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
0.11UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.09UNLIKELY
Fear
0.1UNLIKELY
Joy
0.62LIKELY
Sadness
0.59LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.84LIKELY
Confident
0.17UNLIKELY
Tentative
0UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.97LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.72LIKELY
Extraversion
0.21UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.59LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.6LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
This sermon is not about whether or not the Bible is true.
There is historical and archaeological evidence for the Bible.
Consider the following details in just a single chapter of the Bible that have been confirmed by historians and archaeologists:
The proper location (Amphipolis and Apollonia) of where travelers would spend successive nights on this journey (Acts 17:1)
The presence of a synagogue in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1)
The proper title, “politarchs,” used of the magistrates there (Acts 17:6)
The correct implication that sea travel is the most convenient way of reaching Athens with favoring east winds of summer sailing (Acts 17:14)
The abundant presence of images in Athens (Acts 17:16)
The reference to a synagogue in Athens (Acts 17:17)
The depiction of the Athenian life of philosophical debate in the Agora (Acts 17:17)
The use of the correct Athenian slang word for Paul, a spermologos (Acts 17:18), as well as the court (areios pagos)
The proper characterization of the Athenian character (Acts 17:21)
An altar to an “unknown god” (Acts 17:23)
The proper reaction of Greek philosophers who denied bodily resurrection (Acts 17:32)
Areopagites as the correct title for a member of the court (Acts 17:34)
There are eye witness testimonies to the accounts depicted in Scripture
There is uniqueness and evidence for divine inspiration in the Bible
Witnesses to the events of Scripture (specifically the death and resurrection of Jesus) were willing to die for what they knew to be true
It has been diligently and faithfully passed down from generation to generation (Dead Sea Scrolls)
What is truth?
Truth: the body of real things, events, and facts (Merriam-Webster)
Subjective: opinion
Objective: factual
We live in a world that tries to do away with objective truth.
Subjective truth is not a firm foundation.
The Bible offers us objective truth.
It is an absolute.
Our lives become subjective to the Bible’s authority in our lives.
ἀνακρίνω (Anakrino)
examine or judge
to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinise, sift, question
specifically in a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation
to interrogate, examine the accused or witnesses
to judge of, estimate, determine (the excellence or defects of any person or thing)
Don’t just take a person’s word for it.
Take what they say and compare it to what the Bible says.
How do we examine the Truth of Scripture?
To seek Truth is to seek Jesus
We do not seek to confirm our own beliefs but to find the truth of the Gospel
I have found it a good plan to take up one book at a time.
It is a good deal better to study one book at a time than to run through the Bible.
If we study one book and get its key, it will, perhaps, open up others.
Take up the book of Genesis, and you will find eight beginnings; or, in other words, you pick up the key of several books.
The gospel was written that man might believe on Jesus Christ, and every chapter speaks of Him.
Now, take the book of Genesis; it says it is the book of beginnings.
That is the key; then the book of Exodus—it is the book of redemption; that is the key word of the whole.
Take up the book of Leviticus, and we find that it is the book of sacrifices.
And so on through all the different books; you will find each one with a key.
Another thing: We must study it unbiased.
A great many people believe certain things.
They believe in certain creeds and doctrines, and they run through the book to get Scripture in accordance with them.
If a man is a Calvinistic man he wants to find something in accordance with his doctrine.
But if we go to seek truth the Spirit of God will come.
Don’t seek it in the blue light of Presbyterianism, in the red light of Methodism, or in the light of Episcopalianism, but study it in the light of Calvary.
We seek truth because it pleases the Lord
“Integrity” or truthfulness depending on translation
We seek truth because it shows us the way we should live
We seek truth because it is worth our investment
We seek truth because God’s words are true
We seek truth because not everyone tells us the truth
How do we examine truth?
Crime Scene Investigation
Crime scene investigators document the crime scene.
They take photographs and physical measurements of the scene, identify and collect forensic evidence, and maintain the proper chain of custody of that evidence.
Crime scene investigators collect evidence such as fingerprints, footprints, tire tracks, blood and other body fluids, hairs, fibers and fire debris.
How to be a good Crime Scene Investigator with the Bible: (answer these from the perspective of a detective then as a Christian)
Ask Questions
Trust the Holy Spirit inside of you
Some claim to speak for the Spirit, but if you are a Christian you have the Spirit inside of you.
Trust Scripture and use it as your source of truth
It is God’s word.
It will not lie to you because God cannot lie.
Consult trustworthy allies
Gather evidence
Take notes
Proclaim the Truth
Apply it to your life
Prepare a defense
Example scenario
One of your loved ones is sick
“Why is my loved one sick?”
“Am I being punished?”
Conflicting “truth”: if this loved one is sick it must mean you have sinned or that you don’t have enough faith.
God doesn’t love you and he is punishing you.
You can’t trust God he is angry and wrathful
“Lord give me wisdom.
Comfort me and help me find the truth”
Scripture teaches that sickness exists because of sin.
My loved ones sin is not a necessarily a direct consequence of my sin or lack of faith but it is part of living in a broken and fallen world.
My loved one being sick does not mean God has forsaken me or that He wishes me harm because His word says that He loves me and is working all things for my good.
God uses my pain to create in me steadfastness and holiness.
I can trust in Him because He is faithful.
He sent His Son Jesus into this broken world to suffer just like me.
Jesus felt the hurts of this world but He remained perfect.
He died on the cross and rose again so that my loved one and I along with all people that put their faith in Him can have eternal life with Him in heaven, free of sin, sickness, and death.
Alive with Him forever.
Talk with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Let the God’s community of people suffer with you, grieve with you, seek truth with you
Look for stories of people in Scripture who have suffered the same way you have.
(Job) He remained faithful despite the pain he experienced, and at the end came to understand greater the holiness and power of God.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9