Sermon Tone Analysis

Main Idea: We are the church…What Church will you be?

Opening Line: Welcome to New Beginnings Today we are identifying the church…Our mission as a church is to be forgiven, freed, and filled as the Family of God.

Will you join with us this morning in that mission for Christ?

Introduction

Identify the Church

The Church is the people who make the confession like Peter that Jesus is the Messiah.

Matthew 16:15–18 (NIV)

15 “But what about you?” he asked.

“Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

We refer to the building as the church, but according to Scripture it is not a physical place or building, but people

All those who put their faith in Jesus as the Christ or Messiah have become the home of the Holy Spirit and a Living stone that is put together with others to form the church.

We are the church.

Each person is part of the church as a whole and gives strength or harm to the building.

I believe there are 4 types of living stones, people or churches (the people who meet together)

Main Point

Be a strong stable and productive stone, person and church

As the church and in our group that gathers we must recognize which type of soil we are.

Either individually or collectively we can be any of the four types

If we don’t know what type of soil or church or living stone we are will could be heading in a direction that will hurt the greater church or body of Christ.

The Four Types

1. Hard Path

The hard path church or person is the person or community who is allowing the enemy, Satan, demons, spiritual forces of darkness to steal the truth away from them.

You may be thinking…But Pastor Andy…how is this possible it sounds like in the parable these are people who don’t believe in Christ at all so how can they be or this be a type of church?

True, but there is more to it than that.

There are many people who not believed but are in the community influencing the gathering away from the truth of God’s Word.

The type of church or person that is the hard path will be a person or a church who will stir up trouble.

They are allowing the lies from the birds or evil spirits to influence them and create local churches that are fighting against flesh and blood and using Scripture as their weapon instead of picking up their cross and dying to self to Follow Christ.

This is the most destructive type of person or local church and The Church

This type of person and church will always cause division and hurt

If you have experienced this type of person or local church… I am sorry for the hurt the devil caused through people and communities that created scars in your life.

2. Rocky Soil

I like to call this type of church or person a “fair weather fan”.

I enjoy going to Pirate games.

For many years as many of you know the Pirates were not a great baseball team.

They had a terrible record for about the last 20 years or longer.

I loved going to the field as a 17 year old and buying a ticket for $11 and sitting in the nose bleed section for about an inning then was able to walk down and sit next to the field because there was almost no one there.

But a few years ago when they started winning; I went to the park and the cheapest ticket was $20 and the place was FULL!

You know them when it’s fun and easy they are all for it.

This is the rocky church or person.

They are excited when they feel the warm and fuzzes, but when God calls them to grow or change as people or as a local church they shrink back into old habits.

This is the group that would rather everything stay the same instead of changing too much.

Change and growth takes too much effort and requires a loss of comfort and security.

This type of person and church will spend so much time arguing and opposing change and growth.

Being Jealous of other churches or people or arguing about small details in order slow the possible growth and change God wants has created a church that is more worldly and has lost the mission of Jesus Christ.

This is the church and person who will spend years debating whether or not to do something like changing the brand of toilet paper.

When they small details become more important than the Vision has given to the person and community they have become rocky soil.

Trying to live small and not hurt by the rocks.

If you have experienced this type of person and church i want to say I’m sorry that their fear has hurt your growth into where God wants you to be.

3. Thorny Soil

The Thorny Soiled Church or person is a person who seems to have it all together on Sunday but on Monday doesn’t seem any different than the world.

The desire for money, status, excitement, and the gods of this world blind them.

This type of soil, church or person may be the nicest, or best presented, but deep down they are relying on their own strength and the security this world offers.

This type of Church or person will seem to have growth throughout their lifetime, but it is shallow.

Just like the pharisees when people are looking they are doing and saying all the right things, but when the truth of the Word or the Move of the Holy Spirit comes they only change the symptoms, but not the cause or heart of the problem.

Maybe outwardly they have things together, but inwardly they love the idols or gods of this world.

If you have experienced this type of church or person in the past…I am sorry the double standard they had caused hurt and possibly a loss of faith and trust in you.

4. Producing Soil

This is the goal for each of us and for our local family.

Our prayer is that we all become producing Soil or a living stone that provides for the greater building instead of creating cracks or holes.

Why does it matter?

Every Christian and local church will fall into one of these types and it effects everyone around us as well as the complete church of Christ.

We will help or hurt the Church of Jesus Christ as the church who is producing or not.

How

How do we Identify which type we are and How do we become a healthy church?

1. Hard Path

To identify if you have been living as this type of environment;

What is my natural response to correction?

What is my natural response to other’s joy, hope and love?

Am I relying on myself for the source of power?

When was the last time I felt or saw God Moving in my life…If ever?

Am I opposed to the vision of our local church, but am not really sure why?

These Questions can help you identify if there is an evil influence in your life.

How do become healthy soil?

Start at the beginning again.

Allow the Milk or foundations of Christ and the Word of God fill you and refocus your mind cleansing you from Malice, Deceit, Hypocrisy, envy and slander.

Start by Meditating on the Lord is Good.

2. Rocky Soil

To identify if you have been living as this type of environment

Is it easier to debate Christian things and topics like is Apollos or Paul a better preacher…Or are new songs or old songs more holy…than to admit where you need to grow from any preacher and how any song can help you into the presents of God?

Are there things you would be upset if they changed?

Do you have a hard time seeing the greater mission and vision of the local church?

When you think about what Jesus said we are to be and do as the church and then think about what you want our local church to do…Do they line up or are they different?

What are the details or strongholds you need to let go of in order to allow the Mission and vision God to blossom?

We are the rocky soil when we would rather not grow because the rocks will make it hard to grow up to produce and down to give strength.

How do become healthy soil?

you must let go of the jealousy and quarreling that is rooted in fear and pride.

Ask God to reveal to you where there is fear for the future or pride from your past.

Then put your faith and trust in God knowing that those rocks or the fire.

those things that are hard and bring discomfort are going to make you stronger for the mission if you stop avoiding growth with the small details.

what hinders from the mission and vision of God.

Fixing your eyes on Jesus will give you a passion for His mission for you and your local group on earth

3. Thorny Soil

To identify if you have been living as this type of environment

Are there things in your life that feel like they are hindering you from growing?

Are there habits that you can’t seem to shake?

Is there anything that you feel like you can’t live without (Besides Christ)?

Do you feel like you need to put on a face or play a part when you are with certain people…Such as this morning?