Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.12UNLIKELY
Fear
0.11UNLIKELY
Joy
0.62LIKELY
Sadness
0.5LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.49UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.17UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.83LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.88LIKELY
Extraversion
0.22UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.89LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.64LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
*The Blessing*
*Father’s Day Message, June 15, 2003 (Topical)*
* *
*Scripture Reading: *Genesis 27:1-34
*Introduction:*
ILLUSTRATION: “Is handwriting on wall for venerable cursive?”
Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, June 10, 2003.
(Idea that fatherhood, like longhand math and cursive writing, will never go out of significance – in spite of gay marriages, single parenthood, cloning.)
But are fathers owning up to their significance?
ILLUSTRATION: “Parents Do Little About Kids’ Faith Training” George Barna
Those who have missed out on their parents’ blessing have not been enabled emotionally to leave home.
They have never been truly ‘accepted’ and therefore cannot build other meaningful and healthy relationships because the one of first importance was not there.
The importance of ‘leaving home’:
/“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
(Genesis 2:24 NIVUS)/
Let us look at another resource, a book by Gary Smalley and John Trent entitled “The Blessing” that opens with a story about a young man’s struggle with his lack of blessing.
(page 9-11) [Note: this book was given to me in remembrance of my Father-in-law who himself received it on Father’s Day.]
By the way, blessing in Hebrew means /to kneel/, /to lay hands on/, /to bestow favor/.
The lifelong search for parental blessing will lead many to hope and healing if and when they find it.
Providentially, God also provides other means of blessing when the parental blessing is not possible for one reason or another.
The Jewish blessing began with Abraham and was passed on (normally from oldest son to oldest son) through the generations.
This was true up until the birth of the Messiah.
Now all in Christ can receive the Father’s blessing through his Son and it can be passed on by introducing others to Christ.
/“"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
(Matthew 25:34 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."” (Luke 7:23 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."”
(Luke 11:28 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.”
(Luke 24:50 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.”
(John 1:16 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: "‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’” (Acts 13:34 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."”
(Romans 4:6-8 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile— the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,” (Romans 10:12 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."
9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
(Galatians 3:8-9 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”
(Galatians 3:14 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
(Ephesians 1:3 NIVUS)/
*Big Question:*
/What are the major elements of a family blessing such as we see in the OT?/
Smalley and Trent give us five major elements: “A family blessing begins with /meaningful touching/.
It continues with a /spoken message/ of /high value/, a message that pictures a /special future/ for the individual being blessed, and one that is based on an /active commitment/ to see that blessing come to pass.”
*I.
Cycle One – /Meaningful Touch/*
* A.
Narrative*
* B.
Implication*
* C.
Illustration*
/“Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son, and kiss me."” (Genesis 27:26 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “9 "They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father.
Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."
10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see.
So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.”
(Genesis 48:9-10 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.”
(Genesis 48:14 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “13 ¶ People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”
(Mark 10:13-16 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “40 ¶ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.
"I am willing," he said.
"Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.”
(Mark 1:40-42 NIVUS)/
* D.
Application*
Lovers holding~/joining hands.
Laying on of hands by prophet~/transferring sin.
Handshake.
Lower blood pressure, live longer, protect children from immorality.
*II.
Cycle Two – /A Spoken Message/*
* A.
Narrative*
Abraham spoke a blessing to Isaac.
Isaac spoke it to his son Jacob.
Jacob spoke it to each of his twelve sons and to two of his grandchildren.
Esau was so excited when he was called in to receive his blessing because, after years of waiting he would finally hear the blessing.
* B.
Implication*
This is more than just being present.
Silence communicates confusion.
Children should not be left to fill in the blanks.
Spoken words at least give the impression that the person is worthy of attention.
* C.
Illustration*
/“And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.”
(Genesis 1:3 NIVUS)/
/ /
/ “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9