Sermon Tone Analysis

Formal Elements / Descriptive Data

Text: John 13:1-11

Central Idea of the Text (CIT): details of text summarized in a complete, past tense sentence

John described how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples demonstrating His sacrificial love for them and preparing them for His looming departure.

Proposition: major idea of sermon summarized in a complete sentence using present, active, future indicative or imperative mood; in direct relationship to the CIT

Experience Jesus’ sacrificial love and all-sufficiency for your soul’s deepest needs; be not unbelieving, because by faith in Him alone, you are promised an incorruptible inheritance with Him in His Coming Kingdom.

Statement of Purpose:

(1) Major Objective (MO) – only ONE of six possible (doctrinal, devotional ethical, evangelistic, consecrative, or supportive)

Doctrinal/Devotional

(2) Specific Objective (SO) – focuses on only one; calls for specific action (“I want my hearer to . . .

“)

Understand how much Jesus loves them, what His cross affords them by faith, and trust Jesus to follow through with His promises.

Title (Topic/Name): 2 to 4 words with a key or arrow word usually common to all major ideas; innovative, interesting, contemporary; indicative of general sermon content; not sensational or cute

“He Loved Them to the End”

Informal Elements / Rhetorical Data

Introduction:

Get Attention/Raise Need/Orient Theme/State Purpose

- strong, attractive, and interesting opening sentence

Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar.

Citation: William Wordsworth, “The Excursion”

- personal and social material; personal bridge; social bridge

I remember a trip I made once where I was grossly mistaken about how I would be received.

I’ll not mention any specifics, as I’m sure those whom I reference probably would be horrified to know that I even felt the way I did.

Nonetheless, upon arrival, I was offered a rather shallow welcome and cordial greeting.

However, upon commencement of the meeting, I was nothing but ridiculed for being from a State that had just legalized Marijuana usage and was made the butt of many jokes.

I proceeded to stay in the meeting, and shrugged it off.

After the meeting, in brief conversations, no further hospitality was extended to me, and so with a cordial salutation, I left.

There was another meeting I remember where the hosts bent over backwards to make sure every need I had was met, and then some.

They took me in and treated me like family.

Part of my heart remains with their church family to this day.

Hospitality is of utmost importance in both the Old and New Testaments.

These Scriptural foundations have shaped so many aspects of my ministry approaches, especially when it comes to taking care of God’s servants when they travel through our church.

- textual material (CIT); textual bridge

We come to a powerful passage where John described how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples demonstrating His sacrificial love for them and preparing them for His looming departure.

John 13:1-5

- focus the sermon’s intent (Proposition)

I want to discuss with you some point from this passage to help you contemplate and experience Jesus’ sacrificial love and all-sufficiency for your soul’s deepest needs; be not unbelieving, because by faith in Him alone, you are promised an incorruptible inheritance with Him in His Coming Kingdom.

- relational and transitional material; structural bridge

I’ll seek to develop this with you in two ways, by first considering how Jesus loved His own unto the end, and then how He helped their imperfect understanding that they might accept what He did with a heart of unwavering belief.

Consider first how our text shows us that,

Body – Development – Outline:

I. State major idea drawn directly from the text, in a brief, complete sentence using present active, future indicative or imperative mood, strong verbs (avoid “to be” and its forms); (vs ?)

I. Jesus Loved His Own Unto the End (John 13:1)

Explanation (EXP): from only the selected text; 3rd person pronouns; past tense; express the “then-ness” aspect of the text itself in its historical context

“Now before the feast of the passover,” - describe how John sets a powerful opening and transition from the “Book of Signs” to the “Book of Glory” with a view to Mary’s anointing of Jesus in John 12.

A. The Knowledge of “His Hour”

Explain the purpose of Jesus’ “departure” and the “horizontal” nature of John’s description.

B. The Importance of “His Own”

Explain “having loved” and who were “His own.”

C. The Hastening of “the End”

Note the double entendre (end, goal, completion, perfection, maturity, crucifixion).

Illustration (ILL): fresh, interesting, believable, clearly shed light on this specific portion of the text and on this particular idea being developed; use different sources (use only 1 personal and 1 biblical ill.

per sermon)

Ian Pitt-Watson adapts this portion from A Primer for Preachers:

There is a natural, logical kind of loving that loves lovely things and lovely people.

That’s logical.

But there is another kind of loving that doesn’t look for value in what it loves, but that “creates” value in what it loves.

Like Rosemary’s rag doll.

When Rosemary, my youngest child, was three, she was given a little rag doll, which quickly became an inseparable companion.

She had other toys that were intrinsically far more valuable, but none that she loved like she loved the rag doll.

Soon the rag doll became more and more rag and less and less doll.

It also became more and more dirty.

If you tried to clean the rag doll, it became more ragged still.

And if you didn’t try to clean the rag doll, it became dirtier still.

The sensible thing to do was to trash the rag doll.

But that was unthinkable for anyone who loved my child.

If you loved Rosemary, you loved the rag doll—it was part of the package.

Application (APP): specific; carry out the stated purpose expressed in the major and specific objectives; 1st and 2nd person pronouns; action-centered; relevant; express the “now-ness” aspect

“Love me, love my rag dolls,” says God, “including the one you see when you look in the mirror.

This is the finest and greatest commandment.”

[Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 320–321.]

Transitional Sentence (TS): sentence indicates change and progression to next major idea; use the unifying word

We’ll continue contemplating Jesus’ great love unto the end as John continues to share what occurred next in how,

II.

Jesus Alone Could Wash Them Clean (John 13:2-5)

EXP:

A. Jesus’ Preparation (John 13:2-4)

1.

His Impending Betrayal (John 13:2)

Explain the order of events (footwashing was typically done before the meal) with which this occurs and other aspects which make it completely unique and unprecedented.

Discuss the importance of Prov.

4:14-27

Explain the way John describes Judas throughout his Gospel and how here, he is preparing his reader’s for the Garden Scene: This is the beginning of the end for Judas.

Also note how both Judas and Peter are portrayed in contrast in this passage: The Betrayer/The Boastful (Denier).

2. His Inheritance: Signed, Sealed, Delivered (John 13:3)

Discuss the Eternalness of Jesus as described by John throughout the Gospel, and in light of his own stated purpose.

3. His Humility Unmistakable (John 13:4)

Explain the language (note the Hist.

Pres.

x2) used by John being the same about Jesus “laying down” His life and “taking” it again.

Also consider the forward look to Calvary in that Jesus will there be stripped of His robe, willingly (He could have called 10,000 angels).

B. Jesus’ Purification (John 13:5)

1.

The Word & the Water (v.

5a)

Explain how Jesus completely debases Himself in a historically unprecedented manner.

His example is unique in every way, and His lesson unmistakable, a “Sermon in Shoes” or a “Living Sermon”; mealtimes such as this were often used as teaching times.

This one was unforgettable for John.

Explain John’s usage of “Water” throughout his Gospel: Water to Wine, Born of Water, Living Water, Healing Water, Blood and Water, etc.

2. The Willing & Suffering Servant (v.

5b)

Compare the importance of “abiding” in Him, and how John is preparing readers for chps.

14-16 here.

Notice the language (Hist.