Untitled Sermon (4)

Sermon Outlines for Funerals (21. A Time of Parting (Acts 20:36–38)) A Time of Parting Acts 20:36–38 “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.” Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.” 1. Paul was just completing his second missionary journey 2. Paul called the elders of Ephesus together to encourage them 3. Goodbyes are always moving experiences I. A Time of Sorrow A. Because they would “see his face no more” 1. Death is a similar experience B. Because of the effect Paul had on their lives 1. Introduced them to Jesus and nurtured their faith 2. Watched over them and instructed them C. Their sorrow was openly expressed—v. 37 1. Weeping is language understood by all 2. Our Lord wept often—John 11 “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After saying these…” II. A Time of Separation A. Paul was leaving them for the last time 1. Paul had sensed the finality of it 2. Dying saints often sense the coming separation B. They stayed with Paul to the very end 1. They accompanied him to the ship—v. 38b 2. Family and friends stay with the loved one to the end III. A Time of Victory A. They realized they would see Paul again 1. At the coming of the Lord—1 Thess. 4:13–18 B. Victory does not lie in circumstances 1. It rests in the will of God 2. John the Baptist was a victor in death 3. Paul and Silas were victors in jail C. Victory rests in the person of Jesus Christ—1 Corinthians 15:55–57 ““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”