Carroll Norris Memorial Service

Order of service:

4:45 Pre-service Slides and seating

5:00 Slide Show Presentation

Family Comments

Carroll Elwin Norris JR., or “DJ” as he was called by his family, left this world and entered into the Gates of Heaven on this past Sunday afternoon.

Carroll was originally from Maine and had lived here in Tennessee for the past 25 years.

Carroll owned and operated “The Shack” restaurant in Niota. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a long time member and elder of our church.

More than all these things Brother Carroll was my friend, and the friend of many in our community, - but most importantly, as the Scriptures say about Moses, Carroll was the friend of God.

We are here today to celebrate his memory and his graduation to Heaven.

At this time several of Brother Carroll’s family members would like to share their thoughts with us as we celebrate the life of Brother Carroll.

Comments close with Scripture Reading by Billy

Funeral Sermon and Invitation

* I would like to speak with you just a minute about Psalms chapter 116 and verse 15 where the Bible says:

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.

* The death of brother Carroll this past Sunday was precious in the sight of the Lord.

* To understand how the fullness of this statement, we must first look together at the full context of this verse, so I will need to back up two verse and read to you what comes before our text verse.

* Leading up to the statement “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints, we read in verse 12:

12 What shall I render unto the Lord For all his benefits toward me?

* The writer of this Psalms askes the question “What can I do for God in return for all that He has done for me?

* Then he answers his own question with the following statement…

13 I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord…

* Apparently this “cup of salvation” that is mentioned here in Psalm 116 was the Passover cup that each person drank from during the Jewish Passover supper.

* During the Passover supper the Passover cup, or the cup of salvation, was passed around by those gathered at the table, and each drank from the cup of salvation as they sang a song that said, “I will take the cup of salvation.”

* Those Jewish believers knew the Passover cup was pointing to the One who was coming, that would be called the savior, the Messiah, who would be the ultimate fulfillment of the salvation that took place at the first Passover there in the land of Egypt.- this coming savior we Christians now know to be Jesus Christ.

* Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself no doubt sang this very Passover song in the Upper Room with his disciples and He partook of the Passover Cup with them.

* There in that room Jesus instituted the Christian practice of what we now observe as “the Lord’s Supper,” or communion.

* This Passover “cup of salvation” is most likely the same cup about which Jesus said, “You take this cup and drink it. I’ll not take it until I drink it new in the kingdom, because I have a cup to drink tomorrow, speaking of His death on the cross.”

* Then a little later, out in garden of Gethsemane, just like the words of the song in the slide presentation we just saw, Jesus prayed in agony so hard that the Bible says that great drops of blood fell from His brow.

* There in that garden Jesus prayed that the “cup of the cross” would pass from Him, so He would not have to drink it, but then He prayed for, not his will, but the will of the father to be done.

* The holy nature of Jesus, the son of God, recoiled at being made sin for us on the cross, but it was necessary to become our salvation.

* The book of Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 2 says that “… for the joy that was set before him Jesus endured the cross…” and then Jesus drank that cup of death joyfully the very next day as He on the cross.

* He drank the cup of salvation as He hung there on that cross and became the target of the wrath of God upon sin, that He might become our Savior.

* Brother Carroll fought this same struggle with death that Jesus did just a few weeks ago.

* As He began to deal with the reality that He was not going to be healed, and that His cancer was terminal, He reasoned with God and argued with God about allowing death to come so early.

* For weeks, Brother Carroll came before this church with the faith that God was able to heal him from his cancer, just as we here have seen God do for many others that we have prayed for over the past few years.

* For a little while I remember Carroll telling me that He was arguing with God about his cancer.

* As brother Carroll began to see that it was the will of God that cancer would take his life, he final did like Jesus did-, he resigned himself to the capable hands of God to do whatever He willed- he made peace with God’s will and with a smile said “God’s will be done.”

* From that day forth Brother Carroll stopped arguing with God and had peace in his heart about his approaching death.

* Today, this day of Carroll’s funeral, is not a sad day!

* Just as the day that Jesus Christ died on the cross was not a sad day, but a day of rejoicing, even so the death of every saint is a day of rejoicing!

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.

* Why is the death of His saints precious to God?

* Because the homecoming of one of His saints is a glad day of rejoicing in Heaven!

* Because the day of the death of a person that has been saved, is his coronation day! It is the day that every believer receives his full reward in Heaven.

* Sunday was the most wonderful day of Brother Carroll’s existence! A day of exceeding joy!

* The Bible says our little minds do not have the ability to even comprehend what a glorious day this past Sunday was for brother Carroll!

* Listen to the words of I Corinthians 2:9:

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV 1900)

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

* For the past few weeks Brother Carroll had suffered, but that’s all ok- according to the Bible all the suffering was worth it, because he had the same mind, or attitude that Jesus had that we find in Philippians chapter 2 and verse 5 where Paul said:

Philippians 2:5–11 (KJV 1900)

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

* And so, on Sunday afternoon Brother Carroll was exalted too! And Sunday was his coronation day!

* Today, this day of Brother Carroll’s funeral, is not a sad day, but it is a wonderful day of great joy!- a day of rejoicing and shouting because today Brother Carroll has finally realized the joy that was set before him!

- And it is the joy that is set before everyone who has ever drank of that cup of salvation by believing on the name of Jesus Christ!

* Today Brother Carroll is looking directly into the face of our savior Jesus Christ!

* On Sunday afternoon Jesus took Brother Carroll into his arms and hugged him tight!- and as it says in Matthew chapter 25 and verse 23, Jesus said to him “I love you son, well done my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, enter into the joy of the Lord!

* And, as the scriptures said in Luke 15:10, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth!”-

* - I am telling you right now that Sunday afternoon when Brother Carroll walked through those gates of the city of God in Heaven, all the host of heaven broke loose with shouting!

* The walls of Heaven shook with shouts of Gloy! As he walked through the gates of Heaven!

* and all his friends and love ones who have went on before, and all the angels before the throne of God “commenced to having a conniption fit in the Joy of the Lord” right there before the throne of God”, because Carroll Norris made it home!

* I am jealous this morning because Brother Carroll has finished his race!

* He ran his race well right here in front of all us witnesses! He ran his race well, and was faithful to the God of his salvation!

* And so in our text verse we see that the death of all those that have called upon the Name of Jesus Christ for salvation, their deaths, are precious in the sight of God!

* and the day of death is a day of joy and gladness for all who have believed in the name of Jesus!

* -but not so for all those who have refused to respond to the preaching of the Gospel!

Sermon Text: Psalm 116:12–15

12 What shall I render unto the Lord For all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord…

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.

* So what is you have not taken the cup of salvation this evening?

* So what if you don’t have Jesus in your heart?

* What about you this evening? Have you called upon the name of Jesus for salvation, have you taken the cup of salvation yet?

* The Bible, in Romans chapter 10 and verse 13 says:

Romans 10:8–13

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.-

thou shalt be saved! thou shalt be saved! thou shalt be saved!

* There is someone in this church right now who is not saved, and unless you get saved dear friend, you final destination is forever in hell.

* Did you hear what I just read?

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

* thou shalt be saved from hell! * thou shalt be saved from hell! * thou shalt be saved from hell!

* Oh why won’t you listen to the voice of God that is speaking to your heart right now-!

* Call on the Lord and take the cup of salvation like the Psalmist who wrote our text verse did, and like Brother Carroll did! Do it now!

* The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 and verse 13:

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!

* Listen to the power of the voice of the Holy Spirit of God right now pleading with you to be saved!

* Right now, don’t wait for the invitation song, just make your way down this isle to call upon the name of Jesus for salvation- right now! Right now!

* Don’t put the voice of God off, there is no guarantee that God will ever speak to you again!

* Get saved now! Do it now as the pianist plays and with every eye closed and every head bowed, I will meet you right here and help you call upon the Lord for salvation!

Sermon Text: Psalm 116:12–15

12 What shall I render unto the Lord For all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord…

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.

Final Scripture Reading by Susan’s Mother

At this time, Sister Susan’s mother will close this memorial service for Brother Carroll with a final reading from the Scriptures.

Thank you and request for prayer

On behalf of the family of Brother Carroll and Miss Susan, I would like to thank each of you for being here today as we celebrated the going home of Brother Carroll.

I lieu of funeral flowers, the family has asked that any donations be made to the ministries of Blue Springs Baptist Church, or the American Cancer Society on Brother Carroll’s behalf.

Thank you and may God bless each and every one of you for your kindness this evening.