Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION: ATTENTION

IT’S ALWAYS A SCARY THING.

IN FACT, I NEVER DO IT BUT WHAT MY PALMS AREN’T SWEATY AND MY KNEES ALMOST KNOCK TOGETHER.

NO, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT RIDING SOME DEATH-DEFYING ROLLERCOASTER.

I’M TALKING ABOUT THAT ACTIVITY THAT TURNS GROWN MEN INTO WHIMPERING EXCUSE-MAKERS.

I’M TALKING ABOUT THAT ACTIVITY THAT MAKES GROWN WOMEN CRY.

I’M TALKING ABOUT VISITATION.

ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR NIGHT, I WAS OUT BY MYSELF.

I HAD FOUND NO ONE HOME, YET, AND I WAS TEMPTED TO GIVE UP AND JUST THROW IN THE TOWEL.

BUT THERE WAS THIS ONE LAST VISITOR’S CARD.

WHEN I LOOKED AT THE NAME, I WAS NOT ENCOURAGED.

“THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THIS CARD TO BILL AND DENISE,” I THOUGHT.

THE NAME WAS OBVIOUSLY HISPANIC, AND I COULD JUST SEE MYSELF STANDING AT THE DOOR TRYING TO WITNESS TO A MAN WHO SPOKE BROKEN ENGLISH, SMILED AND NODDED AT WHATEVER I SAID, BUT HAD NO CLUE ABOUT WHAT I MEANT.

I RODE BY THE HOUSE A COUPLE OF TIMES.

IT WAS REALLY DARK AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WASN’T THE BEST, AND I WAS SORELY TEMPTED TO TURN MY CAR TOWARDS THE CHURCH.

BUT MY CONSCIENCE WOULDN’T LET ME DO THAT, AND, SHAMED INTO ACTION, I STOPPED THE CAR AND MOUNTED THE STEPS TO THE FRONT PORCH.

HIS SISTERS ANSWERED THE DOOR AND WHEN HE CAME TO THE FRONT, I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED.

HE SPOKE PERFECT ENGLISH AND SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD I SAID.

WHEN I SHARED THE GOSPEL AND ASKED IF HE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE CHRIST, HE SAID, “SURE.”

NO ARGUMENT, NO QUESTION, NO COMPLAINT.

WE SAT ON HIS FRONT PORCH IN THE SWING AND HE ASKED CHRIST INTO HIS HEART.

I WENT BACK TO THE CHURCH PUMPED UP!

I WAS PROUD OF MYSELF FOR HAVING DEFEATED MY FEAR AND WAS ANXIOUS TO TELL EVERYONE HOW THIS YOUNG MAN HAD FOUND CHRIST.

I KNEW THAT THEY WOULD REJOICE WITH ME AND I LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN CHURCH.

AND I WASN’T DISAPPOINTED, AT LEAST NOT AT FIRST.

YOU SEE, HE SHOWED UP FOR 2 WEEKS IN A ROW . . .

BUT I HAVEN’T SEEN HIM SINCE.

AND IT WASN’T BECAUSE I DIDN’T FOLLOW UP.

I AND SEVERAL OTHERS TRIED TO REACH HIM, BUT TO DATE WE HAVEN’T HAD ANY SUCCESS.

NOW, I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT INCIDENTS LIKE THIS LEAVE ME SCRATCHING MY HEAD.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING GOES SO WELL AND THERE IS SUCH WILLINGNESS TO PRAY THE SINNER’S PRAYER AND EVERYTHING YOU SAY TO THE PERSON IS AGREED TO, AND YET, YOU FIND THAT THERE IS NO FRUIT IN A PERSON’S LIFE.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

WELL, I THINK I HAVE AT LEAST PART OF THE ANSWER AND, WELL, I’LL JUST HAVE TO ADMIT THAT IT COMES FROM A VERY UNLIKELY SOURCE.

WHEN I WORKED FOR SYNTEX PHARMACEUTICALS, WE WERE SENT AWAY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OF TRAINING OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

I’LL NEVER FORGET WHAT ONE INSTRUCTOR TOLD US ONE DAY IN CLASS AS HE TAUGHT US PRINCIPLES OF SALESMANSHIP.

HE SAID, “ALWAYS REMEMBER: NOTHING IS SOLD UNTIL RESISTANCES ARE ENCOUNTERED AND OVERCOME.”

HE THEN EXPLAINED THAT STATEMENT, TELLING US THAT EVERY PERSON YOU MEET WILL HAVE RESISTANCE TO YOUR IDEAS, AND THEY MAY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAY JUST TO GET YOU OUT OF THEIR FACE, BUT THE TRUTH IS, YOU REALLY BEGIN TO BE PERSUASIVE WHEN THEY BEGIN TO OBJECT TO YOUR IDEAS, AND YOU THEN HANDLE THEIR OBJECTIONS.

NEED:

NOW, WITNESSING IS NOT ABOUT SALESMANSHIP, BUT ABOUT DEPENDENCE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT.

BUT THERE IS A CONNECTION THAT CAN BE DRAWN FROM THE EXPERIENCE.

DO YOU SEE THE CONNECTION?

THAT GUY I WITNESSED TO, WHO AGREED WITH EVERYTHING I SAID, REALLY DIDN’T AGREE WITH ANYTHING I SAID.

HE JUST PLAYED ALONG TO GET ME OUT OF HIS FACE.

THE TRUTH IS HE HAD MANY OBJECTIONS TO THE GOSPEL, BUT I NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER THEM BECAUSE I NEVER FOUND OUT WHAT THEY WERE.

NOW IF YOU ARE A WITNESS FOR JESUS CHRIST, SOMETIMES THE VERY THING YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR ARE THE OBJECTIONS SOMEONE HAS TO THE GOSPEL, BUT I MUST TELL YOU THAT THOSE VERY SAME OBJECTIONS ARE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR IF YOU ARE EVER TO TRULY REACH THAT PERSON.

MAYBE YOU’RE NOT A BELIEVER THIS MORNING.

YOU’VE NEVER TRUSTED CHRIST WITH YOUR LIFE, AND YOU MAY SMILE AND ACT LIKE YOU AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU HEARD IN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

OR YOU MAY ACT LIKE YOU AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT PERSON WHO INVITED YOU TO CHURCH HAS SHARED WITH YOU, BUT THE TRUTH IS THERE ARE OBJECTIONS IN YOUR HEART: UNSPOKEN RESISTANCE TO THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.

WELL, I WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE THIS MORNING, BECAUSE TODAY I WANT US TO FOLLOW THE MASTER OBJECTION-HANDLER AS HE ENCOUNTERS PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME WHO HAVE RESISTANCE TO THE GOSPEL.

AS WE SEE HIM ANSWER EVERY QUESTION AND BRING THE LIGHT OF TRUTH INTO THE DARKNESS OF DOUBT, YOU MAY HEAR SOME OF YOUR OWN OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER, I CHALLENGE YOU THIS MORNING TO OBSERVE HOW CHRIST ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS OF AN UNBELIEVER AND LEARN HOW TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE IN YOUR OWN WITNESS.

THE STORY IS FOUND IN JOHN CHAPTER 4. WILL YOU READ WITH ME?: (READ JOHN 4:1-10)

JESUS IN THIS ENCOUNTER SHOWS US TWO THINGS: FIRST, IF YOU ARE AN UNBELIEVER THIS MORNING HE KNOWS HOW TO ANSWER YOUR DEEPEST OBJECTIONS.

SECONDLY, IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER THIS MORNING, HE SHOWS YOU HOW YOU CAN ANSWER THE OBJECTIONS OF THOSE TO WHOM YOU MIGHT WITNESS.

HOW DOES HE DO IT.

WELL, HE GIVES US FOUR ANSWERS TO THE OBJECTIONS OF THOSE WHO JUST AREN’T READY TO COMMIT THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST AND, BY DOING THIS, HE DEMONSTRATES HOW YOU AND I CAN ANSWER THOSE SAME OBJECTIONS.

THE FIRST ANSWER IS FOUND IN THE VERSES WE JUST READ: YOU SEE, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO REACH THAT LOST PERSON FOR CHRIST, YOU CAN

DIVISION STATEMENT 1: OVERCOME PREJUDICE WITH COMPASSION

EXPLANATION: THE FIRST RESISTANCE JESUS ENCOUNTERS ON MEETING THIS WOMAN IS HER PREJUDICE.

NOTICE HOW SHE REPLIES, IN VERSE 9, TO HIS REQUEST FOR WATER.

SHE ASKS, “HOW IS IT THAT YOU, BEING A JEW, ASK A DRINK FROM ME, A SAMARITAN WOMAN?

FOR JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH SAMARITANS.”

YOU SEE, SHE EXPECTED CONDEMNATION BECAUSE OF WHO SHE WAS.

NOW READING THAT QUESTION YOU GET THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT THIS POOR LADY REALLY HAD HER GUARD UP, AND WITH GOOD REASON.

YOU SEE JEWS LOOKED UPON SAMARITANS AS HALF-BREED IDOLATERS.

WHEN THE NORTHERN TRIBES OF ISRAEL SEPARATED FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, JEROBOAM, THE KING HAD SET UP HIS OWN BRAND OF WORSHIP, REFUSING TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO GO TO JERUSALEM TO WORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE FOR FEAR THAT THEY WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK UNDER JUDAH’S RULE.

BECAUSE OF THEIR CORRUPTION, GOD HAD JUDGED THE NORTHERN TRIBES, SENDING THEM INTO CAPTIVITY SOME 140 YEARS BEFORE JUDAH FELL.

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THOSE JEWISH BROTHERS WHO HAD RETURNED HAD BROUGHT WITH THEM THEIR ASSYRIAN GODS AND THEIR ASSYRIAN MATES, FURTHER CORRUPTING THEMSELVES.

BUT THAT WASN’T ALL, FOR, YOU SEE, NOT ONLY WAS THIS PERSON A SAMARITAN, SHE WAS A WOMAN.

JEWISH RABBIS HAD A SAYING ABOUT SAMARITAN WOMEN.

THEY BELIEVED THAT SAMARITAN WOMEN MENSTRUATED FROM THE CRADLE WHICH MEANT, ACCORDING TO JEWISH LAW, THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS UNCLEAN.

TO TOUCH ONE, OR TO EVEN SPEAK TO ONE WOULD MAKE THAT PERSON ALSO UNCLEAN.

BUT EVEN THAT WASN’T ALL, FOR YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THIS LADY WAS COMING TO GET WATER AT THE SIXTH HOUR AND SHE WAS ALONE.

NOW THE SIXTH HOUR WOULD HAVE BEEN LUNCH TIME, 12:00 P.M. AT THE VERY HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY.

NO ONE CAME TO GET WATER THEN, THEY WOULD WAIT INSTEAD UNTIL THE COOL OF THE EVENING.

BUT YOU SEE, THIS WASN’T JUST ANY WOMAN.

AS JESUS REVEALS LATER, SHE WAS MORALLY LOOSE.

SHE HAD BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES AND WAS NOW LIVING WITH HER SIXTH MAN.

NOW IN OUR SOCIETY, THAT IS BECOMING PAR FOR THE COURSE, BUT IN THAT DAY, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A PARIAH.

SHE CAME TO THE WELL ALONE BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD COME WITH HER.

CAN YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW SHOCKED SHE WAS THAT JESUS WOULD EVEN SPEAK TO HER?

I THINK THAT SHE EXPECTED CONDEMNATION AND EVEN MOCKERY.

AFTER ALL, JESUS WAS A JEW. IT WAS THE JEWS WHO HAD TURNED DOWN THE SAMARITAN OFFERS TO HELP THEM REBUILD THEIR TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM.

IT WAS THE JEWS, BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE DOING THE WILL OF GOD, WHO HAD COME TO MOUNT GERIZIM IN 128 B.C. AND BURNED THE SAMARITAN TEMPLE TO THE GROUND.

NO WONDER THIS WOMAN HAD A PREJUDICE.

IT GREW OUT OF HER OWN SIN AND IT GREW OUT OF HER DISTRUST OF JESUS, THE JEW.

BUT JESUS OVERCAME HER PREJUDICE WITH COMPASSION.

I THINK YOU SEE THAT IN THE OFFER HE MAKES TO HER IN VERSE 10.

THERE HE SAYS, “IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD, AND WHO IT IS WHO SAYS TO YOU, GIVE ME A DRINK, YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER.”

YOU SEE HIS COMPASSION IN THE FACT THAT HE TAKES THE RISK OF EVEN TALKING TO THIS WOMAN.

SUCH BEHAVIOR COULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUED AS FLIRTING AND MAY HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD.

FURTHERMORE, HE MAKES HIMSELF VULNERABLE TO HER, ASKING HER FOR A DRINK, AND THEN HE OFFERS HER WHAT SHE HAD COME TO GET: WATER.

ONLY THIS WATER WASN’T JUST WATER THAT MADE YOU WET; IT WAS WATER THAT MADE YOU WHOLE.

IT WOULD QUENCH THE REAL THIRST THIS WOMAN HAD.

JESUS OVERCAME HER PREJUDICE WITH COMPASSION.

IN OUR CULTURE, THERE IS ALSO GREAT PREJUDICE AGAINST THE GOSPEL.

SOME OF IT JUST COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.

I HEARD BILL O’REILLY ON THE JIM BOHANNAN SHOW THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID THAT PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE EXCLUSIVE TRUTH ABOUT GETTING TO HEAVEN ARE TRULY DANGEROUS PEOPLE.

WELL, NOW IF YOU ARE REALLY A CHILD OF GOD, MY FRIEND, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU, FOR YOU SEE, JESUS SAID “NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” SOMETIMES THE VERY MESSAGE WE PREACH BRINGS PREJUDICE.

BUT SOME PREJUDICE IS DESERVED.