Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Pledge (Stay Seated)

Title: Possessions

Segway:

The cheerful little girl with golden curls was almost five.

Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy.

Can I have them?

Please, Mommy, please?"

with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy.

Can I have them?

Please, Mommy, please?"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's face.

"A dollar ninety-five.

That's almost $2.00.

If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.

Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies.

After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. Johnson if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls.

They made her feel dressed up and grown up, rich!

She wore them everywhere - Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.

The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath.

Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.

One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy.

You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls.

But you can have Princess - the white horse from my collection.

The one with the pink tail.

Remember, Daddy?

The one you gave me.

She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey.

Daddy loves you.

Good night."

And he kissed her on the cheek.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls.

But you can have my baby doll.

The brand new one I got for my birthday.

She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay.

Sleep well.

God bless you, little one.

Daddy loves you" And as always, he kissed her on the cheek.

This little girl thought she was something special with those pearls on.

She said, she thought she was RICH.

Let me tell you another story of a young man who happen to be a little older than this girl but he was RICH.

Stand and say the Pledge

If you are able and willing please stand .....

Say the Pledge

Insight into the Kingdom of Heaven - (Tender Heart, Dependent, humble)

Passage:

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good?

There is only one who is good.

If you would enter life,

keep the commandments.”

keep the commandments.”

18 He said to him, “Which ones?”

And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not

steal, You shall not bear false witness,

19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept.

What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have

treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Body:

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Let me expound on this passage of scripture ......

There is this dialog between a young man and Jesus.

We know he is rich!

He calls out to Jesus “Teacher.”

We can assume this young man is Jewish and not a follower of Christ.

If he was a follower he would have called him “Master” (Different Greek word)

What we can assume is that he viewed Jesus as many others of that day did: A good religious MAN! Prophet!

He had respect for him though.

The man asked Jesus a Question.

“What good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

The word “Deed” is singular!

“Eternal life” is only mention here by Matthew

Jesus always referenced “Eternal Life” as “The Kingdom”

Jesus replies:

“If you want to enter life (Enter the Kingdom) keep the commandments.”

The man replies: “Which ones?” (This is plural)

What I felt like he was really asking “What’s the most significant ones to watch out for?”

John Maxwell tell of a story that while he was teaching the “21 Irrefutable Laws of leadership,” after the session was over, he was signing books and a young leader approached him and asked, “Of these laws, which ones are the most important?”

What he was really asking was “what shortcut can I take to get the results I want?”

“Whats the minimum “requirement” I can get away with and still get in?”

We kind of get the feel this is what this rich young man was asking.

“What’s the minimum “requirement” I can get away with and still get in?”

Let’s not judge this rich young ruler.

If we were to be truthful we know people like this.