Sermon Tone Analysis

In a series called Truth Dealers....

It seems that today, the debate over who is right, who’s policy is right, who believes the right thing…is at a FEVER PITCH!

Supreme Court Rulings, Election Cycles, Social Media Posts, Cancel Culture, etc....

Everything around us is shouting in our ears…and no one can hear ANYTHING!

The debate over what is TRUE and RIGHT and GOOD is really nothing new in history… (read Jn 18:37-38)

John 18:37–38 (CEB)

“So you are a king?” Pilate said.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.

I was born and came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth.

Whoever accepts the truth listens to my voice.”

“What is truth?”

Pilate asked.

Principle: The defining marker of Christianity is NOT what we say we believe, but rather how we live our life day by day.

Pilate is asking the fundamental question for any society… How do we know what is right?

(all the arguments, all the debates, all the opinions)

Is it all about how I feel?

Is it about what my culture does?

Is truth found in the experience or the outcome of what I do?

Can I really know what is real in this world or does life come down to those with power and advantage?

How did Jesus answer the questions, What is Truth?

....He began by telling us how to live (...read Matt 5)

It strikes me that in Jn 18, Pilate is desperate to know “What is truth?”,

but instead of an answer all he gets is a person: Jesus

How many have ever felt desperate to get an answer from God, but instead it’s like he just stands there silent???

“If God would just show up and tell all these “evil people” what is right.....”

Instead of sending a list of right answers, God sent us Jesus…

Jesus is the model for for what it means to be the people God called us to be…to be our “True Self”

Not a list of laws, not a constitution, not even a Bible…even Scripture is pointing us to the Way of Jesus:

Jn5.39 “Examine the scriptures, since you think that in them you have eternal life.

They also testify about me,”

The greatest enemy to The Truth in the world today is not ungodly politicians, ungodly entertainment, or ungodly laws...

It’s a church worshiping the name of Jesus, but disconnected from the ways of Jesus.

Even the Church often seems confused on “What is Truth?”

What the Church often fails to realize is that the life of Jesus, the teaching of Jesus, and the model of Jesus are a LIVABLE expression of God’s Kingdom.

It’s not a mild suggestions, or a high, unattainable watermark to reach for…the way of Jesus is the means by which TRUTH overcomes the world.

Do we live perfectly sinless like Jesus?

No, Jesus is perfect in me, and I am being made perfect (true self) by thinking as he thinks, walking as he walked, and living as he lived!

Lots of Christians understand the Work of the Cross, but we miss the Way of the Cross

The Work of the Cross has made it possible to live out the Way of the Cross!

The Work of the Cross: Through the cross I am Saved

The Way of the Cross: Jesus in me is now at work saving the World!

The Work of the Cross: Jesus gave his life FOR me.

The Way of the Cross: The Truth of Jesus now shows THROUGH me.

The Work of the Cross: I am forgiven.

The Way of the Cross: I have the power to forgive

The Work of the Cross: Heaven is my home.

The Way of the Cross: I now live to bring heaven to earth.

The cross is the differential of the Christian religion, the power which enables the Christian to transcend the world and to win the victory.

It is the supreme expression of the “extraordinary” quality of the Christian life.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship)

Enemies of The Truth in our Lives

Unprocessed Pain, Disappointment, and Bitterness

The unprocessed pain and disappointment of your past will blind you from the TRUTH of God’s freedom available to you today…it will make both the victim and the victimizer a prisoner in your own mind.

You cannot be present to the Father today while you are trapped emotionally in a situation that happened 10 years ago! (or even 10 days ago)

Part of what TRUTH does for us is release the victim and the victimizer from prison...

Ambition, Lust, and Never Enough

We become easily blinded to the truth when we turn people and things into ways to get what we want.

Lk 4:3-13 “The devil said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread.”

Next the devil led him to a high place and showed him in a single instant all the kingdoms of the world.

The devil said, “I will give you this whole domain and the glory of all these kingdoms.

It’s been entrusted to me and I can give it to anyone I want.

Therefore, if you will worship me, it will all be yours.”

Jesus answered, “It’s written, You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”

The devil brought him into Jerusalem and stood him at the highest point of the temple.

He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here; for it’s written: He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.”

Jesus answered, “It’s been said, Don’t test the Lord your God.”After finishing every temptation, the devil departed…”

If Satan cannot have your eternal soul, he will settle for the bondage of performance, comparison, and ambition.

Broken Relationship

Covenant Relationship is the currency of the Kingdom…You cannot see the TRUTH while you are living in contention with your fellow man.

Whatever good that God has for your life will always come through a loving connection to the people and creation around you.

An Un-surrendered Heart

I mentioned this on Wednesday....two of the most repeated messages in the Bible (1) DO NOT FEAR over 300 times and (2) You are not God!

There is a real value to standing FIRM on the truth, but it’s helpful to remember that you might now know everything about what God is doing in the world…

There’s a difference between being anchored in the truth of Jesus and dogmatic biblicism.

Jesus modeled for us the path of surrender:

Matthew 26:39 (CEB)

“My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.

However—not what I want but what you want.”

Jesus is the Answer to question “What is Truth?”

His love is how you bring that Truth into your world.

What are you wrestling with?

Are you tired yet?