Sermon Tone Analysis

*SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT *

* *

*OPEN: *

SESAME STREET HAS BEEN A POPULAR CHILDREN’S SHOW FOR MANY YEARS.

AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW “HUMAN” ACTORS,

THE SHOW REVOLVED AROUND LEARNING EXPERIENCES

TAUGHT BY HAND PUPPETS CALLED “MUPPETS”.

\\ KERMIT THE FROG, THE COOKIE MONSTER

AND BERT AND ERNIE

HAVE ALL BEEN FAVORITE CHARACTERS ON THE SHOW.

AND EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BASICALLY HAND PUPPETS,

THE CHILDREN ON THE SET WOULD IGNORE THE MAN HOLDING THE “MUPPET” AND INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH THE HAND PUPPET JUST AS IF IT WERE REAL.

\\ \\

THE MAJORITY OF THE CHARACTERS WERE HAND PUPPETS,

BUT ONE WAS NOT.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THIS BIG YELLOW CHARACTER’S NAME WAS?

 

THAT’S RIGHT, “BIG BIRD” –

A BIG YELLOW FEATHERED BIRD WITH A MAN INSIDE.

\\ ONE DAY, ONE OF THE CHILDREN ON THE SET

WAS STUNNED WHEN HE SAW THE ACTOR

CLIMBING OUT OF THE BIG BIRD COSTUME.

"MOM," THE TODDLER YELLED,

 "DO YOU THINK BIG BIRD KNOWS

HE HAS A MAN INSIDE OF HIM?"

*APPLY: *

IT HAD NEVER OCCURRED TO THIS LITTLE BOY

THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY INSIDE THE COSTUME.

\\ HE JUST THOUGHT THAT BIG BIRD DID WHAT HE DID – BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT BIG BIRDS DO. \\ \\ BUT HE WAS WRONG.

\\ BIG BIRD *NEEDED* TO HAVE SOMEONE INSIDE HIM

SO THAT HE COULD BE BIG BIRD.

\\ HE NEEDED SOMEONE INSIDE HIM

SO THAT HIS CHARACTER COULD REALLY LIVE.

\\ \\ THE BIBLE TEACHES US THE SAME THING;

WE ALSO NEED SOMEONE INSIDE OF US SO THAT WE CAN TRULY LIVE.

\\ \\ \\

 

TITUS 1:1-9 (NIV) \\ \\

PAUL, A SERVANT OF GOD AND AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FAITH OF GOD’S ELECT AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH THAT LEADS TO GODLINESS— 2 A FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE RESTING ON THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH GOD, WHO DOES NOT LIE, PROMISED BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, 3 AND AT HIS APPOINTED SEASON HE BROUGHT HIS WORD TO LIGHT THROUGH THE PREACHING ENTRUSTED TO ME BY THE COMMAND OF GOD OUR SAVIOR,

4 TO TITUS, MY TRUE SON IN OUR COMMON FAITH:

GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS OUR SAVIOR.

/TITUS’ TASK ON CRETE/

5 THE REASON I LEFT YOU IN CRETE WAS THAT YOU MIGHT STRAIGHTEN OUT WHAT WAS LEFT UNFINISHED AND APPOINTA ELDERS IN EVERY TOWN, AS I DIRECTED YOU. 6 AN ELDER MUST BE BLAMELESS, THE HUSBAND OF BUT ONE WIFE, A MAN WHOSE CHILDREN BELIEVE AND ARE NOT OPEN TO THE CHARGE OF BEING WILD AND DISOBEDIENT.

7 SINCE AN OVERSEERB IS ENTRUSTED WITH GOD’S WORK, HE MUST BE BLAMELESS—NOT OVERBEARING, NOT QUICK-TEMPERED, NOT GIVEN TO DRUNKENNESS, NOT VIOLENT, NOT PURSUING DISHONEST GAIN.

8 RATHER HE MUST BE HOSPITABLE, ONE WHO LOVES WHAT IS GOOD, WHO IS SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT, HOLY AND DISCIPLINED.

9 HE MUST HOLD FIRMLY TO THE TRUSTWORTHY MESSAGE AS IT HAS BEEN TAUGHT, SO THAT HE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHERS BY SOUND DOCTRINE AND REFUTE THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT.

[1]

 

 

 

IN TITUS CHAPTER 3, TITUS IS TOLD TO TEACH THE CHRISTIANS ON CRETE

3 THINGS \\ 1. THERE IS A CERTAIN BEHAVIOR THAT’S EXPECTED OF CHRISTIANS (VERSE 1-2) \\ 2. WE DIDN’T USED TO BE THAT WAY.

AT ONE TIME WE LIVED AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF LIFE (VS.3) \\ 3. BUT THAT CHANGED ONCE WE BECAME CHRISTIANS (VERSES 4-7) \\ \\ NOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT’S ALL THERE IS TO IT. \\ THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN LIVE GODLY LIVES SIMPLY BECAUSE WE MADE A DECISION TO BE CHRISTIANS.

THUS (THEY BELIEVE) WE DO WHAT CHRISTIANS DO BECAUSE WE GO TO CHURCH, SUNDAY SCHOOL AND BIBLE STUDIES.

WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT THEOLOGY AND WE ATTEND THE RIGHT CONGREGATION.

\\ \\ JUST LIKE THAT LITTLE BOY WHO THOUGHT BIG BIRD DID WHAT HE DID BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT BIG BIRDS DID, SO ALSO, THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIAN DO WHAT CHRISTIANS DO BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT CHRISTIANS DO. \\ \\ THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

\\ REAL CHRISTIANS DO WHAT CHRISTIANS DO… BECAUSE THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE OF US. \\ \\ NOTICE WHAT TITUS 3:5-6 SAYS.

“HE SAVED US, NOT BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUS THINGS WE HAD DONE, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS MERCY.

HE SAVED US THROUGH THE WASHING OF REBIRTH AND RENEWAL BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM HE POURED OUT ON US GENEROUSLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR” \\ \\ WHEN WE WERE SAVED, GOD PUT SOMEONE INSIDE OF US. \\ HE GENEROUSLY POURED OUT ON US HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

\\ \\ AND GOD PUT THAT SOMEONE – THAT HOLY SPIRIT – INSIDE US TO HELP US CONTROL OUR LIVES.

\\ \\ IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS, PAUL TELLS US THAT WHEN GOD’S SPIRIT LIVES INSIDE US, HE “CONTROLS” US. \\ “YOU, HOWEVER, ARE CONTROLLED NOT BY THE SINFUL NATURE BUT BY THE SPIRIT, IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU.

AND IF ANYONE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST.”

ROM.

8:9 \\ \\ HOW DOES GOD’S SPIRIT CONTROL US? \\ DOE HE DOMINATE OUR LIVES AND MANIPULATE US LIKE SOME KIND OF HAND PUPPET OR MARIONETTE?

NO, IT’S MORE OF A VOLUNTARY THING.

GOD’S SPIRIT DOESN’T FORCE US TO DO ANYTHING AGAINST OUR WILL.

\\ \\ GALATIANS CHAPTER 5 (FOR EXAMPLE) TALKS ABOUT US NEEDING TO BE “LED BY THE SPIRIT” AND “WALKING IN THE SPIRIT”.

THE IMPLICATION IS – WE GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER WE WALK IN GOD’S SPIRIT AND ALLOW HIM TO LEAD US IN OUR DECISIONS.

\\ IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE DECIDE TO LET GOD’S SPIRIT RULE IN OUR LIVES - IF WE DECIDE TO DELIBERATELY LET GOD’S SPIRIT LEAD US IN OUR LIVES - THEN WE CHANGE.

\\ AND THAT CHANGE YIELDS A CERTAIN RESULT.

\\ \\ YOU CAN TELL WHEN SOMEONE IS “LED” BY GOD’S SPIRIT BY HOW THEY BEHAVE – BY WHAT FRUIT THEY BEAR.

GALATIANS 5:22-23 TELLS US THAT “…THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL….” \\ \\ WHEN GOD’S SPIRIT LEADS ME IN MY LIFE, THEN I’M GOING TO BEHAVE IN A CERTAIN WAY.

\\ \\ BUT CAN’T NON-CHRISTIANS HAVE THOSE QUALITIES?

\\ OF COURSE THEY CAN! \\ WE ALL KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHOWN THE ABILITY TO LOVE, TO HAVE PEACE, TO BE KIND, AND SO ON.

BUT APPARENTLY THEIR GOOD DEEDS ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME APPEAL TO GOD.

\\ \\ THAT’S BECAUSE GOOD DEEDS, IN AND OF THEMSELVES, DON’T REALLY IMPRESS GOD ALL THAT MUCH.

ISAIAH 64:6 TELLS US THAT “…ALL OUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS…” \\ \\ IN SHORT, OUR GOOD DEEDS – WITHOUT GOD’S SPIRIT INSIDE HELPING US - AREN’T NEARLY AS PLEASING TO GOD AS THEY WOULD BE OTHERWISE.

\\ \\ ILLUS: HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE TOMATOES?

\\ RIPE, GARDEN FRESH TOMATOES - I’M TOLD THEY’RE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

BUT HAVE YOU EVER BOUGHT TOMATOES FROM THE SUPERMARKET THAT DIDN’T MEASURE UP? \\ THEY’D BEEN PICKED GREEN ALLOWED TO RIPEN ON THE SHELF… AND THE TASTE JUST ISN’T THERE.

\\ NOW, THAT TOMATO LOOKS JUST AS ATTRACTIVE AS THE GARDEN GROWN VARIETY BUT SOMETHING’S MISSING ON THE INSIDE THAT MAKES IT DISTASTEFUL TO YOU.

WHAT’S MISSING WAS THAT IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE VINE TOO EARLY AND THUS LOST OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF BEING CONNECTED.

\\ \\ LIKEWISE, WITHOUT US BEING CONNECTED TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD ANY FRUIT WE PRODUCE IS GOING TO TASTE “FUNNY” TO GOD.

OUR FRUIT MAY “LOOK” LIKE THE REAL THING, BUT IT WON’T REALLY TASTE THE SAME TO GOD.

\\ \\ NOW, PART OF THE REASON THIS OUR FRUIT (WITHOUT THE SPIRIT) WILL BE TASTELESS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DAMAGED GOODS.

TITUS 3:3 SAYS “AT ONE TIME WE TOO WERE FOOLISH, DISOBEDIENT, DECEIVED AND ENSLAVED BY ALL KINDS OF PASSIONS AND PLEASURES.

WE LIVED IN MALICE AND ENVY, BEING HATED AND HATING ONE ANOTHER.”

\\ \\ IT’S HARD FOR US TO GROW GOOD CROPS IN SOIL THAT’S BEEN DAMAGED.

\\ \\ ILLUS: MY DAD WAS A FARMER, AND HE ONCE TOLD ME THAT IT’S POSSIBLE TO HURT THE SOIL.

IF A FARMER GROWS NOTHING BUT CORN IN A FIELD, YEAR AFTER YEAR, EVENTUALLY, THE GROUND IS DEPLETED OF ITS NECESSARY NUTRIENTS AND CROPS WON’T GROW AS TALL~/PLENTIFUL.

\\ THOSE NUTRIENTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOMEHOW OR THE GROUND WON’T PRODUCE THE ABUNDANT CROP THE FARMER NEEDS.

\\ \\ PEOPLE (WHO AREN’T CHRISTIANS) - HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY SIN.

\\ THEY’VE GROWN TOO MUCH OF THE WRONG KIND OF FRUIT IN THEIR LIVES.

AND THE SOIL OF THEIR SOUL HAS BECOME DEPLETED OF THE NECESSARY NUTRIENTS.

\\ \\ TITUS SAYS THAT ONCE WE’RE SAVED WE RECEIVE RENEWAL BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (TITUS 3:5).

THAT WHICH WAS MISSING IN OUR LIVES HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE SPIRIT.

HE STEPS INTO OUR LIVES AND CHANGES US ON THE INSIDE SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THINGS THAT TASTE GOOD TO GOD.

\\ \\ NOW, WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

\\ WHY SHOULD IT MATTER THAT GOD’S SPIRIT IS WITHIN YOU AND ME RENEWING US, AND HELPING US TO DO GOOD? \\ \\ THIS MONTH’S SERMON SERIES REVOLVES AROUND THE QUESTION: “WHAT MAKES A CHURCH SUCCESSFUL?” \\ AND WE’VE BEEN LOOKING THRU TITUS TO DETERMINE GOD’S ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION “WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE OUR CHURCH IS SUCCESSFUL FOR JESUS?” \\ \\ AS WE’VE LOOKED THRU THE BOOK OF TITUS, WE’VE SEEN THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION INVOLVES \\ 1. HAVING STRONG, DEDICATED, CONSCIENTIOUS ELDERS \\ 2. OUR CHURCH STANDING FIRM AGAINST PAGANISM AND DECEPTIVE TEACHINGS \\ 3. AND IT INVOLVES OUR PERSONALLY LIVING GODLY CHRISTIAN LIVES~/DEDICATED TO HOLINESS \\ \\ BUT A LOT OF CHURCHES STOP THERE.

\\ THEY ARE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT DOING THINGS PROPERLY.

\\ (ELDERS~/ DEACONS~/ S.SCHOOL TEACHERS).

\\ THEY ARE STRINGENT IN THEIR DOCTRINE.

\\ (THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND WHY).

\\ AND THEY STRESS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS LIFESTYLES.

\\ \\ THEY DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS PROPERLY… BUT AS A CHURCH THEY’RE EMPTY AND LIFELESS.

OFTEN, THEY’RE RIGID AND SELF-RIGHTEOUS.

\\ \\ WHY? HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN?

\\ WELL, IT COULD VERY WELL BE THAT THEY’VE FOCUSED SO MUCH ON WHAT THEY COULD DO THAT THEY FORGOT TO ALLOW GOD’S SPIRIT TO WORK IN THEIR CONGREGATION.

\\ \\ JUST LIKE A CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO BE RENEWED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD… SO DOES A CHURCH. \\ \\ JESUS SAID: “…TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH, FOR THEY ARE THE KIND OF WORSHIPERS THE FATHER SEEKS.