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
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Secular -
A Christian man went on a safari
When he was there, he found a huge lion.
The man didn't have a gun and there was no way he could outrun the lion.
So, he did the only thing he could do.
He got on his knees and prayed "Dear God, I was always a good Christian.
Will you perform a miracle and give this lion some christian feelings".
That moment, the clouds parted and a beam of light came from above and touched the lion's heart.
The lion raised his paws to the heavens and loudly prayed "Thank you Lord for this meal I'm about to receive."
True Faith always has works associated with it.
Historical/Cultural Context -
The book of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus.
The Son of Joseph and Mary.
Written in the early 40s.
He wrote to primarily Jews who were Christians, as at this time it was so early in the spread of Christianity that it had not been widely adopted by non-jews, also known as Gentiles.
James encouraged his readers to live consistent Christian lives in the midst of persecution for their faith in Christ.
Biblical Text -
-[Prayer]-
Life Principle - True Faith Coupled With Works Overflows With God’s Love In Meeting Other’s Needs
Life Point- True Faith Meets Needs
Exegetical -
Homiletical -
Have you ever met anyone that has a big talk, but there is absolutely no action behind it?
Sure, there are lots of these kinds of people in the world.
You ever met someone who can talk a good Christian talk but their actions tell you otherwise?
Yup, there are plenty of people out there too.
Some of them are even in full-time ministry across the country, even across the globe.
Our scripture starts by asking a simple question, which can have a very verbose answer.
“What good is faith if it has nothing tangible to back it up?”
Jesus said:
Notice that in Jesus’ world those that are His are salt and they are light.
Notice I didn’t say they are salty nor lit.
Don’t get that confused
Salt today, is pure salt.
But during this time they didn’t have pure salt.
It was usually mixed in with other minerals or rock.
Most often salt and lime were intertwined.
So when humidity would happen the salt would leach out, leaving behind whatever it was mixed with, lime.
So the salt, that you would buy during this time, could lose its’ saltiness, its’ flavor.
What is the purpose of salt?
Salt is a seasoning, it makes things taste good.
What else is salt used for today?
For a number of things, the first thing that comes to mind is salting roads in the winter to keep them from icing up.
So salt has a purpose.
It adds flavor, or does a work.
How about light?
You need light to see in the pitch black.
Without light you could stub your toes on something in the dark, though if you’re like me it doesn’t even have to be in the dark.
You wouldn’t light something and then cover it up right?
Because to do so would defeat the purpose of the light.
Being so you can see what is around you.
Light has a job, it has a work that it accomplishes.
So too does the true Christian.
True Christians are moved by faith to do true works.
Jesus said, “that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.”
For Jesus, works are just apart of living in True Faith.
James now gives us some examples to look at:
Just as the fruit of the Spirit isn’t something that is worked up in us, neither are true works, which for the Christian is true acts of worship, so is faith.
Faith is a natural outpouring of our lives in Christ.
When we look at faith, it is impossible to look at it apart from works.
We call Hebrews 11 the “Faith Hall of Fame.”
In it Paul gives us a number of examples of faith, we won’ look at them all but here is a portion:
This chapter of Hebrews is fantastic and a bit intimidating.
You see faith will motivate your actions, which God will empower for His service.
I don’t know about you, but I want to see true faith today, like that of the Old Testament saints and the New Testament Apostles!
You got someone who is sick?
Go pray for them, if they get miraculously well praise God!
If they don’t, then praise God.
His ways are Higher than our ways.
A lot of people won’t even pray for healing.
They will pray for comfort, or blessing but not healing.
That would mean stepping out in faith.
You know that person who you come into contact with daily, weekly, monthly, even yearly?
Do they know you are a Christian?
Don’t lose your salt or your light.
Tell them about Jesus.
That is a step of faith.
Nike has a slogan, “ Just Do It.” Christians need that slogan too.
Stop rationalizing why you don’t do the right thing by telling people about Jesus and “Just Do It!”
What is the worst that could happen?
“Well pastor, they might say no.”
AND?
So what if they do!
That is between them and God.
You did what you were supposed to do and stepped out in faith.
“Just Do It!”
Life Point - True Faith Coupled With Works Overflows With God’s Love
Exegetical -
Homiletical -
In this section James hits 3 types of people
1) Those that think they’re saved because they said a prayer, but they have no fruit and show no righteous works.
2) Those that think they are good because they volunteer or do “good things” for others.
The problem here is the same problem as the last group.
They think they’re saved but they aren’t.
3) The third group is the group that are saved.
They are the Christians.
Salvation by faith alone in Christ alone which shows itself through the fruit of the Spirit which manifests itself in good works.
Just doing good works alone won’t get you into heaven.
Just believing that there is one God, will not get you into heaven.
Good works are a natural outflow of the one who is saved.
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