No more Sting

A Life Well Lived

On behalf of the entire family, thank you for joining us as we celebrate Dorothy Alderman

As I look around I see so many lives that have been touched by Dot

To tell the truth - she would love this

Seeing all of you - and getting all this attention

She would never admit it - but she would have that sheepish smile on her face

Dot was a mom, a grandmother and great grandmother (Never could call her that), a friend

Most of all she was a lover of Jesus

When she said she would pray for you, she did, by name, I heard her do it

When she said she would pray for you, she did,by name, I heard her do it

The prayer was the same - they would know Jesus

As much as she would love this - her greatest desire is that we would all be where she is now

Home - at the feet of her Savior

This a celebration of a life well lived - not perfect

That word celebration - does not seem to fit the occasion

But, what Dot knew in part she now knows in full

Death was never part of the deal and design of God

Paul wrote

1 Corinthians 15:50–57 CSB

What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

If you will indulge me, This is what I want to take few minutes on to dive into

Let’s pray

1. Death is not Natural

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 CSB

When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?

Death stings because it is not a part of life as it was intended

1 Corinthians 15:56 CSB

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Death is a result of our disobedience - us telling God we will do it our way

Outside of Christ we do not have answer and will not find one concerning death

2. Death is not an End

Followers of Christ have victory in and over death

1 Corinthians 15:57 CSB

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Christ not only died for our sin - taking our punishment

He rose again to prove death was defeated

John 14:19 CSB

In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.

1 Peter 2:24 CSB

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Christ never preached any funeral sermons

Why because.....

3. Death will be no more

Revelation 21:1–4 CSB

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

This is a promise to us who have surrendered to Christ

This is a reality for Dot the moment she stepped into eternity

No More Sting

We celebrate a not a life that is gone, but one that continues to worship and has become all she was intended to be.

We miss, we mourn, but we continue on the journey that Dot has completed.

1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Never fear dying, beloved. Dying is the last, but the least matter that a Christian has to be anxious about. Fear living - that is a hard battle to fight, a stern discipline to endure, a rough voyage to undergo. - Charles Spurgeon

We who know and follow Jesus have nothing to fear or dread

Those who don’t have everything to fear

Who will you be ?

Let’s Pray