Sermon Tone Analysis

“Teachings of Christ”

/ Luke 5:16, /Luke 2:7-20

121208

 

*Purpose*:*  Our purpose is to worship and obey God to worship and love Christ.*

*Exegesis*:  Even Christ withdrew to have time alone with God.

Christ set our example.

*INTRODUCTION*

 

1) I was reminded this week of an early teacher, and in being reminded went back to look for him.

Only his name remained  and none of his teachings were still present or offered.

I was disappointed because I recall the man and how much he gave to others.

I had heard accounts of how this pastor would sit and listen to others and encourage them in their own ministry, giving support to the birthing of many successful ministries in our area.

He was a Barabbas and evidence held that he gave to others sacrificially without ever asking for anything in return.

I was saddened at the loss of this man’s influence and sweetness in those very ministries in this area probably because of the distance of time away from this man, he left to be with the Lord in 1998, but also because of the times and their impact on the church that we now live in.

I keep a list of those who have impacted me in a way similar to this man and am often saddened at our lack of remembrance once their presence is gone.

Often as with Oswald Chambers and others I often attempt to bring back a little of the flavor that God poured through them when they were with us.

Often most of what I find valuable in commentaries came from the generations before us and I believe God would favor us honoring and remembering their contributions.

We have a now generation without a sense of past or sometimes without a sense of future… perhaps there is a connection between the attention to ones who contributed to where we are today with our direction and future…my limited research especially when I look at those who have given contemporary contributions to us the Church of Christ would indicate so.

I can recall and remember this man’s voice and some of his instructions…his greatest contribution was in drawing close to God privately and loving Christ.

Tonight’s text is one of the shortest we will look at …the example of Christ and His most valuable use of time.

2) We live in a time where we seem to have lost our sense of value of others…perhaps out of survival, perhaps out of neglect, perhaps out of religion or pride.

I recall that sweet man who encouraged so many and how that gift was seemingly lost today.

I felt the sadness of that lost and now see the connection because that since in a small way and the magnitude of loss Jesus must of felt when alone with His Father.

How much both Christ and God must feel in the loss of what was before in how we remember today what both father God and our Savior Christ has done for us.

May we be a people a special peculiar treasure of a people who in heartfelt joy can say…I remember.

I remember Father God what you have done for us through time, I remember Lord Jesus the day you saved me .. .this

wretched soul and set me free to be with you.

I remember what you have done for me.

And I can say….Merry Christmas and begin to understand the depth of that meaning and see the gifts of those who went before me…those special treasures of God who were a gift to me and a gift from God to others as well.

I remember…may we this Christmas take time to remember those special gifts given that are not under the tree but in our hearts..may we be a people who remember those who went before us and who more in a sense of amazement remember Christ in the gift given to us this Christmas season …the gift of a Savior.

Luke 2:7-20                                          

3 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

*The Shepherds and the Angels*

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

\\ 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

\\ 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: \\ 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

\\ 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

\\ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, \\ \\ 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

\\ \\ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." \\ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

\\ 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; \\ 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

\\ 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

\\ 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Now we can see how we have forgotten even the more recent miracle…the Birth of Christ, and we see Jesus in His fullness of ministry retreating to a place where memory is reality and He is able to spend time in the glorious presence of His Father …in prayer.

Our lesson is to remember and the greatest lesson Christ teaches us is to retreat into our prayer closets or in solitude to be with Him and remember and bring our reality in line with the reality of Christ and the eternal picture, scope and reality of God with us in Christ.

*            /Transition/*

 .

*EXPLANATION*

* **Jesus Cleanses a Leper*

12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy.

When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean."

\\ 13 Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose.

Be made clean."

Immediately the leprosy left him.

\\ 14 And he ordered him to tell no one.

"Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them."

\\ 15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.

\\ 16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

*I still feel the sadness that I realized when I could not find a trace except the name of one who I know gave so much to so many…Christ must have had sadness during these times as the difference between man and God would be evident here and Christ was left with us…an ungrateful bunch who did not remember what God had done for us.

Christ would have full recall of the greatness and the account of God in His dealings with man..all that God had done for us.

Yet here in the solitude the realization that despite what God had done for man, the acute realization of their inability to recognize His Son. ..Christ.

I use to be reluctant out of some religious gilt for celebrating Christmas..I know Christ was born around feast of the Tabernacles, but I still had a different guilt over celebrating Christmas …perhaps because I saw Christmas as a time for me or my family.

Now I see Christmas as a time to celebrate Christ and rejoice as the heavens did knowing it is all part of the rememberance of God’s dealing with man and very much an OK thing to do.

To rejoice as the heavens did that Christmas day.

I also remember Christmases past…those times when significant people are remembered.

Often for many Christmas is a sad time because of their aloneness, or loss of a loved one or tradgies of life in a fallen world.

I recall this sweet old “barnabas” and how much he gave to others and believe I have gained a new insight on what God wants for us for Christmas.

I pray a day will come when I get to fulfill that given vision.

I have tapes in a closet of every teacher that has ever impacted me…my more tangible list …I remember those who contributed to my faith.

*

*I pray this Christmas that we recall those who went before us and contributed to our faith…let us not forget those wonderful places and people God has used in a magnificent way to bring us through into His promised land…our faith in Christ.

*

 

1) Christ wants us in total submission                                               

2) Our real pearl is our relationship with Christ

3) Christ wants us to desire to be near Him

 

* *

 

            */Transition/*

* *

*MAIN** POINTS*

* *

1) Christ wants us in total submission

* *

*Supporting verse(s)*

* *

December 11, 2008

Individuality

Oswald Chambers:

Jesus said to His disciples, ’If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . .

.’ —Matthew 16:24

Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life.

Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people.

We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so.

When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated.

This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life.

But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him.

Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love.

God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will.

We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality.

If you say, "I can’t believe," it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe.

But our spirit cannot help believing.

Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you.

He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made.

The choice is either to say, "I will not surrender," or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge.

The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24 ).

It is your individuality that refuses to "be reconciled to your brother" ( Matthew 5:24  ).

God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot.

". . .

let him deny himself . .

."— deny his independent right to himself.

Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.

* *

*                        * In the theme and flavor of this lesson I remember a pastor that died before my family and I had the opportunity to meet him and thank him personally for his contribution.