Mamaw's Funeral Sermon

Prayer

Praise God for

Life

Mamaw’s life

Ask for

Comfort for those in attendance

Clarity of speech, boldness in proclamation of the Word, and peace in Christ

Intro

On behalf of my family, thank you all for coming.

Go on a journey with me for a moment.

In 1886, a Pharmacist in Metro Atlanta, GA by the name of John Pemberton, manufactured a concoction that he believed would produce healing for diseased, help with addictions, and cure various disorders. His concoction was a particular syrup combined with carbonated water, which people then thought promoted good health.

He went to a drug store and began looking for people interested in buying a glass. That day he sells the first glass of the medicinal drink for 5cents.

Over the next year, on average 9 glasses were sold per day. At the end of his first year, his total sales were $50. Problem was that his overhead it cost him $70. So he lost $20 on the year trying to convince people of this drink.

Fast forward to 2022. Today alone, 2 billion glasses of drinks will be enjoyed associated with that first drink. 2 billion glasses in around 200 countries.

Sales are a little different these days too. Instead of $50 a year, sales total around $35 billion.

What is the product? Coca-Cola.

Seemingly insignificant and small. But would lead to products that have effected multitudes of lives, all around the world. 94% of the world’s population recognizes the logo. 7 billion in the world.

Linda Mangold was a major contributor to the company. They are probably going to take a major hit this year in sales.

Mamaw always shared this story of how she had health complications that led the doctors to tell her she wouldn’t make it to 50.

I’m not saying that Dr. Pemberton was right in that Coke was a medicine, considering she lived to be 71, I’m just saying he might be on to something.

Addressing the Uncomfortable Elephant in the Room

We are here because death has occurred.

We are mournful and uncomfortable.

Why?

Death is the most common thing to us.

People

Plants and trees

Animals and insects

Why does death make us so uncomfortable?

It is inevitable

In yourself, there is nothing you can do to stop it or prevent it

It is unknown

Where while we may believe that we understand death

We have no idea

We do not know or day the time that death will come to us.

We simply live with the uncomfortable reality that it will come.

Our lives are so small

7.8 billion people in the world and not everyone knows your name

This is very humbling.

Psalm 103:14–16 ESV

For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

At times of grief and realizations of our own mortality, we are most impressionable regarding eternity.

The death of a loved one opens the lives of family, friends, and even casual acquaintances to the realities of heaven and hell.

So although these are moments of discomfort and grief, I think this can be a moment of severe grace.

What causes this? This isn’t how things were meant to be right?

Holiness of the Living God

Perfection in creation

Sin enters in

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Two types of death: Physical and Spiritual

Physical: Cessation of life

Spiritual: Separation from God

Every person now is born into spiritual death.

We are rebels of God

We do not long for Him naturally.

This explains the sense of unsatisfaction

What hope do we have? A promise

When Adam and Eve sinned, God generously gave them a promise: I will send a Savior to fix it all.

The storyline of the entire Bible is God fulfilling that promise.

The entire Old Testament points to Jesus saying, “He’s coming!”

The New Testament opens with declaring, “He’s here!”

The end of the New Testament proclaims, “He’s coming again!”

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ pays the debt for your sin!

Physical death will meet us all

But spiritual death has been killed in the blood of Jesus

Hebrews 2:9–15 ESV

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Death no longer has power over those who believe in Jesus for salvation

There will be no more funerals in heaven!

Those who follow Christ can walk in joyful disobedience to death because now our lives are in a resurrected Savior! Jesus is alive!

He is not dead because He has conquered death for you and me!

Those who hope in Him will have eternal life

John 3:16–18 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Conclusion

Physical death will be escaped by none of us

Spiritual death no longer holds power over those who have saved by Christ

Those who follow and worship King Jesus will no longer die eternally, but live in the joy of the Lord.

Is this you?

Does this comfort you? That Jesus has given Himself up for our forgiveness?

This deeply comforts me.

I praise God, who gives life, for this woman.

Quirky and stubborn, she loved me so ferociously

When I needed to be heard, she listened.

When I needed to be challenge, she had no problem with uncomfortable conversation.

She was my biggest offender, yet my biggest defender

Thank you for encouraging me. Fighting me. Laughing with me. Living with me. And never giving up on me.

I love you, Mamaw.

Graveside Service

Psalm 90:1–17 ESV

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!