the Bible and its logical implications.
Oh there he goes.
Here he goes with the Bible stuff.
It is amazing because the statistics show a failure to distinguish of what I call… the belief and the want to believe dynamic.
We say that we believe some thing, but in reality we want to believe it.
So much about Christianity today falls into this category.
We want to believe stuff, but in reality we simply don’t.
In reality we think we believe but in reality, we want to believe it.
Sure we know it.
We like it, but do we really believe it?
This is a contributing factor to the waining respect and reading of the scriptures by Christians today.
We don’t really believe that the Bible is the only source and the only way anymore.
One of my friends who was literally transferred by his finance company all along the Bible belt.
And he would constantly tell me that they cannot find a church that preaches the Bible anymore.
In modern evangelicalism, spiritual formation is not shaped by the scriptures, theology is not based on scripture, christian worldview is no longer seen through the lens of scripture anymore.
And how can this be?
I mean if we really believed that the Bible was really the Word of God we would not do this.
If we really believed that the scriptures were the very breath of God we would not do this.
If we really believed that the promises of scripture was yes and Amen the Bible would the scriptures really be collecting dust on our table?
Ah, but maybe we do believe it.
But we like the life coaching and psychological methodology because they help us accomplish our purposes.
The scriptures accomplish His purposes.
If its not unbelief, then it is sin.
Yet the Bible continues to be the Source.
Yet the Bible continues to be the light.
Yet the Bible continues to speak.
Yet the Bible continues to accomplish His will.
Yet the Bible continue to increase our faith.
This is why the great Charles Spurgeon said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
We continue our church series today… what we do and why we do it.
Why is the Bible our lens for worldview.
The grass withers the flower fades but the Word of our God stands forever.
Faith Distinctions
The Only Source
Words of Life
The first thing we will look at today is the believe/want to believe dynamic making clear the difference between actually believing or wanting to believe it.
Second, we will see how no other method but the scripture can be a source of truth.
Finally, we will see the scriptures outline for us our greatest problem, our greatest weakness, and our greatest hope that we find in the gospel.
Thesis: Though sin, the pattern of this world, and the continued pressure of current culture may cloud our worldview blurring our biblical vision, it is the truth of scripture and the power of the Spirit that will increase our faith to believe, to rest and to hope in the gift of grace given to us by Christ the Lord.
I. Faith Distinctions
- The difference between believing and wanting to believe.
A. Am am truly of the opinion that we do have a crisis concerning faith.
I ask the question… what do you think our world would be like if we actually believed what the Bible has to say.
What if we really believed that the promises that God gave us in the scriptures?
I remember I was counseling a young man regarding problems that he was having in life and now he was having a crisis.
And I kept telling him it is because he has no faith.
He kept telling me with the tone of offense that he absolutely believed.
And after much struggle he would finally admit that he really didn’t believe.
Something so important here and so desired because of the many implications of faith that it is really hard to admit today that we are faithless.
B. The scriptures declare it… O ye of little faith.
All we gotta do is look at our world and the professing Christians in this world and how we act, how we behave, what we do, and how we respond to circumstances in our world.
How we act and behave in the realm of social order… you think we really believe that Jesus is alive and at the right hand of the Father interceding for us?
How we act when we face difficulty and trials… you think we really believe that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and that it must finish its work so that we will be mature complete and not lacking in anything?
You think that how we act when we worry and stress about our day to day living… you think we really believe that he will provide all our needs according to His riches in glory and that His eye is on the sparrow?
C. Do we really believe that … When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.
The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.
Do we really believe that… Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death.
The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
Godly people find life; evil people find death.
Do we really believe that … The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.
Do we really believe that… Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.
Do we really believe that… There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward.
Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!
The prudent carefully consider their steps.
Do we really believe that… Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
Do we really believe that … Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense.
People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.
You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.
D. If we really believed it don’t you think things might be a bit different in our world today?
And we look at the fruit of the church as a whole today why would we think that we we.
Most of us believe that we believe.
But Shane how do we know that we don’t.
Two things that the Bible gives us to know that we are deceiving ourselves.
E. If there is no good deeds, if there is no fruit, if there is no action then there is no faith.
We are saved by faith alone, but how do we know that we have faith?
Our deeds.
So if you do not see the fruit of the Spirit working in your life or deeds in accordance to the commands of Christ you should be concerned.
We should be alarmed.
F. If we are not loving our neighbor, if we are not loving our enemy, if we are not doing for others as we want done for us, if we are not walking in step with the truth of the gospel, if we are not living lives worthy of the calling, if we are not denying self and taking up our crosses, if we are fostering friendship with the world, if we are loving our lives even unto death.
We should be concerned.
We should be alarmed.
Either we don’t believe or we wont believe.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9