Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

One of the Civil War’s most intriguing figures has always been the Union General, George McClellan.

On paper, President Lincoln couldn’t have hoped for a better general.

They called him “The Young Napoleon” because he possessed an incredibly strategic mind.

He was the youngest member ever to be accepted to the U.S.

Military Academy (at age 15) and he graduated top of his class

● Excellent recruiter; when he came on board, he increased the volunteers for the army by 300% in 4 months

● Troops loved him: under him, they started to believe So no one was surprised when President Lincoln made McClellan General-In-Chief.

He had the experience.

He had the talent.

He had it all.And now he had a powerhouse army, outnumbering his enemy more than 2 to 1.

There was just one problem:The man would not fight.

For weeks General McClellan readied his position, organized, and strategized.

Lee’s army lay dangerously exposed just a few miles away.

President Lincoln repeatedly urged McClellan to put his numerical and tactical advantage to use and crush the rebellion with one, swift attack.

McClellan understood the strategy.

He knew the odds.

But he wouldn’t fight.If a military man is unwilling to fight, what good are all his other talents?So, after an excruciating year of inactivity, Lincoln removed the greatest military mind of his time and eventually replaced him with a man with half his tactical talent, but a man who would have picked a fight with a beehive buck-naked: Ulysses S. Grant.

The greatest asset of a military man is his ability to fight.

Without that, all other assets are—ultimately—useless.

I share that because I want to talk about something as Christians, as a church—we have to do well; something which, without it, everything else we do is useless.

That one thing is make disciples.

No matter how good we are at everything else, if we don’t do that well, we fail.

● We can raise money and build great buildings; we can sing great songs; I can preach great sermons; but if we don’t make disciples, we fail.

There are four “alls” in this text: All authority, All nations, All things, and finally Always.

These four alls layout the nature and practice of discipleship

I.

All Authority – Jesus First, Christ Centered

Galatians 2:20

II.

All Nations – Others, Evangelism

Teach all nations.

In many versions is translated Make Disciples

Romans 1:16

· Scripture – 1 Peter 3:15

III.

All Things – You, Discipleship

Luke 9:23

John 8:31

IV.

Always – Jesus last, Christ-centered

Revelation 22:13

· Scripture – Acts 1:11

· Scripture – Revelation 22:20

Conclusion

The Word of God is clear.

Regardless of what a church may try to claim, if that church does not measure up to the essential characteristics of discipleship it will fail in the most important thing it is called to do: the Great Commission.

If You are not a member of a Bible-Believing, Gospel-Preaching, Soul-winning, sin-hating, Christ-honoring church, then I invite you today to come and join this one.

If you are a member of this church, then I challenge you – are we doing all that we can to live up to the Bible’s example of what true Discipleship is.

If not, we should repent here and now.

Is Jesus central in your life – Does he have All Authority?

Are you reaching out for him – Are you Disciple - ing All Nations?

Are you a disciple – Are you observing All Things?

Are you ready for Jesus – Looking for Him Always?

Come to the altar today and make things right with Christ.