Funeral Sermon For A Christian

Funeral Service

John Woodall

Welcome

On behalf of the family - I would like to both welcome you and thank you for being here to honor the life of John Woodall. And let me say, that you have no idea how much your presence today, means to them. The family will never forget they you took the time & effort to show them how much you care for them and how much you loved John.

What I’d like to do at this time is to read some scripture from God’s word - my reason for doing this is because the Word of God is powerful - it is living and active. And God says of His word - in Is;

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater. So is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty BUT will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Is 55:11,12

Prayer.........

NOW – the Scriptures that I want to read are some of the ones that I read to John just hours before he went home. I asked him if I could read some Scripture and John nodded his head yes.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death, [1]

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Pslam 46

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• Special Song – “I Come To The Garden”

• Comments On John’s Life - Ryckie

• Message - Steve

When death comes calling, it’ difficult for most of us to think good thoughts. In spite of the efforts of our friends and neighbors to comfort and encourage us, we still feel the sting - the pain & the heartache - that is so much a part of losing a loved one.

To be quite honest about it, there’s probably nothing I could say today that would completely alleviate the grief you feel. BUT I would like to try to lessen it a little bit by encouraging you to remember 4 important truths......

Now, these are truths that you’re probably already aware of, and yet, they can be awfully easy to forget at a time like this.....

First Of All, You Should Remember That We Have Gathered Together In This Place, Not Because Our Loved One Has Died, But Because John Woodall Lived.....

We are not here today to honor death. We are here because we’ve had the privilege and honor of knowing & loving John. His life was a good one. He brought love, joy & laughter into the lives of many people, both family and friends. And for that we can be very thankful.