Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Conscientiousness
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Passion
The apostle Paul was able to describe his life using very few words.
As a servant of God, he did not look for validation from other people, nor did he read theories of self-fulfillment or seek after philosophers for earthly wisdom.
He met Jesus and with his encounter with Jesus his life came into focus.
Before he met Jesus, three passions occupied his mind.
First, he wanted to know Old Testament Scripture.
Second, he wanted to follow the laws of Moses.
Third, he wanted to defend his faith from anyone who would violate the law and the scriptures.
Passion can lead a man to leave his wife for another woman.
Life becomes more complicated at that very moment.
Passion can lead a person towards wealth or worldly honor.
The accumulation of wealth and responsibility creates its own set of stress and confusion.
When a person truly confesses Jesus’ as Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, they are not only saved, but Jesus simplifies their lives.
Paul stands before Agrippa, a prisoner based on his religious beliefs, made to give his Roman inquisitor answers to why he is such a troublesome person to his accusers.
Within his answer we find an amazing focus and simplification of who he is and what he is all about.
In verses 1-11 he highlights his strong opposition to Christians and Christianity.
From his youth he had been a zealous follower of the law, a strict Pharisee, and a willing leader that sought to imprison and stamp out this new and dangerous sect.
(ESV) —12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
What was Paul’s focal point about his past?
How would he look at all that he had done before?
The answer to this is a divine answer.
What was Paul’s focal point about his past?
How would he look at all that he had done before?
The answer to this is a divine answer.
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?
It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Paul’s past, his violent opposition to Christianity, his whole life could be described as “kicking against the goads.”
Paul’s past, his violent opposition to Christianity, his whole life could be described as “kicking against the goads.”
Paul wanted Agrippa to know that he did not support the life he lived in the past.
His life was a “kicking against the goads.”
Agrippa would have known that goads were used on animals pulling a yoke to stop them from kicking backward instead of walking forward.
As a Roman he would have known that the phrase, “kicking against the goads” was a common expression for “fighting God.”
As Paul talks to Agrippa he knew how many times God had tried to reach him, but he had rejected those attempts.
Paul does not tell us what these goading times were specifically, but we can make some educated guesses.
Scripture
When Paul became a Christian he connected dots that had not been connected before.
He realized that Abraham, the great father of their faith, had not been justified by his works, but by faith.
I am sure he had read it several times before.
He might even have questioned how this could be.
But he did not pursue further thoughts on this.
The testimony of Stephen.
Paul held the coats of the men who killed an early Christian hero.
He heard him speak clearly in a sermon.
(ESV) —51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.
As your fathers did, so do you.
Acts 7::51
He also heard his last prayer.
Acts 26:51
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.
As your fathers did, so do you.
He also heard his last prayer.
Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Christians
Third, one wonders what impact the imprisonment of good people had on him.
He put mothers and fathers in prison.
He took children away from their parents.
Though the text doesn’t say so, I would guess that many of them reacted with tears and sorrow, yet in some way showed the same grace that Stephen did to his killers.
It’s hard to kick against the goads.
I would plead to God for you to understand that some of the struggles you are facing in your life and in your relationships are the result of you kicking against the goads.
God has a plan for you.
You resist God; you resist his plan.
Life gets complicated real quick.
You may not be a Christian.
You have heard the Bible, seen how some Christians live, and have felt the pull of God.
Yet you have pulled away.
I would plead to God for you to understand that some of the struggles you are facing in your life and in your relationships are the result of you kicking against the goads.
God has a plan for you.
You resist God; you resist his plan.
Life gets complicated real quick.
For those of you who call you self Christians.
You are missing out on the abundant life because you are kicking against the goads.
You know what the Bible says, you know what God wants you to do, but you are complicating your life by trying to live for God and live for yourself at the same time.
You minimize your disobedience to the heavenly light and are suffering consequence that are painful.
I pray to God that you can connect the dots.
Paul did.
Paul stopped fighting against Jesus.
He received him into his life.
When Jesus came into his life, it became simplified even more.
He had a clear purpose.
Jesus said to him,
(ESV) —16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
Paul’s purpose was to serve Jesus and to witness what he had seen and what he would see.
Paul’s purpose was to serve Jesus and to witness what he had seen and what he would see.
In the providence of God, he is doing that very thing with King Agrippa!
He is telling him what he had seen.
What have you seen and learned about Jesus?
Do you have a testimony?
Why did you put your faith in Jesus?
What has he done for you?
What have you learned about Jesus that helps you deal with the everyday problems you face?
God wants us to share what we know, not what we don’t’ know!
This seems so simple, but many people are afraid to share Jesus with others because of what they don’t know.
God doesn’t want you to share what you don’t know.
We have seen people try to do that.
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