Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
There are many different kinds of tests.
Practical tests, multiple choice, essay, true/false, and more.
Each test is as unique as the teacher giving it.
Tests are designed to reveal the accumulation and assimilation of knowledge.
Meaning, tests show us what we have learned and what we know.
Those are not always the same.
In some institutions, tests are used to determine your suitability for their program.
Christmas is that kind of test.
The Christmas test is a pass/fail exam.
Today we will learn what the test is and why it is important.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Tuesday is Christmas.
This time of year we hear about Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Wise men, Innkeepers, King Herod…
Those are great stories.
But.
Every year at Christmas time I have a concern.
My concern is this.
When proclaiming the Christ-child we must emphasize the Christ in the child.
What do i mean by that?
In our Christmas program last week we had an innkeeper continually declare that Jesus was “just a baby.”
I praise God, that Jesus is so much more.
We are going to consider a non-traditional Christmas passage this morning.
At first glance, this might seem to have little or nothing to do with Christmas.
However, when we look more closely, we find that what is written here cuts to the very heart of Christmas.
This passage gives us three tests that reveal a persons spiritual status.
I want us to ponder the importance of Christmas as we examine the three tests of Christmas.
REWORK!
That is
What we believe and teach about Christmas reveals whose side we are on.
Two goals this morning.
We need to be challenged to believe the truth.
We need to be equipped to discern when truth is compromised.
Test #1…
1.
The Test Of Origin v. 1
Do they come from God? Or are they false?
This is the test and these are the only options.
The origin of something, or where it comes from, is a vitally important question.
This last week we went out to eat with my brother and his family.
As we are eating and chatting we notice that their youngest boy is eating something and no one had given him any food.
At that moment the most important question was, “where did that come from?”
Because that’s what mattered!
It turned out to have been french fry he dropped earlier.
So it was ok.
Didn’t want anyone to be worried for the rest of the message.
:)
Origin deals with purpose, design, and intention.
Knowing where something came from helps us to know why it exists, what it is supposed to do, and what it is doing.
We need to determine origin.
As already mentioned there are only two.
First we have…
First we have…
a.
A faithful origin v. 1a
In the first half of this verse we are given two commands and a purpose statement.
But first we need to note that when John talks about the spirit here, he is not talking about the Holy Spirit, he is talking about the spirit of man.
We are to test one another.
A 21st century way to put it would be “do a background check.”
We are going to take these in the order given, so first we are confronted with a command.
Command #1: Don’t be naive.
Don’t blindly trust people.
Trust needs to be earned.
Earning trust in this context begins with examination.
Don’t be naive.
I want to be really careful in explaining what is meant here.
This is a call for discernment.
Specifically, discernment in who we learn from.
It is naive to think that everyone claiming to be a Christian leader, actually is.
However, we are not to become so jaded that we assume the worst.
There is a very careful balance that must be maintained.
We need to be discerning, yet we also need to trust.
Don’t believe every spirit.
Be a little bit sceptical.
What does this look like practically?
When you walk into a Christian bookstore, don’t automatically assume that everything in there is good.
Just because the author has PhD’s and big endorsements, doesn’t mean the content of the book is Biblical!
Just because they may have other books that are good doesn’t mean everything they write is!
Be discerning.
Always.
Let’s get to the second command and then i will clarify a little bit more.
Let’s get to the second command and then i will clarify a little bit more.
Command #2: Be bold.
This is the command to test.
Test – δοκιμάζω (dokimazō) examine; test; approve.
To scrutinize.
To look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail.
Test – δοκιμάζω (dokimazō)
This is an imperative.
It is not optional.
This is speaking of investigative examination.
There is an intensity present here.
Beloved, here is what we must understand.
The proclamation of the Word of God is the most important method of growth in the life of the believer.
Therefore, we dare not take lightly the responsibility of finding teachers who accurately handle Scripture.
We want to do our due diligence here.
I don’t want to make an unsupported statement.
Really quickly, we are going to look at three passages.
; ; (S).
; ;
There is an expected progression in the Christian life.
You begin with the easily digested truth of Scripture and gradually move on to the doctrines you have to chew on.
It is the Word of God that brings growth!
I’ve said this before, I will say it again.
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