Sermon Tone Analysis

(/Friends and Family Day/ May 27, 2007 - PPHC)

\\ Consider these thoughts from Chuck Swindoll: \\ \\ "An old Marine Corp buddy of mine, to my pleasant surprise, came to know Christ after he was discharged.

I say surprise because he cursed loudly, fought hard, chased women, drank heavily, loved war and weapons, and hated chapel services.

\\ \\ A number of months ago, I ran into this fellow, and after we’d talked awhile, he put his hand on my shoulder and said, ’You know, Chuck, the only thing I still miss is that old fellowship I used to have with all the guys down at the tavern.

I remember how we used to sit around and let our hair down.

I can’t find anything like that for Christians.

I no longer have a place to admit my faults and talk about my battles -- where somebody won’t preach at me and frown and quote me a verse.’

\\ \\ It wasn’t one month later that in my reading I came across this profound paragraph: ‘The neighborhood bar is possibly the best counterfeit that there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give his church.

It’s an /imitation/, dispensing liquor instead of grace, /escape/ rather than reality -- but it is a permissive, accepting, and inclusive fellowship.

It is unshockable.

It is democratic.

You can tell people secrets, and they usually don’t tell others or even want to.

The bar flourishes not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.

With all my heart I believe that Christ wants his church to be unshockable, a fellowship where people can come in and say, ’I’m sunk, I’m beat, I’ve had it.’

Alcoholics Anonymous has this quality -- our churches too often miss it.’"

Perhaps there is no better example of this than the television Sitcom “*Cheers*.”

The theme song says, “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came; You want to be where you can see, Our troubles are all the same; You want to be where everybody knows your name!” \\ \\

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 \\ \\ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - *The Value of a Friend* \\ (9)“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

(10) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.

(11) Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

(12) Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.”

\\ The writer of Ecclesiastes wants us to understand that Friendship is a good investment (v.

9).

When the author says in verse nine, “Two are better than one, because they have good reward for their labor” the words “good reward” can also be translated “good return” for it means -dividends paid on a wise investment.

One of the best investments you will ever make in life will not be a financial one, but rather the investment made in relationships.

We will get the best return on that investment over any other investment that we will ever make.

As we go through life there are two kinds of things we can give our lives to.

Some people try to accumulate possessions.

They are constantly trying to get more or better stuff.

It is attributed to the late Malcolm Forbes to have said, “He who dies with most toys wins.”

If we spend all our lives trying to accumulate more and more possessions, we will never truly be happy and fulfilled.

On the other hand we can decide to focus on building relationships, trying to make friends and to be a friend.

The first half of Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” \\ Now I want us to turn our attention for the next few moments to *four characteristics of a real friend*.

\\ \\

\\ *I.

A Real Friend Helps You When You’re Down*

* (v.10) “For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.”

/ A.

Real Friends \\ /  1.

You may have a lot of acquaintances in your life but few that you could call “real friends’”

* *Quote*: Someone said, “You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.”

A true friend loves you even when you fail.

(Brian Bolton)

  2.

“How can you tell the difference between acquaintances and friends.”

That’s easy, just get in trouble.

The people that are */still/ *around are your real friends.

(The prodigal son)

* *Illustration:* Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them.

The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing?

Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly.

I just have to outrun you!"  (Sermon Illustrations)

  3.

The story of the paralytic: Luke 5:17-26

   a.

Jesus had started his public ministry and the multitudes came – spoke and healed with authority.

b.

The friends of a paralytic heard about Him (Answer); decided to bring him to Jesus (realized his case was hopeless…unless he received a supernatural touch)

   c.

The crowd was so large that they couldn’t get the man into Jesus.

1.

They climbed on top of the roof, cut a hole in it, and lowered the man to Jesus, who healed the man.

d.

These friends cared enough to overcome every obstacle in bringing him to Christ.

  4.

A friend is the kind of person if you call them at 2:00 in the morning and tell them you need them.

They don’t ask, “So what’s the problem” and then decide whether or not to come.

They simply ask, “Where are you?” as they are getting dressed.

  5.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”

* A real friend is one who multiplies joys and divides grief.

(Mark Perryman)

·         *A real friend helps you when you’re down… and \\ \\ II.

A Real Friend Is Warm In the Cold Times of Life*.

(v.

11)

·         “Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?”

* *Illustration*: My father as a POW….if he had not had friends to lay beside him…he would have frozen when temps dipped to 40 below zero.

/ A.

We Need Help In Facing Situations Beyond Our Control \\ /  1.

“How am I going to make it through this right now?!” (That’s when we need a friend)

* *C.S. Lewis:* “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What!

You, too?

I thought I was the only one.’

”  (Mark Perryman)

* Proverbs 17:17 “…a friend loves at ALL times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

* Very Exhausting People….(sap

all of your energy) vs. Very Encouraging People

1.      Very Encouraging People fill your emotional gas tank.

(Decide to be an encourager)

* *A Real Friend Is Warm in the Cold Times of Life…*

\\ *III.

A Real Friend Is Someone Who Will Protect You.* (v.

12)

* “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.”

\\ \\

*Illustration*: The story is told of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, a 6 Time All Star ; NL MVP 1949; Rookie of the Year 1947; Appeared in 6 World Series, and the first African-American to play major league baseball.

In his first seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson faced venom practically everywhere he traveled--fastballs at his head, spikings on the bases, brutal name-calling from the opposing dugouts and from the crowds.

During one game in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak.

In the midst of this, another Dodger, a Southern white man named /Pee Wee Reese/, called timeout.

He walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at second base, put his arm around Robinson's shoulder, and stood there with him for what seemed like an eternity.

The gesture spoke more eloquently than the words: This man is my friend.

Robinson later said, “That arm around my shoulder saved my career.”

(Baseball Hall of Fame & Willie Morris, /Parade/)

/ A.

A Friend Will Protect You/

  1.

Words were written based on the military strategy of the ancient world.

a.