Sermon for the Funeral of Virginia Maxwell 8.5.2017 Romans 8.10-11

Start:

1 Entice:

Friends have hugged you.

Friends have hugged you. Neighbors have told stories.

The past has been recreated.

The past has been recreated.

An eternal perspective and personal reassurance from God.

Now we need an eternal perspective and personal reassurance from God.

Though He has, in a sense, sent these people to comfort you; you still need a definitive word from Him.

2 Engage:

What you are feeling will give way to what you will be missing and that will soon become what you celebrate about this beloved, departed

This is an emotional time. And they are mixed emotions.

There is a sense of relief that Virginia’s battle is over.

hen you feel guilty. Guilty at feeling relieved, guilty that you get to go on. Guilty that you did not do more, go more, spend more time with Mom/GrandMa etc.

Then you feel guilty.

Guilty at feeling relieved,

guilty that you get to go on.

Guilty that you did not do more, go more, spend more time with Mom/GrandMa etc.

Next there is joy.

Joy that you had this woman as mother, grandma or friend.

Next there is joy.

Joy that you had this woman as mother, grandma or friend.

But like all feelings…

But like all feelings…

The feelings will fade.

The feelings will fade.

Your intense feelings right now will give way to a sense that you are missing something

soon that sense will become a celebration for this beloved, departed person.

person.

3 Expand:

In the midst of all these emotions allow me to speak a word from God.

In the midst of all these emotions allow me to speak a word from God.

A word to speak not merely to you aching heart but to your mind and your spirit as well.

In the midst of our pain, God has promised

A word to speak not merely to you aching heart but to your mind and your spirit as well.

To always Love us...

Never Leave us...

Never Leave us...

In the midst of our pain, God has promises for us.

Providentially Lead us.

Providentially Lead us.

To Love us.

Romans 8:10–11 ESV

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

4 Excite: Today God’s word reminds us that of all God’s promises...

Explore: The best promise from God at this very moment is the promise of Life in Christ.

Explain: Today let me encourage you with two certainties that come from Christ in you.

1 Redemption

▾ 1 Redemption

1 Redemption

▾ 1 Redemption

• 1.1 Christ in You

1.1 Christ in You

1.1 Deliverance from Sin.

• 1.2 Deliverance from Sin.

1.2 Deliverance from Sin.

1.2 Righteousness through the Spirit.

• 1.3 Rightousness through the Spirit.

1.3 Righteousness through the Spirit.

2 Resurrection

▾ 2 Resurrection

Resurrection

▾Resurrection

2.1 Power of God

• 2.1 Power of God

• 2.1 Power of God

2.2 Promise of God

• 2.2 Promise of God

• 2.2 Promise of God

Shut Down:

▾ Shut Down:

▾ Shut Down:

1 Death seems to rob us of all we know for certain.

• 1 Death seems to rob us of all we know for certain. Rather it should remind us that our only certainty should be found in He who holds tomorrow.

Rather it should remind us that our only real certainty is found in He who holds tomorrow.

• 1 Death seems to rob us of all we know for certain. Rather it should remind us that our only certainty should be found in He who holds tomorrow.

2 To His faithful children

• 2 To His faithful children He promises redemption. He promises resurrection. We can say goodbye today because we now that the final reality for God's

He promises redemption.

• 2 To His faithful children He promises redemption. He promises resurrection. We can say goodbye today because we now that the final reality for God's

He promises resurrection.

children is reunion.

children is reunion.

We can say goodbye today because we now that the final reality for God's children is reunion.