Sermon Tone Analysis

Our purpose for being here today:

(1) To pay tribute in friendship and love to one who was dear to us

(2) We come to offer words of sympathy to these loved ones that are in sorrow

(3) We come to find words of comfort and strength from God's Word.

Will you bow your head with me in prayer.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we come into this sanctuary of sorrow, realizing our utter dependence upon You.

We know That you do love us and can turn even the shadow of death into the light of morning.

Help us now to wait before You with reverent and submissive hearts.

With the Psalmist we affirm Thou art our Refuge and Strength, O God- a very present Help in time of trouble.

Grant unto us Your abundant mercy.

May those who mourn today find comfort and a healing balm in Your sustaining grace.

We humbly bring these petitions in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Obituary

After reading the obituary talk about the importance of the dash on the grave marker.

Many of the grave markers look alike, in size and shape.

They have many things in common.

Names, date of birth, date of death, descriptive phrase.

But what sets them apart is the “DASH” that little line between date of birth and date of death.

That “DASH” represents our memories.

I have memories and you have memories and even those who could not be here have memories.

A POEM

When I’m Gone Mrs. Lyman Hancock

When I come to the end of my journey

And I travel my last weary mile,

Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned

And remember only the smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken;

Remember some good I have done.

Forget that I ever had heartache

And remember I've had loads of fun.

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered

And sometimes fell by the way.

Remember I have fought some hard battles

And won, ere the close of the day.

Then forget to grieve for my going,

I would not have you sad for a day,

But in summer just gather some flowers

And remember the place where I lay,

And come in the shade of evening

When the sun paints the sky in the west

Stand for a few moments beside me

And remember only my best.

When I’m Gone Mrs. Lyman Hancock

When I come to the end of my journey And I travel my last weary mile, Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned And remember only the smile.

And I travel my last weary mile, Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned And remember only the smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken; Remember some good I have done.

Forget that I ever had heartache And remember I've had loads of fun.

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered And sometimes fell by the way.

Remember I have fought some hard battles And won, ere the close of the day.

Then forget to grieve for my going, I would not have you sad for a day, But in summer just gather some flowers And remember the place where I lay, And come in the shade of evening When the sun paints the sky in the west Stand for a few moments beside me And remember only my best.

MESSAGE

"Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself.

We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true." ( ESV)

Rabbi Simon said, “There are three crowns: the crown of [the study of] the Law, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of royalty, but the crown of a good name surpasses them all” (Mishnah Avoth 4.13).[1]

Like Demetrius, ________ was well spoken of by everyone who knew him.

The story is told of four ministers discussing the pros and cons of various Bible translations and paraphrases.

Eventually each stated which version, in his opinion, is the best.

The first minister said he used the King James because the Old English style is beautiful and produces the most reverent picture of the Holy Scriptures.

The second said he preferred the New American Standard Bible because he felt it comes nearer to the original Greek and Hebrew texts.

The third minister said his favorite was the paraphrased Living Bible because his congregation was young, and it related to them in a practical way.

All three men waited while the fourth minister sat silently.

Finally he said, “I guess when it comes to translations and paraphrased editions of the Bible, I like my Dad’s translation best.

He put the Word of God into practice every day.

It was the most convincing translation I’ve ever seen.”[2]

The Scripture never tells believers to imitate an abstraction.

As here, the example is always concrete.[3]

The fact that he is “well spoken of by everyone” means that his example can be followed with confidence.

An exhortation, that Gaius [this letter was written to him, he is mentioned in v. 1] should imitate the Christian life of Demetrius, is implicit in the presbyter’s words.

The perfect tense verb indicates that the testimony was given over a period of time and still has abiding validity.[4]

An exemplar is “an ideal, a model, an example worthy to be imitated.”

Demetrius was that kind of a Christian.

John warned his readers not to imitate Diotrephes.

“If you want to imitate an example, then follow Demetrius!”

[see v. 9 for why]

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

( ESV)