Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

“Do You Know Song”

“I tell you the truth” — Jesus begins with an emphatic statement.

They had not understood his use of metaphors and subsequent teaching in the first 5 verse of the chapter.

So, He will go further and explain more clearly what it means for Him to be our “Good Shepherd.”

“I am the Gate” — Jesus is the one entry into the sheepfold.

Sheepfold — Represents salvation…the place where the sheep of Jesus go into for safety, security and salvation.

Christianity is an exclusive religion — There is only one way to God.

One way to know who God is and one way to have a relationship with Him.

There is only one way to be saved from sin and coming physical as well as spiritual death.

“There is only one source of knowledge of God, one fount of spiritual nourishment, only one basis for spiritual security — Jesus alone!”

Jesus is the embodiment of all truth…and only in Him is eternal life.

A majority of all American Christians (52%) think that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life.

A majority of all American Christians (52%) think that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life.

“Do You Know Song”

What a wonderful blessing that Jesus came to earth in order to die and rise from the dead so that we might have a way to salvation from sin, death and eternal separation from God.

But, unfortunately, not everyone sees, or wants to see, this reality.

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (2008) surveyed 35,000 Americans, and found that 70% of respondents agreed with the statement "Many religions can lead to eternal life."

Even more remarkable was the fact that 57% of Evangelical Christians were willing to accept that theirs might not be the only path to salvation, since most Christians historically have embraced the words of Jesus, in the Gospel of John, that "no one comes to the Father except through me."

At a recent missions conference attended by thousands of evangelical students, only one third of the participants indicated their belief that "a person who does not hear the Gospel is eternally lost."

At a recent missions conference attended by thousands of evangelical students, only one third of the participants indicated their belief that "a person who does not hear the Gospel is eternally lost."

But this isn’t what Jesus thought.

This is not what He said -- Remember, this section begins with a statement indicating the emphatic nature of what is to be said.

Jesus is saying, emphatically that HE is the one and only way by which anyone, anytime, anywhere, will ever find God’s revelation of Himself to mankind and subsequent salvation therein.

All who came before me — There were those “Messiah want to be’s” who came before Jesus.

There were false religions, cult leaders and, even in His own day, Pharisees and Sadducees who preyed upon the people with their false religious ideas.

False religions and the teachers who propagate them only lead their adherents to destruction.

Those called of God to salvation…the real seekers of God…are not fooled by the shenanigans of the false teachers.

They have discernment enough not to go after them…They hear the voice of their true shepherd, Jesus, and follow Him.

And all who come into relationship with God through Jesus are “saved.”

Saved from sin, death, hell and the devastation of those who come in the name of Satan to steal, kill and destroy our lives.

Saved — Delivered from all of the consequences of sin unto the blessings of God.

The sheep that goes into the sheepfold through Jesus goes in and out to secure pastures and God’s supreme good for their life.

All of our need are met in Jesus.

We are set free from bondage unto secure and free living in Christ.

False religions and the teachers who propagate them only lead their adherents to destruction.

There is no real life found in any religion other than Christianity…none at all.

There is no salvation found therein…no relationship with God…none at all!

Here is the problem — We want to believe everyone makes it in the end.

We do not like to think about anyone going to hell.

How many times have you heard someone stand over an open casket and lament the fact the person is now in hell, eternally separated from God?

We don’t want to think that way.

We instead pretend.

We like to say things like, “We just don’t know…they may have prayed and accepted Christ at some point before they died.”

Or “We just don’t know the extent of God’s grace.”

Or “God works in mysterious ways and we will be surprised who makes it to heaven someday.”

But reality is harsh — People die and go to hell everyday.

Every day people step out of their body into a Christ-less eternity.

They missed God in life and now are separated from any opportunity to know Him in eternity.

But this isn’t God’s will...

There is only one way to be saved and it is by the grace of God given us in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

And there is only one chance to be saved and that is while living on this earth in the one life we have here.

This is God’s will for our life!

Saved — Delivered from all of the consequences of sin unto the blessings of God.

The sheep that goes into the sheepfold through Jesus goes in and out to secure pastures and God’s supreme good for their life.

All of our need are met in Jesus.

We are set free from bondage unto secure and free living in Christ.

Abundant Life

“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Abundant, eternal life — The imagery here is fat, contented, flourishing sheep who are not terrorized by the thieves and robbers of the world.

It is the best life to be lived.

This does not mean that the health and wealth prosperity Gospel preachers are right in their interpretations of this verse.

Jesus was not saying that He came to die in order that you might have a Mercedes, big house and fat bank account.

We are talking about a life that matters…a life in relationship with our creator, with God.

A life of purpose on mission with Him.

A life of hope that we will never taste death, will always experience His love and be given the opportunity to worship and enjoy Him.

A life that cannot be put into words or imagined on this side of heaven because it’s greatness and blessing is beyond comprehension.

A little boy who lived far out in the country in the late 1800s had reached the age of twelve and had never in all his life seen a circus.

You can imagine his excitement, when one day a poster went up at school announcing that on the next Saturday a traveling circus was coming to the nearby town.

He ran home with the glad news and the question, "Daddy, can I go?"

Although the family was poor, the father sensed how important this was to the lad.

"If you do your Saturday chores ahead of time," he said, "I'll see to it that you have the money to go."'

Come Saturday morning, the chores were done and the little boy stood by the breakfast table, dressed in his Sunday best.

His father reached down into the pocket of his overalls and pulled out a dollar bill-the most money the little boy had possessed at one time in all his life.

The father cautioned him to be careful and then sent him on his way to town.

The boy was so excited, his feet hardly seemed to touch the ground all the way.

As he neared the outskirts of the village, he noticed people lining the streets, and he worked his way through the crowd until he could see what was happening.

Lo and behold, it was the approaching spectacle of a circus parade!

The parade was the grandest thing this lad had ever seen.

Caged animals snarled as they passed, bands beat their rhythms and sounded shining horns, midgets performed acrobatics while flags and ribbons swirled overhead.

Finally, after everything had passed where he was standing, the traditional circus clown, with floppy shoes, baggy pants, and a brightly painted face, brought up the rear.

As the clown passed by, the little boy reached into his pocket and took out that precious dollar bill.

Handing the money to the clown, the boy turned around and went home.

What had happened?

The boy thought he had seen the circus when he had only seen the parade!

Come Saturday morning, the chores were done and the little boy stood by the breakfast table, dressed in his Sunday best.

His father reached down into the pocket of his overalls and pulled out a dollar bill-the most money the little boy had possessed at one time in all his life.

The father cautioned him to be careful and then sent him on his way to town.

The boy was so excited, his feet hardly seemed to touch the ground all the way.

As he neared the outskirts of the village, he noticed people lining the streets, and he worked his way through the crowd until he could see what was happening.

Lo and behold, it was the approaching spectacle of a circus parade!

The parade was the grandest thing this lad had ever seen.

Caged animals snarled as they passed, bands beat their rhythms and sounded shining horns, midgets performed acrobatics while flags and ribbons swirled overhead.

Finally, after everything had passed where he was standing, the traditional circus clown, with floppy shoes, baggy pants, and a brightly painted face, brought up the rear.

As the clown passed by, the little boy reached into his pocket and took out that precious dollar bill.

Handing the money to the clown, the boy turned around and went home.

What had happened?

The boy thought he had seen the circus when he had only seen the parade!

Are you experiencing all that God has for you?

The Christian life is a marvelous adventure, an exciting journey.