Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Collect

O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and on earth: Put away from us all hurtful things, and give us those things that are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

What are hurtful things?

What things are profitable for us?

How do we tell?

There are things that seem good and right yet can be hurtful.

Likewise there are things that seem uncomfortable and risky yet can be profitable.

And, we have to be aware that these things are not just external, but also internal.

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

How do we filter the harmful and focus on the profitable, both inside and out, so that we can be fully devoted followers of Jesus?

This week’s lectionary reading gives us some insights.

Filters

There is some hyperbole here, but we need to understand the Rabbi and disciple relationship to understand the extreme language.

What are the things, even seemingly good things, that are clogging things up, the hurtful things blocking you from fully following Jesus?

Hand in hand with our filter in determining what is hurtful and what is profitable, is our focus.

Focus has to do with where we are looking and what our attention is on.

Again, this can be external and internal.

Focus

Psalm 16 (ESV)

A Miktam of David.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from you.”

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,

in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;

their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out

or take their names on my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The Galatians were struggling amongst themselves with things concerning Jesus and living a holy life.

They couldn’t agree on what was hurtful and what was profitable.

The church has a long history of being hurtful to its own.

There was a time when I would have described all the trappings of our Anglican way as a yoke of slavery.

It can become that.

Any form, of church, even what would be called low church, can become legalistic and rigid.

I now experience the freedom in Jesus that it provides as long as my focus is on Jesus by the power and work of the Spirit.

And that’s as it should be in all things.

Application

So how do we do this?

How do we filter and focus the hurtful and the profitable?

By looking at everything, considering everything, processing everything, through Jesus’ cross and empty tomb.

In other words, through the gospel.

Are there frustrating people and situations in the media?

At your job?

In your house?

In your church?

In between your own ears?

Filter and focus “those people” through the gospel.

Filter and focus your reaction to “those people” through the gospel.

Discard the hurtful, even if it’s good, hang on to the profitable, even if it’s uncomfortable.

Keep Jesus between your eyes and ears, and your mind and heart, to be a filter and to provide focus.

Then, rely on the power and the guidance of the Spirit to build God’s kingdom in you and through you.

Close with collect.