Funeral Sermon for Tommy Truesdale
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Welcome:
I wish to welcome you to Three Rivers Baptist church as we both mourn and celebrate the life of our dear brother in the Lord, Tommy Truesdale.
The Bible teaches us how to view death
King Solomon in his Wisdom, tells us to reflect on the shortness and meaning of life
It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
On the eve of his own approaching death, the Lord Jesus gave words of comfort
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
May the Lord use this time that we will lay to heart the brevity of life, and give comfort through the Words and promises of Jesus
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HOMILY:
Intro: We are gathered this day for two reasons
We want to give thanks to God for Tommy our friend who is now with the Lord We want to also honor the God Tommy trusted and the gospel that he trusted to save him
Tommy was a living example of what the Gospel of Mark records
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
Especially in his later years, Tommy had limited biological family left, but he was part of God’s family
Jesus essentially says here: If you care about the right things, you are part of God’s family
**Tommy certainly cared about the right things. First, he cared about his county. This was clear through his proud service in the United Staes Army.
He cared about the church; he cared about the Bible; he cared about prayer; he cared about people….he noticed people.
One example: Maybe a year or so ago, Tommy noticed my son fishing at the TRB pond on A Wed night before church. The next week he said “I have something for you; for your son” We walked to his he had a couple fishing poles and tackle boxes of mostly used fishing gear.
He cared. He prayed. He loved.
Most important, Tommy believed…..
As we look at the text in Thessalonians—it speaks specific truth about what happens to this who believe.
(1 Thess 4:13-18)
—Paul writes this to a church, to believers in Jesus Christ; maybe to clear some confusion, or to correct wrong thinking.
But his main reason seems to be: to encourage
This may sound strange: How can we be encouraged when we are at a funeral? How can there be happiness when something is taken away, especially a persons life?
It’s because believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior radically changes everything
It changes what happens at death, what happens at the end, and what happens forever
Beleving in Christ changes:
What happens at death (13-14)
First, the striking thing is that we don’t find the word death used here—even tough it’s clearly what is in mind Instead, the word “sleep” is used. It’s also the metaphor used in 1 Cor 15.
Its drawn from the OT picture in
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.
Death is clearly not the end—it’s the next step toward a resurrection.
The second thing we see is that death is grieved differently (13b)
There is an appropriate sadness—tears and mourning are natural; Jesus wept when his friend Lazrus died (John 11:35)
—Yet “that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope”
Apply: What happens at death for a believer like Tommy. There is grieving, sadness, but there IS HOPE
Believing in Christ changes: What happens at the end (15-16)
This passage reflects on what will at the end of history—when Jesus returns
The Christian hope is built on a few historical facts—-all of what are utterly miraculous. Jesus came. He died. He rose. He is coming back at the end of history.
These verses give us a peek into that future: (v16)
This banks on the promise of Jesus
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Sum: Believing in Christ changes what happens at the end of history.
What happens forever (v17)
We can see there is a linear progression in this passage—
From death, to the end of the age, to eternity
Death reminds us of what we don’t always have: guarantee of good health, guarantee of days.
One of the things that stood out about Tommy was his commitment to this church, and his commitment to prayer.
Throughout his life, Tommy gave clear evidence of being faithfully committed to Christ.
Every Wednesday evening at 5:15PM, I would pull out of the church parking lot to grab a bite to eat, and a white Toyota would be sitting at the upper parking lot.
Tommy was always here.
Sunday morning, Tommy was always here.
One of our deacons founds Tommy’s prayer notebooks at his house.
Hundreds and hundreds pages; thousands of times names were written down…your names, a lot of you.
Tommy was always praying.
But death reminds us that we don’t always have those things—
--We won’t see Tommy parked in the upper parking lot.
--There is void of a prayer warrior I this church body.
But….there is something that can be guaranteed—for believers
“We will always be with the Lord”
The Puritan Thomas Watson said about death: ‘It’s the funeral for all of our sorrow”
That’s true for our brother., just as sure as the promise of the Lord is
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Conclusion:
Thought this is a message is to encourage Christians, there is also a word if you are not a Christian.
Consider the wisdom of Solomon and lay to heart the brevity of life
Consider what believing in Jesus Christ changes: Death, the end of history, eternity
Consider the reality:
Outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith, there is no hope. If you don’t have his blood covering your sin, the Bible says you are under condemnation. Instead of being always with the Lord, you will be always-forever under his judgment.
So I urge you today do share in the hope that Tommy had by giving your life to Jesus Christ. Come to him in faith and repentance.
For all the brothers and sisters—be encouraged.
I encourage you to continue on in the Lord. I encourage you to continue caring about the things our brother Tommy did: God’s Word, God’s people, living a life of devoted prayer.