Funeral Homily Preaching Lab

Intro

Some say that NC has the best BBQ in the whole world.

Others may disagree! but when i think of Good BBQ i think of brother Mike.

Whether it was the youth fundraiser, or raising support for our sister Church in Kenya, MIKE was always there, staying up all night slow cooking his famous bbq.

To many outsiders, Brother mike was a simple man, who was a hard worker and had a kind soul,

but, to those of us who knew him closely, He was a humble, loving, generous, and compassionate follower of his lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

He was a loving husband, a tender father, and a loyal friend.

I could spend all afternoon talking about Brother Mike, but I know he would not want that.

HE would want every word, every second spent talking about Jesus. He would want to make sure that every single person here today would hear the Gospel.

Body

I found it fitting to use brother Mike’s three favorite Scriptures this afternoon.

The first is from…

Isaiah 53:3–6 ESV

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Before Brother Mike was saved…

He tried to be a good person, a good moral citizen that helped people, gave to the poor… he tried not to lie or cheat…

but there was a major problem…

he was trusting in these things for salvation

He lived many years of his life weighed down by sin, ashamed of his failures, he tried to be better and better…

But then in his college dorm room he read this very passage and christ saved him…

the scales fell off of his eyes, the weight fell off of his shoulders, he realized what Christ had accomplished for him on the Cross.

All of his iniquity, all of his sin, was laid on Christ.

Christ was pierced for Mike’s transgressions

he was crushed for Mike’s iniquities

Christ’s chastisement brought mike peace

and By His wounds, Brother Mike was healed.

Then with new eyes and a new heart…Mike would grow fond of a short passage in 1 Corinthians.

Paul writes in Chapter 15 verses 3 and 4:

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

This is the very Gospel that Brother Mike had faith and believed in!

He would go on to share this gospel with his fiance, who would become his wife, and she also became a believer.

He continually shared this gospel with his two sons.

And he has shared this gospel with some of you who are here today…

Christ died for our sins, he was burried, and on the third Day.. He was raised!!!

Brother mike believed this with his whole heart

That is why he shared it so often!

Whether he was at home, at work, or cooking BBQ, he was always talking about Jesus and the Gospel!

this brings us to the last passage…

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

This very day could be the day that Christ Saves you.

TODAY is the DAY of Salvation.

Christ has come, he died on the cross for the sins of the world.

Believe the Gospel. Place your faith in Christ alone.

Conclusion

To Mike’s beloved wife and Children…

We join you today in mourning the loss of a great man of God.

But As Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians, We do not have to grieve as the world grieves!

We have Hope!

Our hope is in Christ Jesus!

I want to close this morning with a reading from Romans 8.

Romans 8:28–39 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lets Pray

Father we thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for our sins…

WE Thank you for saving Brother Mike and letting his life be an example for all of us…

Be with his wife and children, comfort them let us as the church be a great encouragement and support for them..

Finally, as your gospel went out today, i pray that it would fall on good soil, that many would have faith and believe.

Amen.