Sermon Tone Analysis

Romans 12:4–8 (NIV)

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

If your gift is prophesying (perceiving), then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Prophecy / Perceiving

Is committed to truth.

If it is right and God has said it, the prophet is committed to go regardless of whether anybody follows.

Takes initiative and enjoys things that are new.

Does a terrible job of maintaining things.

Processes quickly.

Has an opinion on everything and is quick to share it.

Judges and evaluates everything, even situations that do not directly impact him.

Cannot tolerate having no options.

Shifts gears quickly from one direction to another.

Can be here and then there.

Major Weaknesses

Judgmental.

Critical toward others and even more critical of themselves.

Unforgiving.

Not willing to overlook the failures and weaknesses of others.

Bitterness.

The enduring battlefield for the prophet.

Can have an unforgiving spirit that is destructive.

Caricature : of Peter

Serving / Ministry / Helps

Is a team player.

Is relatively free from the desire to build his own kingdom.

Is very practical.

Is committed to the present moment to meet present needs.

Has difficulty saying "no" to competing demands.

Usually overcommitted in scheduling.

Finds it hard to accept excellence in his work, to affirm himself, or to receive affirmation from

Is totally trustworthy and reliable.

Attracts dishonor, especially in the home.

Tends to be the one who is talked down to and has jokes made about them.

A servant seems to allow this to happen.

Has purity of motive.

Is straight-forward, honest and can be trusted.

Prefers not to be visible.

Does not desire the spotlight.

Desires to empower others to achieve their best.

Greatest fulfillment comes in knowing he enables somebody else to do their work.

Is drawn to pray for leadership and make them successful.

Weaknesses

Battle for self-worth.

Doesn't see his innate value and doesn't believe God's truth about himself or his call.

Worry/anxiety.

Takes on other people's problems and worries about the problem.

Does a task instead of teaching others to do it and releasing it to them.

Caricature: Esther

Teacher

Needs to validate truth for himself.

It is at the core of who he is.

Loves knowledge.

Does not receive new things immediately.

Looks at things from different angles.

Wants first-hand details.

Values precision in sharing details.

Sometimes overkill of details.

Processes and makes decisions slowly.

Can slow down impulsive people who jump to conclusions.

Is a very safe person emotionally and is sometimes confused with the gift of mercy.

The teacher tends to be led by their head and mercy to be led by their heart.

Tends to be the last one to speak in a group.

He will listen and observe, seeing things from all angles, then summarize the whole picture.

Prefers the old, established, validated ways.

Preserves history.

His natural tendency is to explain, reason and put forth truth, expecting or hoping the other person will pick up the truth and act on it voluntarily.

Needs to validate truth for himself.

It is at the core of who he is.

Loves knowledge.

Tends toward selective responsibility.

Can be extremely responsible and reliable in one area, but does not carry that same behavior over to other areas.

His natural tendency is to explain, reason and put forth truth, expecting or hoping the other person will pick up the truth and act on it voluntarily.

Weaknesses

Passive.

Unwilling to impose responsibility on others.

Can be soft on sin and too patient with people who are doing wrong.

Wants to live by sight, not by faith.

Wants to know the end of a process before he begins.

Intimacy and prayer may be a major battle for the teacher.

Tends to pursue a doctrinal system rather than intimacy with his Father.

Encouraging / Exhorting

Has the ability to cross every kind of barrier (social, racial, economic, religious) and relate to people wherever they are.

Is horizontal in his focus and intensely people-oriented.

Has never met a stranger.

Is capable of having disagreements without alienating others.

Enjoys being around people.

Is extroverted, outgoing, a party looking for someplace to happen.

Does teamwork well.

Is a great networker.

Is a visionary.

Tends to see a broader picture, the largest number, etc.

Is tactful and able to speak to people in a gracious way to bring them along.

Is concerned with communicating God to people.

Gets to know who God is, then communicates Him to people.

The immature exhorter is unwilling to confront sin.

A righteous exhorter will hold a high standard of holiness and bring those around him to that same standard.

Works hard and is intensely busy.

Functions on little sleep.