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
0.14UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.1UNLIKELY
Fear
0.12UNLIKELY
Joy
0.6LIKELY
Sadness
0.48UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.4UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.31UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.79LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.95LIKELY
Extraversion
0.21UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.97LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.61LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Sunday, November 29, 2009*
Philippians 4:4-9
----
Subject: Peace
Theme: God’s peace
Proposition: We can receive the protection of God’s peace
T.S.
We can receive the protection of God’s peace when we continue three habits.
----
OPEN: Paint pic of a stressful holiday season.
Anxiety.
(ILL) Home Alone (scene of stress preparing for trip).
(TRANS) Our passage this morning is one of my favorites to help me deal w~/stress and anxiety.
Good for during a time of transition, but also good as we prepare to head into the holiday season.
CONTEXT: Writes to a church he founded in the city of Philippi.
These folks already knew about suffering.
Paul & Silas had been beaten and imprisoned there.
Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
You would think such a situation would worry him, but he is rejoicing and in great peace.
(TRANS) This morning we are going to read Paul’s recipe for having peace no matter the circumstances.
Let’s STAND and read this passage together.
*Philippians 4:6-9*
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.
(TRANS) Let’s unpack this one verse at a time.
You can follow along with the outline in your bulletin, borrowed in part from Warren Weirsbe.
----
First ingredient is:
*RIGHT PRAYING (v.6-7)*
/PRESENT YOUR PRAYERS/
/ /
*Philippians 4:6-9*
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
(TRANS) The first verse, which you can see on the screen, is best understood with two *buckets*~/backpacks.
/Left one is labeled “Worry.”
Right is labeled “Prayer.”
Everything has to go in one or the other (words “anything” and “everything”).
Bring out various items and decide which bucket it goes in.
/Everything goes in this (prayer) bucket.
· *Envelopes* – the steady stream of bills.
· *Books* (first), then stuff into a *backpack* – school.
· *Car keys* – your child and their growing independence.
(TRANS) Those are normal stresses, but what about the extra ones that get piled up this time of year?
· *Gift (wrapped) *– Do I need to get gifts for certain folks?
If so, how many?
How will I pay for them?
· *Xmas lights* – And I need to decorate the house – again.
· *Cookbook *– How am I going to find time to cook the meal for our family gatherings?
· *Photo *– Ugh.
Family.
Last year there was that big blow-up when uncle so-and-so made that comment that set off my sister-in-law.
All things go in the prayer bucket.
(TRANS) Paul not only tells us to pray about everything; he also instructs us on how to pray:
· Prayer – Original word means to bow before or kiss toward.
We are to approach God in adoration.
· Petition – This is what we normally think of as prayer.
Just ask.
Tell God what’s on your heart, what you need.
· Thanksgiving – recount past~/current faithfulness; helps us trust for future faithfulness
(TRANS) When we consistently choose the right bucket, the result is amazing.
*Philippians 4:6-7*
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God’s response: Give a special gift.
God’s Peace.
Beyond comprehension.
Won’t make sense to those who only use one bucket, or even some who use both buckets.
Guard:
(ILL) Call up Garrison.
Military unit that protects a place or people.
God’s peace will stand guard around you like a group of soldiers serving as your bodyguards to keep us safe from harm.
Battleground is the heart and mind.
If Satan can sow lies in your mind or plant bitterness or stress in your heart, he can sideline you from effectiveness in God’s kingdom.
If he can capture your mind, he will render you ineffective in the battle.
(TRANS) B~/c the mind is the battleground, we need to remain vigilant against those things that would injure the mind or hinder its ability to perform.
Satan is constantly at work to gain a foothold in your hearts and minds.
----
Paul gives some fantastic advice on how to deal with this.
To show you how wise this advice is, let’s run a little experiment.
I’m going to give you one simple instruction, and I want you to do it as soon as you hear me say it.
You can do it right there in your seats.
You don’t have to get up and move.
Ready.
Okay, listen carefully.
Here you go:
(ILL) Don’t think of a pink elephant.
Show pic of Horton.
Okay.
What are you thinking of?
Horton Hears a Who.
(APP) You see, it’s not just enough to try to not dwell on something, you need to replace that thought with something else.
(TRANS) Now, read with me v.8 as Paul gives us the *second ingredient* in his recipe for peace.
*RIGHT THINKING (v.8)*
/PONDER THE PRAISEWORTHY/
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.
I love this verse.
It gives me a whole list of virtues to choose from whenever my thoughts are tempted to stray.
· TRUE: Do you ever find yourself having fictional conversations in your head?
You are expecting a difficult encounter, so you run thru all the possible ways the conversation can go.
I do this often.
The problem is that I get all emotionally worked up as though the conversation is actually going on.
But that’s not true.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9