A Memorial To James Stamper

Memorial to James Stamper

Opening Prayer: Oh Lord God we know our brother is now safely in your loving arms, I humbly ask you Father to ease the suffering of everyone here today morning the loss of a true friend of the faith. Father may your Spirit guide us as we reflect on Your work in the life our departed loved one, and our own. IN JESUS NAME AMEN.

Dearly beloved we are gathered here today in memory of James Stamper. To Celebrate his life and morn the passing of our dear friend and brother in Christ Jesus.

James Michael Stamper was born August 5th 1951 in Shawnee Oklahoma.

He is preceded in death by his parents J.B. and Jewel Stamper.

He is Survived by His Brother and Sister Sandy Moyers and Doug Stamper.___His beautiful wife Trina Stamper of Tecumseh Oklahoma-___His children Bryan-Tammy and Tarry Sutherland-Jamie and Skyler Henderson

And his grandchildren Blake and Logan Sutherland.

Mike met his wife Trina in 1997 and was married October 23rd 1998 at Del City Christian Church. They moved to Tecumseh Oklahoma in 2005.

Mike loved to play golf, ---go fishing and he, like our Savior Jesus he loved Wood working. Mike loved watching OU Football (with a passion) and was an AVID FAN of the Denver Broncos.

Most of all Mike loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart, and it was with great passion he shared his faith and hope with others. Mike went on to be with the Lord January 23rd 2009 and now rests in the arms of his loving Savior and Lord.

Knowing Mike as I do he would not want us to be only grieved and saddened, but to remember his life. Let’s take moment to reflect on his life.

(Start film) (Get Lights)

Sermon What it means to be a Christian?

Romans 10:8-9 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"[a] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

My friend Mike desperately wanted to share his testimony before he left us. And if Mike were able to speak to you right now, he would want you to know what it means to be a Christian.

This may come as a surprise to you but most people really don’t know what it is to be a “Christian”.

I. Believing in God? NO!

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.

Not only do the demons believe there is a God but they fear Him.

Now I know this is going to come as a shock to some of you!

II. Believing in Jesus Christ does that make you a Christian? No.

Often times Jesus would move about the country side healing the sick, when He would come upon a demon possessed person those demons residing inside them would cry out and confess “The Holy one of God, have you come to torture us before the appointed time?”

A. Jesus is the most provable ancient historical figure of all time.

B. There is undeniable evidence that Jesus existed.

C. When ever any one explains a date in History (i.e. 2000 BC) they are acknowledging Christ existed!

III. So does going to church does that make you a Christian? No.

a. Don’t kid yourself many go to church every day for the prestige.

b. Many go because it’s just something the family does every week.

c. To some it’s no more than a hobby, they just like to go a Churcken’ as I like to say.

d. Some go because it makes them feel better about themselves.

e. Some even go because there friends go.

f. I would guess that there are probably more demons in churches than anywhere else on the planet trying to frustrate the Lords work.

G. people go to church for a lot of reasons but church doesn’t save you.

IV. So does reading your Bible make you a Christian? No.

Let me tell you something

“””””Satan knows the word of God probably better than anyone and he definitely is not going to Heaven

”””””” Satan quoted scripture to Jesus when he was tested in the wilderness!!!

I’ve meet people who could quote you scripture after scripture, and you couldn’t trust them as far as you could throw them. (boy I see that almost every day on Television)

V. So does the combination of going to church, reading your Bible, believing in Jesus Christ, Believing in God, +++++plus being a good person does that make you a Christian? No.

Romans 3:10 There is not one righteous no not one.