Sermon Tone Analysis
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Big Idea:
Jesus is not okay with brokenness.
Intro:
Good morning!
It’s good to “see” all of you.
Some of you know that right now - as you watch this - Janelle and I are in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
No, we’re not exactly on vacation, though we have stopped a few places for vacation-like activities.
We’re in Michigan because a couple months ago, we were invited by a pastor to come visit their church, pray and talk about future partnerships, and strategize about how to further the Kingdom of God in New England.
The pastor who invited us used to live here in Connecticut.
Coincidentally, he has a couple of really good friends who live in Glastonbury.
And even though God eventually called him to Michigan, he’s continues to have a heart for the people of our state!
And like many, he believes God is doing something special in Connecticut!
So church family - it’s an exciting time to be part of our church!
God is doing big things… some of which, I will share today.
You know, God’s word says…
One way to apply this verse is to know God planned who we would be (our family, personalities, friends, experiences), the places we would live, and the times we would exist.
And purpose of that plan is through carefully crafted circumstances, we (and others) would come to know Christ.
As it’s said in the Book of Esther...
You - as you are listening to this - are not doing so by accident or coincidence.
God created you for this time.
He picked you to live in this area and to be a part of this church.
And it’s all part of His place to save the world.
This should highly encourage and motivate you!
Now, I understand it’s hard to believe stuff like this...
That God has a master plan and...
Especially when you’ve probably heard me talk about we have a God-given, free-will, and that our choices are real and matter.
It’s reasonable to ask, “How can God have a master plan and our free-will exist together?”
I don’t know, but that’s a conversation for another sermon.
But for now, let me give you a few personal stories that might help you see this reality...
Growing up, I didn’t know God.
Didn’t go to church.
But God created me with a natural ability to be good at school.
All my life I had good grades without trying.
And for college, I only wanted to go to UCLA.
And for some reason, I didn’t get it.
So I went to junior college with the intention to transfer.
For 6 semesters, I’d take classes and have the highest grade in the class.
Then, I’d get bored, stop going to class, and would drop classes.
Eventually, I was on academic probation at every JC in San Diego, so I just quit school.
Then, when Jesus saved me, I sensed Him calling me to get my ministry “preparation thru education.”
So at the age of 30, I went back to school and ended up getting my Bachelors in Biblical Studies and Master’s in Practical Theology.
During that time I met this guy named Brandon.
Couldn’t stand the dude, but got paired with him for a project and we became good friends.
Years later, when it was time for us to move to Glastonbury, Brandon told me, “I got a friend you should meet who happens to live in the area.”
Now, this friend’s family had also recently moved to CT - kicking and screaming.
They were living the good life in Singapore and yet - all of a sudden - got picked up and dropped off in New England.
They were asking God, “WHY!?!?!?!”
Then, one day in 2015, I met this friend at Daybreak Coffee.
That guy is Pastor Jon.
Do you think that was a coincidence?
No. That’s God’s master plan.
Another story: When we moved to Connecticut we lived across the street from another young family.
They had a son the same age as Kade.
And early in the school year, Kade and this other kid get into a fight in the halls of Naubuc school.
Such a beautiful example of how the pastor’s family is a blessing to the community.
However, God is the God of redemption, amen?
And these two boys became best friends.
Then, on our first Easter service, this family came to church for the first time.
And the mom became the first person to ever receive Christ at The River Church.
6 years later, her son decided to follow Christ at this year’s Summer Camp.
Do you think this coincidence?
No. That’s God’s master plan.
One final story (and then we can move past the intro of my sermon!):
At a pastor’s retreat, I met a guy from Georgia who moved up here to plant a church in Maine.
I had an instant connection with him.
Also, they raise Collies as a side hustle.
And that’s where our dog, Kota, comes from.
This pastor’s wife had a good friend from the Alabama.
The friend’s husband got hired for a job in Glastonbury.
The husband started looking for a church online and found one he liked.
He told his wife about it, but she wasn’t having it.
She said something to the extent of, “I’ll just ask my friend (who planted a church in Maine) if there are any good churches in the area.”
The friend said, “Oh, we have good friends who started a church in Glastonbury.
You should go to The River Church!”
The wife goes to the husband, “I found a church for us, let’s go here...” The husband says, “That’s the church I’ve been telling you about!”
That couple is Clif and Mitzi - who is also just had back surgery, so be praying for them!
But do you think that is coincidence?
No. That’s God’s master plan!
And these are just 3 of hundreds of similar stories.
Ask Shannon why they started coming to The River Church.
Ask Sia.
Ask Howard and Kay!
All of this points to an important principle: Right now, we get an opportunity to participate (as The River Church) in God’s master plan to save the world.
To reach our community with the gospel - the good news of how Jesus can make everything right.
And right now, we’re in Michigan to see how we can do that in a greater way.
And right now, you’re listening to this sermon because God is desiring to call you to be a part of His great plan of salvation - maybe in a greater way.
And that’s important to understand, right?
Because there’s a lot of brokenness in our world!
And Jesus is not content with the brokenness caused by sin, which is why He came to earth and went to the cross in the first place - exactly where He is headed in our passage today as we continue in the book of Mark.
Picking up in chapter 10, verse 46, it says...
Body:
Just like in our day, Jesus finds brokenness wherever He goes.
And He’s not willing to walk by it.
It is not God’s intention for us to live and remain in utter brokenness.
Jesus Himself said, “I’ve come to give life, and life more abundantly.”
That principle is revealed in this passage an extremely personal way...
And to help us see this, I want to jump over to Luke’s telling of Jesus’ arrival into Jericho.
You see, Bartimaeus wasn’t the only broken person Jesus met at this point of the journey.
Luke says...
What verse 2 tells us is Zacchaeus was a broken person.
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