Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Intro* – Want to know your purpose in life as a Christian?
God’s opinion: II Cor 5:20, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Whatever our earthly career, our calling is a high one -- to be God’s representatives.
It’s not a question of being an ambassador.
It’s just a question of what kind.
Do we draw or do we repel people?
In a Peanuts comic strip Sally says to Linus, "I think I would be a good evangelist."
"Why?" asks Linus.
Sally answers, "I convinced the boy who sits behind me at school that my faith is better than his." "How did you do that?" asks Linus.
Sally answers, "I hit him over the head with my lunch box."
Perhaps her technique could be improved – but you have to admire her heart.
She was at least trying.
I fear many of us aren’t trying at all.
We are ambassadors en absentia.
Ask yourself this, do my friends know I represent Christ?
We need the help E. V. Hill used to get.
E. V. was the world-famous African-American pastor of a church in Watts in LA.
Years ago I spoke at some seminars there and I can tell you it was a lively church!
One elderly woman in his congregation was called 1800 – because no one knew how old she was.
I never did figure out whether 1800 was intended to refer to the year she might have been born, or to her actual age!! 1800 was hard on visiting pastors.
She would sit on the front row, and as soon as the preacher began she would say, “Get Him up!” (referring to Christ).
After a few minutes, if she didn’t think there was enough Christ in the sermon, she would shout this time, “Get Him up!”
If a preacher didn’t get Him up, He was in for a long, hard day!
Beloved, we have a calling to “get Him up!” Our king will one day rule this whole world.
To show Him off is our greatest privilege.
So, how do we “get Him up (exalt him)?” John is a great example.
*I.
By the Life He Lived*
Lu 3:15, “As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ.”
Wow! Anybody ask you lately if you might be Jesus?
Do you represent Him so well that people are asking, “Is that John?
Or is that Jesus?” Have you got that going on in your life?
Not literally, of course, but does your life reflect Him? Are people drawn to Jesus by seeing us?
Or might they be repelled?
John was a perfect ambassador – perfectly reflecting the One he represented.
We don’t have to be oddballs to represent Christ.
Sure there are some things we don’t do and places we don’t go.
But we can have good friends and good times.
But Christ comes first.
We’re looking for ways to represent Him.
Get creative!
Here just one example.
When adversity or illness strikes, ask if you can pray for them.
Don’t just do it – ask if you can.
Let them know you are!
I have never yet had anyone say, “Don’t pray for me.”
They will appreciate the love and say – “Can’t hurt” and you have left a testimony.
Johnny Hart was a Christian cartoonist who did B.C. before he died.
Often his cartoons reflected his Christian commitment.
One time Dick Browne, the cartoonist who drew Hagar the Horrible, was extremely ill.
Johnny sent a ltr.
Inside was a piece of paper with a tracing of Johnny's hand.
The note said, “Dick -- call me.”
Dick called and said, “I got your letter -- what does this hand mean?” Johnny replied, “Open it up and put it flat on a table.
Now put your hand where the drawn hand is.”
Dick put his own hand over the outlined hand and said, “Ok, now what?” Johnny said, “Now we're holding hands -- let's pray a little bit.”
Representing Christ.
That’s a great ambassador.
One of my dad’s favorite preachers was John R. Rice.
He wrote a short poem that went like this: “You are writing a gospel, a chapter a day, / By deeds that you do, by words that you say.
/ Men read what you write, whether faithless or true.
/ Say, what is the gospel according to you?” How about it?
It’s not a question of being an ambassador – just a question of what kind!
*II.
By the Attitude He Cultivated*
Lu 3:16, “John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
John was a confident, powerful man.
But when asked, “Are you the One?” he responded, “Not even close.
I’m not even worthy to tie his shoes.
My baptism?
Just shows outwardly what’s happened inside.
But actually making it happen inside?
That’s what He does.”
We need a few more humble preachers.
The Jews held teachers in high esteem.
The rabbis had a saying: “Every service which a slave performs for his master shall a disciple do for his teacher – except the loosing of his sandal-thong.”
Yet, it was this least of all duties that John says, “I’m not even be worthy to do that.”
Sometimes preaching venerates the preacher more than Christ.
Not with John.
John knew life is not about success; it’s about God’s glory.
How big was the crowd?
How many were baptized?
Irrelevant.
God’s glory?
That’s everything!
God reminds us in Isa 43:7, “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory.”
Jesus taught in Matt 5:16, “let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Our lives are to glorify the Father, not us.
When we subtly boast about some good thing God has done through us, we’re stealing the glory.
But we can steal the glory through silence as well.
We don’t want to be identified with that religious crowd – don’t want people to think we’re radical.
What we’re really saying is, “I’d rather be accepted by the crowd than identified with Christ.”
When I do that, I’m putting my worth above His.
I’m stealing His glory for the sake of my reputation.
Listen – silence isn’t humility; silence is pride.
It is stealing His glory.
It is done to protect people from thinking ill of me for being identified with Christ.
It is putting my feelings above His glory – stealing His glory.
And God warns against touching His glory in Isa 48:11.
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