Sermon Tone Analysis

Review Sermon Theme -

Review last weeks passage -

Review last weeks sermon in a sentence -

ENGAGE

Grab attention to set the stage for the encounter of the text

ENCOUNTER

Main Idea - Life is Full of Purpose When You Truly Love God

Walk through the CHUNKS of the passage (use good transitions)

1.

The God You Love Called You to Purpose (vs.

28)

Explain -

You, Christian, have a glorious, wonderful, amazing purpose.

What is this purpose?

Well, that’s what this passage and sermon will help you and I discover.

I believe when you understand your purpose, your levels of determination and joy increase.

Paul, in this text makes an assumption in the first half of this verse.

“And we know”

They knew!

Wait, who are they?

These fellow workers of God, along with the Apostle knew something that all of us here this morning need to understand as well, GOD’S AMAZING PROMISE CONTAINED IN THESE VERSES EXCLUSIVELY FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOD’S THROUGH CHRIST.

“And we KNOW that for those who LOVE GOD...”

Who are those that love God?

I mean the real God revealed in the bible?

Christians are the only ones who truly love the one and true God.

All other love for lesser deities, including self is damnable idolatry.

So, this promise if for those who love God.

By the way, do you?

Do you truly love God?

There is one way to discover your level of love for the true God...

Anyway, that is another sermon.

:)

The point is, the promise contained in this verse is exclusively for born-again followers of God through Jesus Christ.

What is the promise that Paul articulates?

For the lovers of God, “all things work together for good.”

Notice what Paul does not say, that “all things ARE good”… but all thing work together for good…All things…The good, the bad and the ugly!

Not all things are good!

Sin is not good!

The effects of sin are not good!

Death, pain, sickness, all the atrocities and tragedies that this world produces are NOT good!

But our God, our heavenly Papa is able to take all the pain, sickness, seemingly random tragedies and with His powerful providential hand, weave something beautiful, something hopeful, something GOOD!

This is a picture of how our God works.

He is providentially at work, taking that which is evil and USING evil for His good purposes.

Notice three things about Joseph’s perspective…

Joseph is not God – He is not the captain of his fate…

Joseph’s God is at work behind the scenes taking evil and bringing about good…

Joseph’s God is not only focused on Joseph!

In fact, the good that God is producing in this story has implications for you…The line of Judah was preserved…the line from which Jesus came!

God is always at work - always working and maneuvering situations to bring about good.

Dear friends, you are facing some sort of difficulty in your life.

Some hardship, some pain.

It may be self-inflicted or caused by someone else or seemingly without cause.

God is IN THE MIDST OF YOUR pain and sorrow and promises to bring about good.

What is good?

That’s a great question.

ἀγαθός agathós - Virtuous, upright, integrity, beneficial, profitable, useful.

Rectitude (morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness).

By the way, God is the ONLY one that gets to define that which is GOOD and that which is not.

(Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31) “Good and very good.”

It was in the creation event that God made the moral proclamation of that which is GOOD.

We do not have the privilege of such a declaration, only recognition of that which is good.

But for believers, God is working good in all evil circumstances and situation.

He is good and He is working good.

So in the midst of horrific circumstances, the believer must see that God is sovereignly behind the scenes working good!

Remember, He is the Grand Weaver…

Believer, we have no other option but to trust the almighty God of the Bible!

But when trials come, and they will, those that Love God should learn to praise Him in the midst of that trial know God is working good regardless if we ever see the results!

Trials are hard, exhausting and at times, horrible.

Beyond explanation from our limited, finite perspective…But we must never forget that they are purposeful, productive and carefully measured from a God who loves us with an everlasting love!

A God who has pursued us from before the very foundations of the earth!

Imagine that!

Believer, there is nothing haphazard or random about the circumstances you are in…God is and has been at work

What does verse 28 have to do with the thought that “The God You Love Called You to Purpose”?

What is our purpose?

Well, you are called!

You are called to follow Christ regardless of the challenges of this life.

He call you and you follow him and that act of following him will lead to ultimate goodness, eternal life with Him!

There is no greater PURPOSE than to follow Christ’s leading in your life!

Illustrate -

Pastor Tim and family

Elliot and Lori and family

Bethany Berendon

The Lemmon Clan

My dear friend Luke Bylsma

These are drastic examples of following Christ.

This following causes suffering and pain but it will ultimately bear the peaceable fruit of righteousness in the presence of the Lord.

You may NEVER see the GOOD fully in this life.

BUT THIS AIN’T HEAVEN!

Apply - So what do I do with this?

LOVE GOD! Do you?

TRUST GOD! Everything will end up good!

That’s the promise here

SERVE GOD!

This life is not your own you have been bought with a price.

Stop living your life as a practical atheist and start recognizing that your purpose will only become evident in your life when you give your life over to the one who gave His life for you!

Review - Life is Full of Purpose When You Truly Love God

The God You Love Called You to Purpose

Transition -

2. The God You Love Will Conform You to Christlikeness (vs.

29)

Explain -

· Vs. 29 – The purpose of the trial is conformity to the image of Christ.

It is interesting that in verses 29 and 30, Paul shows salvation from God’s perspective.

From our perspective Salvation is by faith.