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
0.15UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.1UNLIKELY
Fear
0.13UNLIKELY
Joy
0.55LIKELY
Sadness
0.48UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.68LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.57LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.81LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.84LIKELY
Extraversion
0.34UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.71LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.62LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
*Inscription: Writing God’s Words on Our Hearts & Minds*
*/Part 40: Spiritual Leadership/*
*Ezra 7-10*
*/December 5, 2010/*
* *
*Prep: *
· 114, leftovers (pg. 1)
· Hope Management
*Scripture reading: aDVENT READING *Luke 1: 26-45 (Eddie?)
Intro
Before we get started, I want to give you a brief lay of the land, of our *sermons* for the next couple of *months* – this week we are in Ezra, next week will be a Christmas sermon.
The week before Christmas, the kids have a Christmas production, then after, we will study Nehemiah and leadership.
Then we will start the new year with a *series* on “*Engaging* *Culture*” which will take us up to Valentine’s Day.
· *Potluck* *meeting*.
Prayer: We have a rebellions streak, not as Americans, but as humans.
Leadership is everything
Among the things I study, I spend a lot of time learning about *leadership*.
So while other people are on the treadmill listening to power ballads, I am listening to *John* *Maxwell* tell corny stories and principles of leadership.
· One key point – “Everything *rises* and *falls* on leadership.”
That point is echoes throughout *Ezra* and *Nehemiah* – when there was good *leadership*, the people *rose* to the *occasion* and did what was right.
When there wasn’t good leadership, they *didn’t*.
Setting the stage
Let’s begin with a brief *overview*: Originally, Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, covering about *100* *years*, after the exile.
God had warned Israel that if they continued in rebellion and idolatry, they would be punished by being conquered and removed from their land.
In *586 BC*, that is exactly what happened.
· But from the beginning, God also was clear that the purpose was *redemptive* – he’d kick them out in hopes restoring them.
And that is also what happened.
Seventy years after the exile, God moved *King* *Cyrus* gave the Jews permission to return home.
This was part of a larger policy of restoring ancient peoples.
· Many Jews *stayed*, but many took the challenge to return home.
The first group came back and rebuilt the *altar*, because they had not been able to sacrifice to God for over 70 years, then they laid the *foundation* for the temple.
Then they hit some trouble, got discouraged and gave up.
God prods them through the prophets *Haggai* and *Zechariah*.
This sums up *chapters* *1-6*.
The chapter 7 picks up *57* *years* *later* and introduces us to Ezra, who was sent by *Artaxerxes* (son of Xerxes of “300” fame).
Once again things had been *sliding* and they needed good leadership.
· Then *13* years later, God sends *Nehemiah* to help them rebuild the *wall* around the city.
After he is done, he goes back to *persia*, and things *fall* *apart* morally in his absence, so he has to come back and fix things.
Portraits of leadership
Ezra and Nehemiah each present a *unique* *portrait* of leadership – Ezra demonstrates strong *spiritual* *leadership*, and Nehemiah of strong *practical* *leadership*.
In his day, Ezra was a *priest*, but in ours he would have been a *pastor*, so I look to him as a real example for pastors.
· Speaking broadly, Ezra speaks to *Elders* and Nehemiah *Deacons*.
*Nehemiah* (*next* *sermon*) is a great all around leader, but in spiritual matters, we see him *stepping* *aside* for *Ezra*.
I have *three* *reasons* for teaching on these two guys:
1.
I want you to *understand* the *leadership* of the church
2. Some of you have been *called* to be an *elder* or a *deacon* (and also remind our current *Elders* and Deacons)
3. *All* of us are called *be* *leaders* in various ways – and there is a special call in this sermon for *husbands* and *fathers*
What’s Spiritual Leadership?
So Ezra is a great example of spiritual leadership.
When I say “Spiritual Leadership” I don’t mean “as *opposed* to *secular*,” I mean leadership in spiritual matters.
Not a *co*-*journeyer*, a *leader*, someone you are *submitted* to in your faith.
· This is very unpopular in some of the “Emergent Church.”
Right away, this may sit *poorly* with you – what sort of *power* *trip* is this?
And that’s a rather *convenient* for you to talk about, *pastor*.
This feels a bit like talking about *tithing*.
· But we can’t get around this idea that *God* has given *spiritual* *authority* to certain people in the church.
*Hebrews 13:17 * 17 ¶ Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.
They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.
Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Spiritual abuse
Immediately there is an *objection* to this idea that you need to be submitted to pastors as spiritual leaders – can’t this be *abused*?
If we go along with that, how long until we are being asked to drink funny tasting *Kool*-*Aid*?
This is a valid objection – there is a long *history* of *spiritual* *abuse* by pastors, and not just the over the top cult leaders.
I have many friends that have been hurt by controlling, narcissistic pastors and he barely held on to their faith.
Q How many of you have been “spiritually abused?”
· I promise you, that will not happen here.
Why?
Because I am too *nice* of a *guy* for that!
· Actually, because *I* am also *under* *authority*.
The *elders* hold each other *in* *check*.
Some people think that since one of the elders is my *brother* and the other is my *friend* that I am not *really* under authority.
All I have to say is that you *don’t* know Micah and Cecil.
I get away with less because of that.
They both *know* me too well to be *impressed* and *love* me too much to let any *stupid* *stuff* *slide*.
· If you don’t believe me, ask *Peter*, or read my last *review* – it was brutal (no big sins, but lot’s of “growth areas”).
And don’t think that *my* *agenda* goes.
You have no idea how many *crazy* *ideas* they have pulled the plug on.
My basic theory is it’s my job to *dream* really *big* and theirs to provided *sanity*.
· I am not saying I don’t want *more* *elders* – it would be nice to get a break!
*Before* you *submit* to a spiritual leader, first be convinced they’re submitted to spiritual leadership.
Not in *form*, but *reality* (many leaders have set up *pseudo*-*accountability*).
· *10* out of *10* times that spiritual abuse happens, the leader person was *not* *under* *authority*.
Ä Just because spiritual leadership has been abused means it should be eliminated, any more than policemen should be.
helping you get where you want to go
Q Hebrews says “not to your advantage,” what does that mean?
Everything God does is for our *benefit*.
Spiritual leadership is meant to be a *blessing*.
Think back to the *analogy* of the body, each part having its role, and that no one can do everything.
We are *interdependent*.
· Pastors are given to the church to do something you *cannot* do *for* *yourself*.
What I just said is *heresy* to many in the *home* *church* movement.
Many (but not all) of them believe that every person is meant to be a *pastor*, and they take turns *preaching* and *everything*.
· They take “*priesthood* of all *believers*” too far – yes we all *interact* *directly* with God, but God still calls *some* to *lead*.
Ä Reading through Ezra, I see *three* *specific* *responsibilities* he had that were uniquely pastoral, things only he could do.
*/1.
/**/Devoted to the Word of God.
/*
First, in chapter seven:
*Ezra 7:10 * 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
He devoted himself literally means “He *set* his *heart* on.”
His life was studying the Bible.
*All* of us need to know God’s Word, and be able to *nourish* ourselves, but not “*devoted* to.”
God does not expect everyone to do this, any more that all of us should be *medical* *experts*.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9