Sermon Tone Analysis
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It is Resurrection Sunday (Easter Morning) the time that we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead.
If you have been in stores lately, you would think that Easter is about eggs, bunnies, candy and hats or dresses.
Easter is about Jesus!
It is His Resurrection day which is why we like to call it Resurrection Sunday.
This Resurrection Sunday we would like to invite you to Begin Again.
It’s been a rough two years and I know a lot of people stopped doing the things that they used to enjoy doing, like eating out, going to the movies or going to church.
It makes me wonder, if people stop going to church during a pandemic, then what does that say about church?
We were allowed to continue “essential” activities.
The State of Pennsylvania even recognized that church is an essential activity.
Churches were very accommodating to make ways for the most vulnerable people to attend safely or online.
We saw our online attendance shoot up, but then taper off.
Some people returned to in-person services and some never returned at all.
Yet, most of us got COVID somewhere along the way.
Some had it really bad, and we all know people who have died.
People responded differently; some with extreme caution and some with abandon.
It speaks to the way we each handle risk, some people avoid risk at all cost (which is also a kind of risk) and others take it head-on.
There will always be risks, but at some point, you need to begin again.
A few months ago, as I was seeking the Lord for where to go and what to do next, I heard the words, “begin again.”
“Don’t be afraid, just do the things you used to do and start again.”
Our preaching series this year has been on the theme “Begin Again”
We started by looking at our values and understanding why we do what we do.
After today, we are going to begin a series in the book of Genesis, chapters 1-12.
We a going to study this book of beginnings to see how God starts over and invites us to start over.
In the fall we will be studying the book of John to see how Jesus brings about new creation for those who are in Him.
These last few weeks have been about “Spiritual Awakening,” not just learning about it, but participating in what God is saying and doing.
Maybe you would like a new start as well?
Resurrection Sunday is a great time to begin again.
The Bible invites us to begin again:
I mentioned this passage in the first sermon of the year, when I unpacked the theme “Begin Again”
Begin Again means stopping what you are doing.
Stop trying to be perfect.
Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees.
The Pharisees are the overly cautious ones.
In terms of the recent pandemic - they would be the ones making sure that everyone wears their mask over their nose and mouth, two layers, indoors and out and replacing their mask between taking bites of food.
They would be the ones saying, “If everyone would just wear their masks all the time, the pandemic would be over.”
I know… that may work in theory…but not practically.
First of all, it takes decades or possibly centuries to eradicate a virus, even with vaccines.
Until it is eradicated, there are going to be outbreaks.
Sure we have vaccines, but they were developed in a hurry and are only moderately effective.
Natural immunity probably offers the best protection, but first you have to get it and get over it.
Just like a COVID free world, perfection is elusive.
And the harder you try, the more elusive it becomes.
There has to be another way...
Stop trying to do everything on your own.
The Pharisees believed that if everyone would just keep the Law of Moses, that God would come and establish His Kingdom by sending the Messiah to rule over the earth.
Once again… great in theory, but practically impossible.
This reflects an ultimate belief in and trust of self.
I have to be the key to everything being OK.
I have to be able to control myself and my world.
If only I could get everyone around me to control themselves, I could be OK.
Your favorite scripture is, “God helps those who help themselves.”
Only… it’s not in the Bible.
Are the Pharisees right?
Is God like a school teacher that is waiting for all the student to get quiet before continuing?
Is he like a parent waiting for all His children to obey Him before they get a reward?
Is the future of the world hanging on you?
Or is this about something much bigger that just the Law and obedience?
This is bigger than you and what you can control.
Stop fooling yourself.
Nicodemus starts by acknowledging that Jesus is sent from God?
Nobody could do the things you do if he were not from God, he reasons.
So what’s the problem?
I want to ask.
Why are we sneaking around talking at night?
Why are you telling Jesus what He already knows.
What is your question Nicodemus?
It’s probably not so much a question as an admission - “this isn’t working, is it?!”
The unwritten question that Nicodemus asks is, “have we been fooling ourselves?”
I have tried all my life to do everything right.
I believe that if I do, and if we all do, God will show up.
But now you show up from God, and you are not even following the Law, at least not to the degree that I am and you are doing miracles.
You’re not trying as hard as I am, but you are somehow beyond me!
I give up!
Nicodemus is saying.
I can’t do it and it doesn’t work anyway!
Jesus replied (to Nicodemus), “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
That’s right Nicodemus, its not working - you need to start over.
You need to begin again.
Begin again means starting over
Jesus was talking about a new start to a new life!
How does that work?
In your bulletin this morning you found a book mark with a cross.
The cross is made from a paper which contains seeds.
The cross is a symbol of Jesus’ death, but his cross also symbolizes resurrection.
Why, because it produces flowers, just like resurrection produces new life.
Beginning again involves dying.
If you want to see the flowers, what do you have to do?
Can you just stare at it until flowers pop out?
If you wish really hard, just believe it will produce flowers and it does!?
Maybe it’s magic?
If I were good at illusion, I could pull some flowers out of my sleeve and make you think it came from the paper.
It’s a natural process of planting, growth and maturity.
Before a seed can grow, it needs to be planted in the ground.
Paul compares it to dying, because we bury the seed in the ground just like we bury a dead body.
We know that in order for a seed to grow, it needs to be planted.
Planting is hard - you have to part with a seed that might have been food.
It requires risk.
How do you know that it is going to grow?
Missionaries in developing countries have had the task of convincing starving people to plant their seed instead of eating it.
If you let it go, you can have more.
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