Sermon Tone Analysis

How? That’s a bigger a question...

Live in a Way That Glorifies God

Dan Blocker played a character, Hoss, on the TV series Bonanza.

When he died unexpectedly, On May 13, 1972, in Los Angeles, at age 43, Hoss died.

The producers knew they could not replace him.

The story was that a woman was caught in a flood.

Hoss held her above the water with one hand and held a branch with the other to keep them from being washed away.

He died, but he never let go.

He died, but she lived.

Fans almost mourned for the fictional character, but they agreed it was a fitting way for Hoss to die.

In the 80's, there was an article about a new TV series, Bonanza, the Next Generation.

The story was that the original Cartwrights were dead.

Ben’s brother ran the Ponderosa.

For various reasons, Adam’s son, little Joe’s son, and Hoss’ son were coming there to live.

Hoss died without marrying.

The new series said he had a illegitimate son and died before bringing the mother to the Ponderosa.

Test audiences were scheduled with fans of the original series.

They were furious.

Ben had three sons by three wives.

Maybe he had another son somewhere.

Adam, sometimes a scholar and sometimes a Casanova, may have had an illegitimate son.

If Joe had an illegitimate son, no one would be surprised.

But Hoss? HOSS??? NOOOOOOO!!! Fans refused to believe it.

Test audiences were so angry that producers cancelled the series before the pilot even aired.

Fans refused to believe Hoss’ immorality.

If a fictional character can inspire such belief in his character, how much more should we, as 1 Peter 2:12 says...

How do we glorify God in everything we do?

Detour from Self - Follow Jesus

THE SCARIEST ROAD

Back in 2012 Yahoo!

Travel released an article titled America’s Scariest Drives, and the results are frightening.

Here is a brief list of some of the roads:

1. Highway One that travels off the Big Sur Coast in California is both beautiful and breath-taking.

This 122 mile stretch travels over 30 bridges with many of them as much as 30 stories straight down, the web author calls a drop from here to be a fall into "liquid oblivion."

2. Do you like volcanoes?

Then take a trip on Saddle Road, located on the Big Island in Hawaii.

Much of the route is narrow and one way, and there is always the chance of an explosion if the season is just right.

3.

You had better gas up ahead of time if you are driving to Dalton, Alaska.

The "nation’s loneliest road" has steep grades, wild animals, and no stops for 414 miles.

I suppose a helicopter could be called to save troubled travelers.

4. The phrase "Tail of the Dragon" sounds like a Japanese movie.

Instead, it is a treacherous 11 mile stretch of highway is tucked below the Smokey Mountains on the Tennessee border.

This little stretch of road contains 318 curves, many of them S-shaped and even one nicknamed "The Slide," and we all can only imagine the meaning behind that name.

3. My person favorite of those roads listed is a 3-hour Colorado highway connecting the ski resorts from Aspen to Leadville.

This road features an elevated peak of 12,000 feet, mountain roads without guardrails, and the greatest suspension bridge in the world that goes over the Royal Gorge, a drop from there would be 1,053 feet straight down.

But, I am here to proudly proclaim some truth, and the truth is that the scariest road taken from those in our nation, has little to do with a Colorado Mountain, a Hawaii Volcano, Alaskan Ice, or even some Dragon hidden away near the mountains of Tennessee.

The scariest road taken in America, is the spiritual road taken by someone who does not know Jesus as their Savior.

Jesus is calling, Turn, take a detour towards me, choose the road that is less traveled.

Deny Self - Follow Jesus

In the movie “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” there is a scene where the Bilbo Baggins, the Hobbit who is accompanying 13 dwarves on a mission, unexpectedly disappears and seems to have abandoned the dwarves during a crucial battle.

They were losing.

Bilbo does return and the dwarves are victorious.

Afterward Thorin (the dwarf leader) and Bilbao have a conversation.

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Bilbao understands what denying one’s self means and we can take lessons from him.

As long as people do not have the eternal home that we do; as long as people have no rest and no peace, as long as there is a battle for the souls of men we must deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus.

Denying yourself is a moment (or more accurately a lifetime of moments) when we surrender control of ourselves and yield to God in obedience and trust.

Denying yourself is absolutely essential if you want to follow Jesus.

You cannot live for yourself and live for Jesus.

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-25)

Die to Self - Follow Jesus

The Bible holds many accurate descriptions of men and women of God who grasped the truths of the cross and Christianity.

One such man was the apostle Paul who wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

"Take up your cross" (Greek stauros) means that portion of affliction which is endured by faithful men and women of God who are willing to allow their trials of life to grow their faith and mold them into the image of Jesus Christ.

In his exposition of Luke 9:23-26 D. M. Spence summed up a powerful truth of what Christ was teaching.

He said, "No cross, no crown."

It must be remembered that the only way of coming to Christ is at the foot of the cross.

That message of truth is no more popular today than it was in the times of the early church.

Jesus warned about how the world will respond to those who serve Him in "spirit and truth."

He said.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.

As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

That is why the world hates you.

Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.

If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.

They will treat you this way because of My Name, for they do not know the One who sent Me' " (John 15:18-20).