funeral 20080213 Grover Ellis

I)       Funeral of Grover Cleveland Ellis, Jr., February 13, 2008.

A)    song

B)    welcome:  purpose, thanks,

C)    obituary

D)    prayer

E)     song

F)     message

G)    closing prayer

H)    viewing

I)       recessional and exit.

II)    1 Cor. 15:12-24

III) Jr.’s faith in Christ is a faith that teaches about an afterlife – but not just an afterlife – a resurrection of the dead.

A)    A central element of his faith – that those who believe in Him and have fallen asleep go immediately into the presence of the Lord.

B)    And on a day God has ordained, they will be resurrected, given a new and flawless body in which they will enjoy a new heaven and a new earth forever.  But not just believers, all.

C)    Daniel 12:2  “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

1)      Resurrection of both the just and the unjust. (Acts 24:15),

D)    If not the Bible – God has written the law on our hearts.  Almost every culture attests to some kind of afterlife and some kind of justice in it.

IV) v14 If the resurrection was not true, our faith would be in vain.

A)    v14 – also preaching in vain, meaningless

B)    v17 – futile.  an attempt with no result.

C)    v17 – even worse, still in our sins.  He is saying that if this part is not true, probably the whole gospel is wrong and there is no way to get away from the penalty for our sins – death.

D)    v18 – If it was not true, then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

E)     Thankfully, the Resurrection of Jesus is a fact – and a central hope of our faith.

V)    The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact.

A)    The testimony of the martyred apostles.  Unlearned fishermen, unknown, not leaders to take on the world.

B)    For a good cause, many die.  For a good man, many would die.  But who would die for a lie?

C)    Other leaders had come, built a following, and then died, only to have their followers disperse and come to nothing.

D)    There’s more arguments about this but not necessary – because it is ultimately accepted by faith.  Once accepted by faith, God Himself testifies in our hearts by His Holy Spirit that this is the truth.  Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth.

E)     This explains Jr.’s confident hope.

VI) Jr. had a confident hope.  His faith was not in vain.  He knew God and knew His promises.

A)    Most here knew him better – you could tell me all kinds of details about him – working, fathering, tricks, tinkering

1)      But one thing I know for sure – one thing I can share beyond any shadow of a doubt – is that he would desire each and every person here to hear the truth of Jesus Christ and join him where he is.

(a)    He would want me to tell you the gospel

(b)   Jesus Christ, maker, lived perfect, died w/punishment for our sins, rose again, all authority was given to Him, commissioned His followers, ascended to heaven, empowers believers by H.S., and will return to judge the living and the dead.  Those who believe will reign with him eternally.

2)      Puzzling – you knew he was not perfect and yet he had this hope.  Periods of time without church, bad habits, but yet a good man.  How could he expect to go to heaven?  Because Jesus Christ came to save sinners – those sinners who are willing to acknowledge their sins, and surrender to Him.

B)    Today, celebrate his life and comfort one another.  As the days continue and your thoughts turn to your brother, father, friend, consider his hope.  Seek answers from God’s Word and God’s people and find Jr.’s hope.

C)