How do we respond when we do not understand?

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Funeral Dinner - tomorrow *move tables down today*

APRIL 1 at 5pm - “Thanksgiving Meal”

April 9th at 10am - Resurrection Sunday

We need people willing to model SACRIFICE on Resurrection

Pray (in the garden)

Invite (at the cross)

Serve (take care of others - Jn. 19:26-27)

*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

We all grieve differently and we respond to the stress of grief differently

5 Stages of Grief (EMOTIONS):

1. Denial: a dazed numbness that is much like the shock reaction of physical trauma; a refusal to accept the loss. In this stage, most people try to return to normal routine and intellectualize loss.

2. Anger: normal and unavoidable reality sets in that often creates much somatic distress. Too many people internalize anger and block the grief process, ending up with guilt, depression, and long-term physical problems. Many people will exhibit avoidance and blame others for the loss, in this stage.

3. Bargaining: people try to recover the lost person by bargaining with God. In addition, the grieved is often obsessed with meta-questions such as “Why?” “How could You let this happen, God?!” and “Why me?” Sufferers may also get trapped in “If only…” thinking: “If only they had done this that day…If only I had said [something different].”

4. Depression: depression is often mixed with guilt, and sometimes anger, during this stage for the bereaved will blame themselves for not doing what they “should have done.” Give permission for one to feel the pain of the loss and allow them to grieve. It is important for the church family to allow people the “luxury” of being depressed as they face the loss of a unique person or opportunity.

5. Acceptance: resolving the loss by accepting the hurt and the memories; moving on with a focus for what is yet to come.

Lamenting

LAMENT: To mourn or be sorrowful; passionate expression of grief

Laments may be occasioned by bereavement, personal trouble, national disaster or the judgment of God.

The Christmas story includes lamenting: Matthew 2:17-18 “17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.””

Our SVCC congregation is Lamenting today WITH THE PASSING OF OUR FRIEND, JIM BELL.

How do we respond...

Examples of questions we ask while LAMENTING:

-How do we respond to God when we do not understand?

-How do we respond to God when we feel we did not receive what we had prayed for?

-How do we respond to God when we feel that what we believed did not happen?

-How do we respond when people die in faith, much too early?

GOD’S WORD SAYS:

Hebrews 11:13–16 ESV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

“Died in faith”

“Not having received”

“Things promised”

“Greeted them from afar”

We must remember the faith of those who believed ‘til the end of their life here on Earth.

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

“surrounded by” Jim’s testimony/story of faith that pointed us to Jesus!

CONCLUSION:

· God the Father knows what loss is like too because of losing His only Son at the Cross so that we could be “found” in Him

· In the midst of our own questioning we will come to understand that God still wants us to trust Him even without understanding “why” - our “why’s” are often declarations of dependance on God.

We must keep looking to Jesus

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.