Graveside
Funeral • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewThis is a standard graveside message. Concluding with comfort one another with these words.
Notes
Transcript
Illustration: Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in Saint Paul’s Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the church and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul’s, intoned, after the benediction, the sound of “Taps,” the universal signal that says the day is over.
But then came a dramatic turn: as Churchill instructed, after “Taps” was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of “Reveille”—“It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up in the morning.”
That was Churchill’s testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be “Taps”; it will be “Reveille.”
The worst things are never the last things.
Text:
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
I. There is a Hope (13)
Explanation: Paul understands that a funeral gives us an opportunity like no other we will have. You see it is moments like this one that we determine to look into a reality that much of the time we like to imagine isn't there. That is a life after this one. See we like living from day to day thinking that we will always be here and never have any problems. But it is in this moment that we recognize that all of us have a time to die.
About half way through the Old Testament there is a book called Ecclesiastes. This book records these words:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Argument: Paul wants us to understand that there is more than merely sorrow. In fact our sorrow today is tempered by the fact that there is hope for all of those that look for a brighter day.
Illustration:
To comfort your hearts and ease the pain of loss, I want to make 2 statements.
Christ promised his disciples that they did not need fear death. Because death doesnt touch the believer.
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Like the old poem:
I cannot think of them as dead
Who walk with me no more
Along the path of life I tread
They have but gone before.
Yes, Gone to Glory! Christians simply change residence from this world to the city of God. We are here only to bury the covering. Steve is not here. This is only the covering.
Illustration: Throw away the envelop. The important part, the soul, the being that made Steve went to be with the Lord. It is like when we receive a letter in the mail. We let the covering drop to the side and read and keep the letter inside that was important. God has left the outside here for awhile but has taken Steve to be with him.
Application: We are told that when those who serve in the ranks of the Salvation Army die they are listed, not under the heading of "deaths" but under the heading "promotions". Promoted to Glory!
II. There is a Truth (14)
Explanation: There are some today that say that all roads lead to God.
They will tell us that if you are a good person or that you have accomplished these works, or just so long as you believe in something God will take you to heaven.
This is not so. Verse 14 tell us the truth.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Jesus says,
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Argument: It all comes down to this, you know; either you know that when you leave this life you will enter into eternal life with the risen Christ, or you have no hope at all for anything beyond this life, and in your soberest moments you must face the fact that life is ultimately futile.
Illustration: Many have a problem with the idea that Jesus could be the only way into heaven. That it is unfair for Christ to make himself to the exclusion of others the only way. But our world has no room for a truth mixed with the lie.
Years ago when a witness was to take a stand he would place his hand on the bible and swear to tell the “truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God.”
You see it is a distortion to mix truth with a lie. It skews everything.
Application:
III. There is a future (15-17)
Explanation: Unless we go in the Rapture or catching away of the church we will all at one point have to face the reality of crossing over. The Bible is very Clear:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
When we speak of funerals we usually don't think of gaining anything do we? The word gain is usually not in our funeral vocabulary. Most of the time we speak of our loss – and that is what we concentrate on. People tell us how sorry they are for our loss. In fact when a person dies we say that they lost their life. We have a flood of emotions – sadness – grief – sometimes anger and regret. We have those emotions because we have lost something. We have lost fellowship with Steve, and it hurts. We will not be able to sit and visit with Steve again in this life – and that hurts. There is pain when we loose a loved one. But did you know there is one verse in the Bible that uses the word gain when it speaks of death.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
What Does the Christian Gain When They Die?
If “for me to live is Christ,” then to die is gain.
If for me to live is money – then to die is loss.
If for me to live is self – then to die is loss.
If for me to live is ambition – then to die is loss.
If for me to live is sin – then to die is loss.
If “for me to live is Christ,” then to die is gain
Argument: Our lives are short, David declared
Lord, Make me to know mine end,
And the measure of my days, what it is;
That I may know how frail I am.
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;
And mine age is as nothing before thee:
Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Illustration:
“Every man knows he will die, but no one wants to believe it.” - Jewish Proverb
Application: Many place their faith in religion or church. "Most people in America have just enough religion to keep them from getting the real thing. They have just enough to inoculate them against God!"
Many hope in their good works.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
And now, Lord, what wait I for?
My hope is in thee.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
At death, we all cross from one territory to another, but those who have established a personal relationship with Jesus will have no trouble with Their visas. Their representative is already there, preparing for their arrival. Their entrance is incontestable as citizens of heaven.
Poor plan of Hope
The Big Plan
The Big Plan
by Gunnar Hassenplug
I doubt I’ll get to heaven with an invite from the man,
so I parked my bike grabbed a beer and built myself this plan!
I’m building myself a ramp as tall as ever seen,
I’ll supercharge my bike, and add a couple wings!
Timing will be critical, speed will factor in,
angle and approach and I’ll whistle me a tune!
Then one day when my journey is coming to its end,
Open up them pearly gates cause this biker’s jumpin’ in!
I’ll just say I think that is a rotten plan for hope.
The Gospel is God’s only plan for Heaven.
Alternate Opening Illustration:
Illustration: A little girl lived near a cemetery, and often had to walk through it after dark. When someone asked her, “Aren't you ever afraid?”, she answered, “Oh, no! My home is just on the other side.”
Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in Saint Paul’s Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the church and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul’s, intoned, after the benediction, the sound of “Taps,” the universal signal that says the day is over.
But then came a dramatic turn: as Churchill instructed, after “Taps” was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of “Reveille”—“It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up in the morning.”
That was Churchill’s testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be “Taps”; it will be “Reveille.”
The worst things are never the last things.