Sermon Tone Analysis

Day 1

Genesis 1:1-2:17; Matthew 1:1-25; Psalm 1:1-6

Genesis speaks of the beginning.

Matthew speaks of a new beginning.

The God who created us is the God who has provided for our salvation.

If we are to enjoy God’s salvation, we must learn to follow the wisdom of Psalm 1:1-2 – “Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night.”

Day 2

Genesis 2:18-4:16; Matthew 2:1-18; Psalm 2:1-12

If there is to be delight in God’s Word, we must overcome doubt.

Satan is always saying, “Did God really say …?” (Genesis 3:1).

We must learn to say, “God did say” (Genesis 3:3).

We must stand by this confession of faith in God and His Word.

Satan will not give in easily.

He will try to talk us out of believing God’s Word.

Satan will try to confuse us by speaking in a “spiritual” way.

We must, however, be clear about Satan’s purpose.

He is seeking to undermine God’s purpose.

If he thinks he can achieve this purpose, he will speak about “God” (Genesis 3:5).

It will seem that he is interpreting God’s Word.

He is seeking to lead us away from God. He’s seeking to undermine our faith and obedience so that we will go “out from the presence of the Lord” (Genesis 4:16).

There is a better way.

It’s the way of the wise men – “We … have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).

Worshipping the Lord, we are to delight in His Word.

True wisdom is grounded in God’s Word (Matthew 2:5-6).

Satan seeks to undermine our faith in the Lord’s Word.

Speaking through Herod, he expresses this desire to “worship Christ” (Matthew 2:8).

Satan is a liar.

However much he may speak about God, he has no intention of worshipping Him.

The truth about Satan is this: ”The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

It is Jesus who gives “abundant life” (John 10:10).

Satan’s purpose of death is seen in Herod’s plan “to search for the child to kill Him” (Matthew 2:13).

God’s purpose was not thwarted.

God’s purpose is life.

This life is in Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One concerning whom God says, “You are My Son” (Psalm 2:7).

He is the One to whom God says, ”I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession” (Psalm 2:8).

God speaks to us concerning His Son – “Kiss His Son, or He will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 2:12).

To go the way of the Son is to go the way of life.

To reject Him is to go the way of death.

Go the way of the Son.

Take delight in Him – “Kiss the Son.”

Those who delight in the Son of God will also delight in the Word of God.

The written Word of God – Scripture – leads us to the living Word of God – our Lord Jesus Christ.

Day 3

Genesis 4:17-6:22; Matthew 2:19-3:17; Psalm 3:1-8

Among many names and life-spans, there is this remarkable statement: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24).

This closeness to God develops as we learn to delight in the Word of God.

Together with “Noah” who “found favour in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8), Enoch stands in stark contrast to the general tenor of human life at the time - ”how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth … every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5).

The story of good and evil, God and the devil, is highlighted in the story of Jesus and Herod.

Concerning Herod, we read this – “those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead” (Matthew 2:20).

Herod is dead.

God remains the living God.

The human situation is described in Psalm 3:1 – “Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!”

There is, however, something else we must never forget – “From the Lord comes deliverance” (Psalm 3:8).

Day 4

Genesis 7:1-9:17; Matthew 4:1-22; Proverbs 1:1-17

In the story of the flood, we read of the covenant made with Noah.

As we move into the story of Jesus, we come into the realm of the new covenant.

God was doing a new thing, something greater than anything that ever happened under the old covenant.

At the outset of Jesus’ ministry, the devil made another attempt to undermine the work of God.

He tried to distract Jesus from His mission.

His methods bear a striking similarity to those used in the Garden of Eden.

He tries to sow seeds of doubt – “If you are the Son of God …” (Matthew 4:3,6).

Quoting Scripture (Matthew 4:6), he gives the appearance of spirituality.

Satan’s goal becomes clear in the third temptation.

He wants Jesus to “bow down and worship” him (Matthew 4:9).

Satan is defeated.

Jesus is victorious.

This victory can be ours as we grasp the truth: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7), as we learn, when tempted by Satan, to say, with Jesus, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4,7,10).

Day 5

Genesis 9:8-11:9; Matthew 4:23-5:20; Psalm 4:1-8

God made a new beginning with Noah and his family.

It doesn’t take us long to spoil God’s good work, With no concern for God’s glory, we say, “let us … make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4).

God’s response to this situation was Jesus Christ.

He is the Man who sought only to give glory to God.

Christ was God’s response to our sin – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

He was also God’s response to the prayers of believing people who longed for a Saviour.

In Psalm 4:1, the Psalmist prays, “Answer me when I call to You, my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”

Jesus Christ is God’s Answer to this prayer.

Christ brings relief (salvation).

This salvation arises from the mercy of God.

In this salvation, we have a “joy” and “peace” (Psalm 4:7-8) which the world cannot give.

Only God can give this joy and peace to us.

Day 6

Genesis 11:10-13:18; Matthew 5:21-42; Psalm 5:1-12

God is doing a work of grace.

This becomes clear in the promise given to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3).

Satan is still very active in the world – “Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13).

This is a situation which causes great distress to the people of God – “Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament.

Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray” (Psalm 5:1-2).

When the Bible speaks about sin, we’re not to point the finger at other people.

This is about us.

We’re all sinners (Romans 3:23).

The standards of God’s holiness are beyond us – “You are not a God who is pleased with wickedness: evil shall not dwell with You” (Psalm 5:4).

When we read the deeply challenging analysis of God’s law, given by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount, we become deeply conscious of our sin.

Thank God – His Word does not only speak of His perfect holiness.

It also speaks of His great love - ”I, by Your great love, can come into Your house” (Psalm 5:7).