Brother Thomas Funeral Sermon

Prologue Lone Howell /Meekah Howell

Welcome Pastor Joseph Carty

Today,

Here to Celebrate

Life of Gustavous Ezkiel Thomas.

To some she was

Loving Father

Brother

Uncle

Friend

(Brother in Christ)

(Coworker)

For All

Meaningful memories

We are here

to Celebrate those.

I’m so glad

As Christians

We don’t say,

“Good Bye”.

Only:

“See you Later”.

I hope this service

Celebrations of Life

Opportunity to Grieve

“See You Later”

Focus on Hope.

Opening Hymn of Consolation How Great Thou Art | Pg. 4 (Congregation)

Prayer of Intercession Pastor Joseph Carty

Scripture reading Mr. Everton Scarlett

1 Corinthians 15:51–55 NKJV

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

Musical Tribute Heaven (Ms. Leesa Levy)

Reflection - On behalf of Children Mr. Dion Thomas

Ministerial Words of Comfort

Today,

We celebrate Thomas’ life.

We are

Cheered by memories

smile at pictures

gladdened by stories.

Today,

We are also

faced Thomas’ Death.

The bible

talks about it…

Death -

the fate of all.

Ecc 9:2 (NIRV) Everyone will die someday. Death comes to godly and sinful people alike. It comes to good and bad people alike. It comes to “clean” and “unclean” people alike. Those who offer sacrifices and those who don’t offer them also die.

A good person dies, and so does a sinner. Those who make promises die. So do those who are afraid to make [promises].

In moments like this,

as we stare

death in the face.

We only have a few options:

Overwhelmed by sorrow

Feeling of hopelessness

Resort to Apathy

(The absence of feelings and emotion)

Search for Hope.

Thankfully,

The Bible gives

Just That

Hope

Powerful Promises!

Today,

We will peruse them.

God never created

humanity to deal with

pain of death and loss.

God created a perfect world

A perfect universe.

We were deceived

and

We chose sin.

Death is not natural.

It came as intruder.

One day,

God will fix

Solve the sin problem

Re-establish humanity

In perfection.

Though we face death

if we live long enough.

There is a solution.

Resurrection –

most common topic NT.

This temporary death

Jesus calls sleep.

To emphasize

Its impermanent nature.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope…

We have hope!

Hopelessness - not for

Those that believe in Jesus!

Continuing on…

Speaking of 2nd Coming

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NKJV

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

At the second coming,

Jesus will come to earth

With all angels

He will hover in the air

Give loud shout

Trumpet blast

Righteous dead wake up

Righteous living witness

All float up to Jesus

Most important point

1 Thessalonians 4:18 NKJV

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Paul says,

greatest comfort

to give to grieving

these words.

Paul gives more details

1 Corinthians 15:51–55 ESV

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

These bodies vanish...

We receive

Perfect bodies

Immortal bodies

We will look back

Mock death

Is that all?

That wasn’t so bad

Death is but an anomaly

To the life-giver

Jesus Christ

Story of Lazarus

he died

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Death vanishes

In the presence of Jesus

Graves cannot hold

The saint

Called by Jesus

Trumpet

Holy Alarm Clock

Awaken from deep sleep

Thousands of years

All settings

Thomas

Ashes come to life

Joy

Families reunited

Hugs

Embraces

Tears of joy

Exclamations happiness

Praises to God

Do you look forward

To that great day?

Do you want to participate?

Do you want to see

Angels

Trumpet

Resurrection

Brother Thomas

Family

Most important

Jesus

Jesus only gave

One Condition

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

What is the condition?

“Whoever believes in me”

Illustration: Bible Worker

I used to have

Challenging

But rewarding

Job

Kind of like,

Traveling salesperson

Vacuum cleaner guys

Annoying

Instead,

Didn’t sell vacuums

Gave Bible Studies

Door-to-door

One question I would ask

start conversation

Do you believe

You will be saved?

95% of people said yes!

I would ask,

“How do you know?”

They would say,

“I’m a pretty good person…”

Wait a minute…!

What was the condition!?!

“Whoever believes in me”

Most people

Think they are save

But they have

The wrong basis

For their salvation

Nobody!

Is going to heaven

Because they are good!

Only!

Because He is good!

Jesus

So…

Do You Believe?

Have you give your

Heart

Life

Soul

Being

To Him?

Now,

Give you heart

Plan to see

Thomas

Jesus

Again.

Reflection Mrs. Deloris Sterling

Reflection Mr. Peter Lewis

Scripture Reading Mr. Andre Mitchell

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Musical Tribute We Shall Behold Him (Mrs. Judy Davis)

Reflection Ms. Yvonne Brown

Life Reflections Meisha Robinson

Musical Tribute Holy Holy Holy(Mrs. Deoline Thomas-Hayden)

Offering

Musical Tribute No More Night Mrs. Shelli-Ann Jackson Mackenzie

Closing Song It is well with my soul | Pg. 5 (Congregation)

Prayer Of Consolation Pastor Joseph Carty

Acknowledgements and Instructions Pastor Joseph Carty

Recessional Song When we all get to Heaven