Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Whenever I was a child at FBC Ozark, our children’s ministry would always go to a place by Lake of the Ozarks called Windermere in the summer for our Children’s Camp.

Windermere seemingly had everything that a 10 year old boy could want: yummy food, a lake full of inflatables, mini golf, air conditioning, basketball courts, and most interestingly of all, a huge cave.

Even though it had lights throughout the cave, for years and years my friends and I enjoyed exploring and looking for new animals.

Every year, though, we’d get to the back of the cave and there would be a gate blocking us from exploring deeper underground.

One year we had several hours of free time in the afternoon and we asked one of the workers about taking a cave tour to explore the back of the cave.

We had a group of about 12 people and they had a guide take us behind the gate.

After a few minutes of crawling on our stomaches through tight spaces in the cold mud in the pitch black, I was done… I went backwards while the rest of the group continued going deeper into the cave.

Several hours later they emerged with clothes and shoes that were completely ruined but man oh man did they have some crazy stories to tell.

From tight squeezes to massive rooms underground to channels of running water to cliffs that dropped dozens of feet below, this cave had much to offer in terms of danger and in terms of excitement.

Spelunking, or exploring caves, is something that some people find much enjoyment in and others find to be something to avoid altogether.

Regardless of if you’re a fan of caves or not, one thing that is essential in this process is to make sure that you have light to combat the danger lurking in the darkness.

Whenever you’re underground your eyes adjust a little bit to the darkness around you but even then, you can literally be one step away from finding yourself in some trouble.

As a result of this, bringing a flashlight is so important!

Even a small flashlight offers so much to a group in a cave.

The light provides you with safety from your surroundings.

The light provides you with a way to get out of the cave.

The light also helps you make sure that your group is doing ok.

In a situation where the darkness can represent danger, light provides much needed protection.

As we kick off our VBS week this morning, the theme of Cave Quest is how Jesus serves as the light of the world.

As we remind ourselves of what Jesus has done and of who Jesus is, we also are reminded of the truth that Jesus, as the light of the world, changes things to this day.

Just like a flashlight shines for other cave explorers to see in the darkness, Jesus shines today for us to see and stay safe from danger.

While Jesus is the light of the world, we look around our world and we see a lot of darkness.

What is the solution that our dark world needs?

The ultimate solution is that our world needs the light - our world needs Jesus!

What does that mean for us as Christians this morning?

We need to walk as children of the light.

Last Sunday we looked at how we as Christians are to shine like stars in our world in Philippians 2:12-17.

Today we’re going to be in a different letter from the apostle Paul to further look at how important this is.

The book of Ephesians is a loaded book as it shares with us how great our God is and how undeserving we are of salvation… In the end of Ephesians, Paul talks about some practical things and one of those things for these Christians is the importance of following after Jesus.

One of the things that happens whenever we follow Jesus, is that we look more like Jesus.

Just as Jesus is the light of the world, as you follow Jesus, you become light in the world!

Today, let’s look in Ephesians 5 and watch our step to make sure that we’re walking the right direction.

Watch Your Back (6-8)

In a polarizing and divided world, some people just like to argue.

In high school and college I had a friend who always loved playing devil’s advocate and he’d always try to poke holes in your statement or argument.

Perhaps you know someone like this or maybe you’re this person who is naturally talented at arguing.

Some people have such a way with words that they can get you to believe just about anything!

I was listening to a message a couple of months ago and the speaker made the claim that Jesus failed to achieve His potential and that if we as humans just have more faith and work really hard then we’ll be able to achieve our potential and have a life of victory, happiness, and prosperity.

This speaker made the claim that Jesus suffered in this life so that you and I wouldn’t have to ever suffer in this life.

The purpose of Jesus dying on the cross wasn’t to mainly accomplish our salvation, this man said, rather it was to cause us to prosper in this life and to walk in victory.

Let’s be perfectly clear this morning - the reason that Jesus died on the cross as our substitute was because of God’s perfect plan and because of our sinfulness.

The reason that Jesus died on the cross was to reconcile us to God and to save us from the punishment of our sins.

Don’t let anyone deceive you about the cross or the reason that Jesus Christ came - they might sound really smart and they might make you feel really good inside, but the argument is empty because it isn’t backed with the Bible.

Think of some other arguments that people make about the Bible: The Bible isn’t true.

Truth changes.

Sexuality is fluid.

Morality is subjective.

Really, really smart people make some really wrong arguments.

Paul’s caution for this church is that they wouldn’t fall victim to empty arguments.

What is our hope in this fight?

How can we stand our ground and not give in?

By knowing where we are and understanding why we believe what we believe.

Part of knowing where you are at today includes knowing where you came from.

Think about your past for a moment - for some of you you don’t have much of a past because you’re young… But for others in this room your past is painful to reflect upon.

You’re reminded of mistakes that you’ve made and you’re reminded of deep regret that you have over previous situations.

John Newton had such a past as this.

Newton was an investor in the slave trade in the 18th century.

He made a living transporting slaves and being a part of one of the greatest evils in the history of our world.

One day, though, he was convicted of this behavior and felt as though he was too far gone that God couldn’t forgive him of his failures.

The same Newton who would describe himself as a wretch in the most famous song in the world: Amazing Grace.

Whenever Newton would remember his past he would see his sin, yes, but he would also see the “amazing grace” of God in saving him from his sin and failures.

Whenever you look back at your life, I pray that you do see your failures and sin, but more than that that you and I would be reminded of the amazing grace of our God in leading us out of the darkness and into His marvelous light.

Watching your back isn’t about getting depressed - it’s about seeing how God has led you out of the darkness that you were previously walking in.

We look around our world today and we see people walking in darkness but they don’t realize that they are.

We see people who think that they have it all figured out and by the worlds standards they have it made.

They have the latest iPhone, they have the playstation 5, they have the nicest car and the biggest house… But if that’s it, then what good does it really do you?

For so many they’re living for this world and they think that they have it all but in reality they don’t have anything that will last - Paul’s encouragement is to not partner with these people.

Don’t partner with those walking in darkness.

He doesn’t say to be a jerk to these people, but he reminds Christians that we are not saved to continue walking in darkness… We’re saved to walk in the light.

Jesus said this in John 8

As a follower of Jesus, you don’t walk in the darkness, you have His light in you and you walk in this light!

Sometimes, following Jesus presents some difficulties, though.

It can be difficult to know what to do and where to go.

Whenever people explore caves whether underwater or simply underground, they often use a string to help guide them as they explore.

This string will follow them as they walk and will help them find their way around the cave so that they don’t get lost.

In the life of a Christian, the Bible is our string as it guides us as we walk in this world.

The Bible keeps us safe from harm - see God’s wrath will be poured out on those who oppose God… But if you’re walking in the light, if you’ve been changed by God’s amazing grace, if you’re following after Jesus, then you’re different.

Watch your back not out of fear, but watch your back to see all that God has done for you.

We used to be walking in darkness, but God has saved us and He has given us the task to follow Him in the light.

Watch Your Fruit (8-14)

As we follow God, some things should happen around us.

Now that we have been saved and transferred from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s light, we have some responsibilities!

Whenever you walk outside on a sunny day, preferably not a 100 degree day, if you look to your side you probably see something that follows you around.

What is that thing?

It’s called a shadow!

Shadows are interesting things, especially to 2 year old boys.

Gabriel loves staring at his shadow outside and sometimes he’ll even wave at his shadow.

Whenever Gabriel waves outside in the sunshine, what does his shadow do?

Waves back!

Think about your life in the light producing a shadow wherever you go.

Do you think that your shadow would reflect good things or bad things?

If you could visibly see the fruit that your life is producing, would you want to see the result or would you be afraid to know what you’re producing?

As a follower of Jesus, you are commanded to walk in the light and as you walk in the light, you produce the fruit of the light.

What does this fruit look like?

Have you ever heard of the fruit of the Spirit?

Look in Galatians 5 as we find this list

As you and I follow Jesus, our lives should be marked by these attributes and literally, fruit.

In our world a tree produces a single fruit more often than not.

An apple tree produces apples, a banana tree produces bananas, an orange tree produces oranges.