"Good Grief"

"Good Grief”

Luke 7:11-17 (ESV)

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.

West Fort Hood Chapel

Communion Sunday

Killeen, TX

6 June 2010

Big Idea: Believers should show compassion and provide emotional support - and assistance - to those that have loss their sons and daughters while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration); Luke 4:24-26 (NIV) “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon; Luke 7:11-17 (ESV) The Raising of the Widow’s son at Nain; 1 Kings 17:7-24 (ESV) – The Widow at Zarephath – Jar of flour/Jug of oil: Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him (Elijah): “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath …; 1 Kings 17:17-24 (ESV) The Widow son became ill; Matthew 10:41 (NIV) Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward; John 5:24 (Lazarus brought to life);

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Luke 7:11-17 (ESV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Luke 7:11-17 (ESV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Luke 7:12-13 (ESV) As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

IV. PURPOSE: Believers should demonstrate the Love of Christ by providing emotional support - and assistance - to those that have loss their fathers, mothers, sons and daughters while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

V. SERMONIC THEME: "Good Grief”

VI. INTRODUCTION:

“Good Grief!”

According to the National Mental Health Center – Grief is defined as “the normal response of sorrow, emotion, and confusion that comes from losing someone or something important to you.

It’s not strange to “grieve” because is a natural part of life on this side of heaven. Grief is the typical reaction that New Soldiers experience when they – for the first time – leave their home of record and their friends and family.

Grief is what happens when someone loses their job or their spouse to divorce. Grief is a typical reaction to death.

One of the signs of grieving is identified in how it feels.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 1: Just after a death or loss, one may feel empty and numb as if you were in shock.

a. In some cases, Soldiers and family members experience trembling, and trouble breathing.

b. While in other cases, they have had a hard time breathing, sleeping and eating.

c. Some become angry at both situations and people.

d. It has been said that “almost everyone in grief also experiences guilt.

e. For guilt is often expressed in statements such as:

f. “I could have … or I should have …. I wish I would have”.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 2: It has been said that folk experiencing “grief” may also experience strange dreams or nightmares.

a. They may even become absent-minded, and withdraw socially.

b. But, eventually … in time … with God’s help … grief … will pass.

c. Who can ever forget the story of the Gentile Woman in Zarephath who had been experiencing a drought in her land?

d. For don’t you remember, Elijah (in 1 Kings 17) found her at gate of the city gathering sticks to start a “last meal fire”?

e. Her plans were to fix some biscuits/hoecakes, drink some water and die.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******

MOVE 3: But, the Good Book says that God had another plan.

a. For the Man of God instructed her to bring him a glass of water and before she makes her last supper to bring him a meal.

b. I don’t know if you remember, but the widow informed Elijah that she only had a little flour in jar;

c. and a little oil in a jug.

d. Still, the Bible says … she obeyed the Man of God and discovered that her ….

e. … Flour never ran out; and her oil never ran dry.