Untitled Sermon

Others Which Have No Hope

Introduction

The Bible is God’s word and has nothing but the truth contained in it. In the text, Paul being inspired by the Holy Spirit stated that we shouldn’t sorrow concerning them which are asleep as if we have no hope. Note that he didn’t say to not sorrow concerning them which are dead. If we have accepted Christ, when we die, we are sleeping in Him. We are safe from death. We are safe because Jesus conquered death and the grave. So if we are in Christ death nor the grave can touch us. That doesn’t mean that we won’t go to the grave, it just means that the grave can’t hold us forever. If you don’t have Jesus, you have no hope. Hopefully this will scare you out of Hell.

13. 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.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15. 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.

16. 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:

17. 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.

18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Message is for those not in Christ (Wake up call)

Message is for those in Christ now (Warning to stay in Christ) Be steadfast

Message is for those who are sleeping in Christ (Aunt Zelma)

2 Timothy 4:6-8

6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

1. Acknowledge the need to grieve

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11) is particularly helpful, as there seems to be a legitimate time of grieving for those present and sorrow for those who are experiencing the separation that death brings, including Jesus who wept (John 11:35). I often share about the time my father sat my wife and me down after we had miscarried our second child. He exhorted us to take time to grieve over this child and instructed us how to do so.

Don’t ever presume that people realize grief is appropriate or that they know how to work through their grief by simply talking about their deceased loved one. Actually, many do not want to talk about them because of the hurt felt in loss. Many pastors know that often, years later, people learn the value of this process, eventually working through the grief with some pastoral guidance.

2. Make the hope of the gospel clearly known

True hope in grief cannot come apart from the hope of the gospel. This is why the second and third portion of a funeral sermon focuses on Christ’s person and work. Whatever text you choose to preach, make sure you focus on the clear elements of the gospel from it: God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness and deserving judgment, Christ’s perfect personhood and atoning work to save us, our essential response to repent and believe upon Christ.

3. Call your hearers to respond to the gospel

To do so appropriately and effectively, you must prepare by knowing as much as you can about your hearers and also the deceased. You should assume Christians and non-Christians are present. You should assume all have come with a preconceived understanding as to how we receive eternal life. For example, I officiated a funeral where 90 percent of those in attendance were devoted Roman Catholics, another dominated by Mormons, and another where no one in the building had ever stepped foot in a church.

In each case, I explained the gospel clearly, called my hearers to repent of their sins, believe upon Christ, and trust in him. Yet, in each of these different situations, I approached calling them to respond to the gospel differently, depending on their preconceived understanding of the “good news.”

Exhort them to grieve. Preach the gospel clearly and simply. Help them understand their need for Christ as death is before them. Call them to repent and believe. When you have done that, you have served them well.