Sermon Tone Analysis

Steven Betts Funeral Service

Steven Betts is a man who was/is greatly loved by many.

This has been made so strongly evident by the outpouring of support and the great number of messages that the family has recieved stating as much about Steven.

Wether it is as a son, brother, his service in the Marines, his dedication as a uncle, his care and generosity as a friend/ or even to strangers, or his work for veterans rights, we remember Steven well today.

Because of all the good that you knew and remember and the cherished relationship that so many had with Steven at one point in time or another, today, as many of the past days have had, carries with it a sense of broken-heartedness.

However, as Steven throughout much of his life brought joy and comfort to others in the midst of his own suffering, I desire to do the same this morning on Steven’s behalf.

The Word of God says:

If we would look unto the Lord today by His grace then even through such grief we would know the LORD is there, and that would carry a comfort and healing all its own.

It carries a significant comfort to those who belong to the LORD Jesus.

First because we know His presence here with us to carry us through,

But also and perhaps even more so, because we know that those who die in the flesh that are in the LORD are truly in the LORD in the fullness of His presence.

The Word of God says:

Oh Steven knew much of bodily suffering - but no more

and at the same time - to know suffering and then have it no more is enough to fill one with abounding joy in itself,

But to be in the presence of the LORD, to be at home with the LORD, to know the glory and pleasure of the LORD.

What a thought, what a hope.

From scripture we do believe that this life is not it..but that their is such a true hope.

The Word of God says:

Psalm 24:18

Friends, our hope in Christ is certainly not in this life only.

Our hope is not merely to get us through a moments suffering or a time of grief, our hope is in life, it is in the overcoming of death.

Our hope is in the resurrection.

But what of now?

What is it to now live in such hope?

First I desire that your suffering not be done in hopelessness, but rather with the fixed hope that is in Christ Jesus -that blessed hope of eternity.

Second I desire that as this life has enough of a load and enough suffering of it’s own, that religious aspirations don’t add a further burden but rather the grace of Christ grants a present rest.

The Word of God says:

The yoke was a piece of equipment made to help you carry a load.

The problem was in the time of Christ that the “religious yoke” that the pharisees were putting upon the people was heavier than the load itself.

Thus it wasn’t a help but more rather it was more of a burden.

This is not how the yoke of Christ works.

In the work of Christ, we find not the requirment of our own merit, but we rest in the faithfulness of His.

in the work of Christ, the resting of Steven, the seperation from suffering is found not in himself but in the grace of Christ,

For you and I, the hope to carry on, the comfort to comfort with, and the peace beyond all understanding is found not in the strength of ourselves, nor in the ability or understanding of self, but in the work and presence of Jesus Christ our LORD.

And so, in honor of Steven who so often thought of others in the midst of his own suffering and sought to comfort them, hear theses words,

Steven is at rest,

God is ever present,

and our hope of the resurrection is true and certain in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May the love of our Savior Jesus, comfort you all during this time and may His Word be a refuge for each of us as we continue to grieve during this season.

- Amen.

Internment Message

So now as the Almighty has seen fit to take unto Himself the soul of our departed beloved Steven Betts, we commit Steven’s body to this place prepared for it; that ashes may return to ashes, dust to dust, and the imperishable spirit be with the Lord as we looking forward to the resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the perishable bodies of those who sleep in Him shall be changed, and made like unto His own glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself.