SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Positive things you should know about emotions.
(a). Emotions are characteristics of God.
(b). Emotions are a gift from God.
(c). Emotions can lead us to extremes.
(d). Emotions are on display throughout the book of Psalms.
(2). Negative things you should know about emotions.
(1). Feelings are often unreliable.
(2). Feelings can manipulate us.
(3). Feelings can cause us to displease God.
(4). Feelings can cause us to fail in life
In Conclusion:
(1). Talk to God - Galatians chapter 5 verse 22-23.
(2). Talk to a trusted friend - Proverbs chapter 27 verses 5-6.
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• The patient's family gathered in a hospital to hear what the specialists had to say.
• "Things don't look good. The only chance is a brain transplant.
• This is an experimental procedure. It might work,
• But the bad news is that brains are very expensive,
• And you will have to pay the costs yourselves."
• The relatives responded: "Well, how much does a brain cost?"
• The surgeon replied: "For a male brain, £500,000. For a female brain, £200,000."
• The female relatives tried looked shocked,
• But the male relatives nodded in understanding.
• Then the patient's daughter asked,
• "Why the difference in price between male brains and female brains?"
• The surgeon replied: "A standard pricing practice,
• Women's brains have to be marked down because they are used."
• TRANSITION: Now that’s one for the ladies, but don’t be expecting it every week!
• Men & women are different and one of the big differences is often seen;
• When it comes to showing our emotions.
• Let’s face it, no matter what anyone says, men and women are similar,
• But very different.
• In fact, there was a big selling book called;
• ‘Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus’,
• Which tries to spell out very clearly what makes men different from women
• But these sort of books have to generalise because we are individuals;
• And not every woman or man will fit the stereo type.
And when it comes to emotions we know they are:
• Both complicated and complex, both mysterious and mystifying.
• Even the experts are not sure what causes us to experience emotions.
• Both social science and neurobiology have tried,
• But to no avail, to explain the origin of emotions.
• And for Christians, emotions can be troubling, frustrating, and untrustworthy.
• Some emotions seem deeply spiritual; other emotions seem downright sinful.
• Our emotions seem to be both a blessing and a curse!
Question: What do we mean by the term ‘emotions’?
Answer:
• A lot of people use the terms ‘feelings’ and ‘emotions’ interchangeably.
• Sometimes I do too.
• But there are differences.
• Feelings are senses detecting what you feel through your 11 inputs.
• Hearing
• Taste
• Sight
• Smell
• Heat
• Cool
• Pain
• Pleasure
• Sense of balance (vestibular)
• Pressure
• Motion (kinesthetic)
• Emotions on the other hand are what those feelings mean:
• They are short lived and subjective.
• Our interpretation of the intensity and particulars then have an impact on us.
• These too fall into categories and have both combinations and harmonics.
• Happy, sad, mad, fear, anger, distress, joy, disgust, surprise,
• Shame, guilt, interest, contempt.
Now it is not just men and women who are emotionally different:
• Men and men and women and women can all be very different emotionally!
• Some very emotional and others appear to show very little emotion.
• And Christians too can all be very different emotionally!
• Some very emotional and others appear to show very little emotion.
• But one common denominator in all believers is this:
• We are called to express our emotions in our relationship with God!
Quote: Mark chapter 12 verses 29-30:
‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”’
• Jesus said, The most important commandment is this
• We’re to love God with everything we’ve got.
• In fact, we are to love God passionately with all that we’ve got.
• God wants an emotional connection with us not just an intellectual connection.
• He wants a fervent relationship with us that is full of emotion.
Ill:
• When the Bible refers to the heart it rarely means;
• That important organ in our chest cavity which pumps blood throughout our body.
• The term "Heart" in the Bible usually refers to the central core of a man,
• The inner person.
• It denotes a person's centre for both;
• Physical and emotional, intellectual and moral activities
To paraphrase the words of Jesus; “Love the Lord your God with….everything!”
Ill:
• When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of Britain with his Roman legions,
• He took a bold and decisive step to ensure the success of his military venture.
• Ordering his men to march to the edge of the Cliffs of Dover,
• He commanded them to look down at the water below.
• To their amazement,
• They saw every ship in which they had crossed the channel engulfed in flames.
• Caesar had deliberately cut off any possibility of retreat.
• Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent,
• There was nothing left for them to do but to advance and conquer!
• And that is exactly what they did.
• TRANSITION: in our commitment, our love for God;
• Maybe there are some ‘boats’ that need burning!
• If we are ever to advance and conquer!
(1). Positive things you should know about emotions.
(a). Emotions are characteristics of God.
• God has feelings. God is a passionate Being. God feels joy and he feels sorrow.
• He feels anger and jealousy. God even hates. He hates our sin and he hates evil.
• God feels love for his creation.
• He feels compassion and intense love for human kind.
• If God wasn’t a god of love, there would be no love in the world.
• God created us with the capacity to love, the need to love, even the hunger for love.
ill:
• Don’t ever forget, that you and I are ‘made in the image of God’.
• Genesis chapter 1 verse 26: “Let us make man in our own image.”
• And whatever that word ‘image’ means;
• The simple answer is, ‘like God’
• We too will have intellect and creativity and emotions just like God!
Quote: G. Walter Hansenin, Christianity Today.
• “I am spellbound by the intensity of Jesus' emotions:
• Not a twinge of pity, but heartbroken compassion;
• Not a passing irritation, but terrifying anger;
• Not a silent tear, but groans of anguish;
• Not a weak smile, but ecstatic celebration.
• Jesus' emotions are like a mountain river cascading with clear water.
• My emotions are more like a muddy foam or a feeble trickle.”
(b). Emotions are a gift from God.
• It might not always seem like the ability to have emotions is a gift but it is.
• Emotions are a tremendous asset;
• Even though at times they seem like a tremendous burden - they make us human.
Ill:
• Mr Spock from the TV series Star Trek, the Vulcan with intellect but no emotions.
• His responses to all situations seem to be purely logical, never emotional.
• TRANSITION: You and I are not Vulcans (although looking Mr F’s ears…)
• You and I are not Vulcans, humanoids or robots, we are human beings.
• Therefore our emotions are a gift from God;
• They enable us to be ‘godlike’;
• i.e. Kind and faithful and loyal and generous, courageous, tender and caring.
(c). Emotions can lead us to extremes.
• When it comes to emotions there are two extremes to avoid as we deal with them.
• One extreme is called emotionalism and the other is called stoicism.
EMOTIONALISM A DEFINITION:
• Emotionalism is when feelings become all that matters.
• Emotionalism is when feelings dictate how you live, how you act,
• What you choose to do.
• It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong. It doesn’t matter if it’s unreasonable.
• What matters is, ‘If it feels good it must be ok.’
• Emotionalism is when we allow our emotions to rule the head!
Ill:
• We have all been there at times;
• When it comes to certain choices,
• We know God says something in his word;
• But our feelings tell us that, that must be for everybody else;
• ‘I am different – I am someone with special circumstances’
• Because for me it feels so right to do this thing;
• Even though it is the opposite of what he has said!
• TRANSITION: we need to have emotions;
• But we also need to avoid emotionalism.
• Otherwise as the song says; “There will be trouble ahead”
STOICISM A DEFINITION:
• Stoicism is when you ignore and deny your feelings.
• Stoics believe that feelings are immaterial;
• They get in the way and are a complication to the important stuff!
• Stoicism believes the only thing that matters is your intellect, your reason, your will.
• Feelings are not to be given any expression.
• They are not to be allowed to influence your behaviour.
Ill:
• One change I have noticed over the last 15-20 years is this;
• I was always taught that you chose your Church for its theology.
• i.e. What was the leadership structure (elders, pastor, vicar etc.)
• i.e. What was their emphasis (evangelical, Pentecostal, reformed etc.)
• You then applied brain and went to the most scripturally ‘sound’ Church
• But that alone is stoicism.
• But the big change I have noticed is emotionalism:
• I ask people why they go to a certain Church;
• And often, especially with young people the answer I get is ‘the music’;
• It makes me ‘feel’ good. It helps me ‘feel’ God.
• But that decision is based on feelings and is emotionalism.
• TRANSITION: Now our prayer as leaders here at DRC is for a balance;
• We want to be scripturally sound and feed you mind week by week.
• But we also want you to engage your emotions.
• You may think we are a long way off that target;
• But we are heading in that way – to touch your heart and your mind!
Because if all we do is engage our minds (the stoic approach) then:
• We are just a school or a college or a university;
• Transferring information from me to you.
Ill:
• Someone humorously. defined a Lecture as:
• ‘The art of transferring information from the notes of the lecturer;
• To the notes of the students without passing through the minds of either.’
• Please do not ever describe preaching as:
• ‘The art of transferring information from the notes of the preacher;
• To the notes of the congregation without passing through the hearts of either.’
• TRANSITION:
• Lecturers are people who teach facts, information to students;
• Preachers are not just teaching truth, they are battling for the wills of people!
• My job as a preacher is to touch your heart as well as your mind!
• I don’t want to just tell you about the Lord, I want you to experience the Lord;
• But for that to happen, YOU too must engage both emotions and mind!
Quote: The Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic Søren Kierkegaard:
“People have an idea that the preacher is an actor on a stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him.
What they don't know is that they are the actors on the stage;
he (the preacher) is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines.”
• My job as a preacher is to touch your heart as well as your mind!
• I don’t want to just tell you about the Lord, I want you to experience the Lord;
• But for that to happen, YOU too must engage both emotions and mind!
(d). Emotions are on display throughout the book
of Psalms.
• I would say that every emotion known to man can be found in the Psalms.
• No matter what mood you find yourself in, some psalm will reflect that mood,
• What's striking about the Psalms is that they're real,
• They are brutally honest outpourings of emotion along the roller coasters of life.
• i.e. When times are good,
• Psalms speak out in great thanksgiving and celebration,
• i.e. But when life is bad, the emotions expressed;
• Are more candid than what you hear on ‘Oprah’ or any Daytime TV show.
• Now close to half of the Psalms are songs of lament.
• That tell us about human sorrow and suffering,
• That should tell us that God wants to hear about and is concerned about our feelings!
Because of this baring of emotions, anyone, no matter where he or she is in life:
• Can relate to the Psalms.
• Psalms truly expresses every feeling, every emotion of the human heart.
• Psalms has always been the book;
• Where men and women of God have pillowed their heads in times of;
• Distress or heartache and sorrow.
• Whatever your feeling, turn to Psalms.
(2). Negative things you should know about emotions.
(1). Feelings are often unreliable.
• Quote: Proverbs chapter 14 verse 12.
• “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.”
• Feelings are often unreliable.
• Feelings can even lie to us.
Ill:
• You may be in a crowd of people and feel that everybody is talking about you,
• But that doesn't mean they are.
• You may feel that nobody understands you,
• But that doesn't mean they don't.
• You may feel you are misunderstood, unappreciated or even mistreated,
• But that doesn't mean it is true.
• Feelings are often unreliable.
• Feelings can even lie to us.
Feelings are often unreliable because they appeal so often to our flawed nature;
• And left unchecked, unrestrained;
• Those feelings can lead you in the wrong direction.
Ill:
• An Aer Lingus flight is approaching London Heathrow.
• The air traffic controller asks, "Aer Lingus pilot; “what's your height and position?".
• The pilot answers, "I'm five foot six and I'm sittin' up at the front".
• Apologies to any Irish people here today (it’s only a joke!)
• TRANSITION:
• No airplane pilot should trust his own instincts in a storm,
• But rather he or she is to trust the instrument panel.
• Instincts can be wrong,
• A pilot can get so jostled around that he loses his sense of up and down,
• Or even experience vertigo.
• TRANSITION:
• We too can get so jostled around by the philosophy of this world;
• That we lose our sense of right and wrong.
• Every believer has an instrument panel that is more reliable than our own feelings;
• The unchanging Word of God.
(2). Feelings can manipulate us.
• Feelings can manipulate you or influence you to doing something you shouldn’t do.
• If you don’t control your emotions they will control you.
• Quote: Proverbs chapter 25 verse 28.
• “A person without self-control is as defenceless as a city with broken down walls.”
Ill:
• Many of you grew up singing the song about Jericho.
• “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down.”
• Jericho is touted as the world's oldest city.
• Jericho is believed to be 10,000 years old
• But its claim to fame is often the incident that the children’s song is based on;
• The walls of the city collapsed and as a result it was invaded and conquered.
• Any city without walls back in the Bible times;
• Was a city exposed to the enemy with nothing to protect them.
• They were vulnerable to being attacked and destroyed.
• TRANSITION: This proverb warns us that:
• If you don’t learn to manage your emotions you’ll be like that city,
• Unprotected and vulnerable to attack.
(3). Feelings can cause us to displease God.
• We need to control our emotions because we want to please God;
• And that requires discipline!
Ill:
• Hippy who turned up at a job centre, looking for work.
• The man interviewing him asked him some questions;
• “Where have you been?”
• The Hippy replied, “Oh just here and there”.
• “What have you been doing?”
• The Hippy replied, “Oh just this and that”.
• “How often have you been doing it?”
• The Hippy replied, “Just off and on”
• So the person in the job centre reviewed his replies:
• “Oh just here and there”. “Oh just this and that”. “Just off and on”
• And said, “I think you should come back, just now and then!”
Tough question: Does that describe your prayer life?
• “Oh just here and there”. “Oh just this and that”. “Just off and on”
• It will if I let my emotions govern my prayer life,
• I will only pray when I feel like it and that will then my prayer life will become erratic!
Ill:
• If I only go to Church when I feel like it;
• Then half the time you turn up I will not be here;
• Would you be shocked or surprised if you turned up next week and I did not?
• Think about it that often happens to us preachers;
• We here, but not always is the congregation!
I think that is one of the reasons the Bible emphasises discipline:
• i.e. we are to be like an athlete (2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 5)
• i.e. we are to be like a soldier (2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 3-4)
• We are not ruled by our emotions, but we apply self-control and restraint!
• We are ruled by a greater desire to do that which pleases God!
• We try to please God whether we feel like it or not!
(4). Feelings can cause us to fail in life.
• Quote: Proverbs chapter 5 verse 23.
• “People get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control.”
• Being able manage and control your feelings;
• Will determine whether or not you succeed in life.
Ill:
• Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest;
• Was once asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains.
• He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."
Ill:
• Peter the Great of Russia is quoted as saying,
• "I have been able to conquer an empire, but I have not been able to conquer myself."
Ill:
• Mark Anthony was known as the silver-throated orator of Rome:
• He was also credited with being a brilliant statesman, a strong leader,
• And a courageous soldier who was magnificent in battle, and he was handsome!
• But he had his weakness and this so enraged his personal tutor,
• That on one occasion he shouted into his face;
"O Marcus! O colossal child......
able to conquer the world but unable to resist a temptation!".
Ill:
Hugo Grotius, the Dutch Jurist and scholar said:
"A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city, he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern himself, and he cannot govern himself unless his passions are subject to reason."
• TRANSITION: The book of Proverbs chapter 25 verse 28:
• "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control".
• Being able manage and control your feelings;
• Will determine whether or not you succeed in life.
• TRANSITION: We need to learn how to manage our moods;
• And to control our emotions.
• If we do not master them, then they will master us!
In Conclusion:
• Our emotions are a gift from God,
• When handled right they enrich and add so much to our lives!
• But when handled wrongly;
• Remember we are flawed (sinful) creatures,
• Those passions can lead us on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
• We do not want to repress our emotions and become stoics;
• i.e. Mr & Mrs Spock’s (all logic but no feelings).
• Rather we want to be balanced believers;
• And that balance can come as we both ‘feel and ‘think’.
TWO QUICK SUGGESTIONS:
(1). Talk to God.
• Ask God to fill you with his Holy Spirit.
• Galatians chapter 5 verse 22-23.
• Remember part of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.
Quotes:
• “Self-control is choosing to do what you should do, not what you want to do”.
• “Self-control is knowing you can but deciding you won’t”
• The Greek word translated into English for self-control literally means “self-mastery.”
• When I practice self-mastery in my life,
• It is like building and strengthening walls that surround my house.
• Self-control protects me.
(2). Talk to a trusted friend.
• Sometimes the advice and insights of a trusted friend;
• Can give us insights into our lives that on our own we are blind to see.
• Your friends – if they are real;
• Will tell you the truth even when it hurts.
Quote: Proverbs chapter 27 verses 5-6 says:
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful”
• It is better to hear it from a friend;
• Then thinking we can handle everything in our own strength.
• A friend doesn’t want to see you hurt.
• The point is that the truth sometimes hurts,
• But flattery or patronizing someone in the end, usually does more harm than good.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=zNEzC5vdBMVuIH3jGjhPOqlcOwjxtWGf
Extra: Great video clip to use in the service:
• Inside Out 2015, Meet the Emotions (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Fear) from Disney Pixar Animated Movie
• Clip: Inside Out Movie Clip - Get To Know Your Emotions
• Link: https://youtu.be/beIALH8aV2c
