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
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Fear
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Joy
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Analytical
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Introduction
Christmas is just a few weeks away.
15 days to be exact.
Okay, now about two-thirds of you just checked out, because you haven’t gotten your Christmas shopping done.
Trust me, you will get it all done!
I know you will, because you always do!
Last week, Paul told the church at Corinth that he wanted them to finish what they had started.
They started the giving to the Church at Jerusalem.
They did so with eagerness, and excitement.
But it seems that their excitement had begun to fade.
QUESTION: Have you ever begun something only to lose interest in the idea?
We saw last week that the churches in Macedonia had followed their example and were now giving.
They were giving out of their extreme poverty, while overflowing with joy.
You might remember that Paul wanted the Corinthians to show how much they loved Jesus by completing what they began.
In our passage today, Paul says that Titus had the same concern, and was planning to come to Corinth with some special people and for a reason!
If you have your Bibles turn with me to , and we’ll begin reading with verse 16.
2 Corinthians 8:16-21
Titus’ Coming
Titus is not coming alone.
He’s got a couple of people coming with him.
Unnamed Man #1
He was praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
He was chosen to accompany Paul when he carried the offering to Jerusalem.
He was going to help Paul administer the gift so it was done right!
2 Corinthians 8:22-24
Unnamed Man #2
Sending a second brother along.
Proved to Paul to be zealous.
A brother who had great confidence in the church at Corinth.
Titus
Partner of Paul.
Fellow worker with Paul.
Three men looking for proof of the Corinthians’ love!
No Doubts!
Paul had no doubts about their eagerness.
He had been boasting about it to the Macedonians.
He wants the three brothers to see the Corinthians’ enthusiasm.
2 Corinthians 9:6-
Sow Sparingly—Reap Sparingly
Paul pulls out a farming picture.
If you only plant a little seed, you will reap a small crop.
Each man should give what he decided in his heart to give.
The verb “should give” is not in the original text.
The absence of the verb, makes the command that much more forceful!
By omitting the imperative verb Paul softens the tone but still gives a punch.
Don’t give reluctantly.
In the Old Testament, God called for people to give to Him with a sense of spontaneity.
Not cautiously, or reservedly.
Don’t give under compulsion.
Likewise in the Old Testament, God did not want people to give because the “had” to give.
He loved the gifts of people who “wanted” to give.
Those who wanted to give because they loved God.
God loves a cheerful giver.
The Greek word translated “cheerful” is hilaron from which we get the word “hilarious.”
It does not be out of control—but with great joy.
God loves a connected giver!
Cautious giving demonstrates a lack of trust in God.
It causes us to miss opportunities to be connected to those around us, and it causes us to miss our connection with God.
The phrase, “having all you need” in the Greek had the meaning of self-sufficiency and contentment.
Paul always encouraged those who were self-sufficient to care for those who were unable to be self-sufficient.
The Cynics and Stoics of Paul’s day taught that people needed to be free and independent.
They found self-sufficiency to mean carrying only for themselves.
Thus, they were self-centered.
QUESTION: How many people today could be considered “self-sufficient by the Cynic/Stoic definition?
2 Corinthians
God’s principle—You give to others, God gives to you!
Look at verse 11—You will be made rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion.
So many people think God gives to us so we can store things up, or so we can have all the fun toys in life.
The reality is God gives to us so we can give to others!
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
SO WHAT?
We need to complete what God lays on our hearts.
We need to give generously
Not giving reluctantly
Not giving under compulsion
Giving cheerfully
Give because we’re connected to people
Remember—God gives to us, so we can give to others!
Never Forget—Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son . .
.”
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