SERMON OUTLINE AND NOTES
Life Is for Living (Not Dying)
Luke 20:27-38
V. 36 -- Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
If we humans die, will we live again? That’s my question. All through these difficult days I keep hoping, waiting for the final change—for resurrection! –Job 14:14 (Msg)
In today’s scripture lesson Jesus is drawn into a discussion of resurrection. Not by people who cared about the issue for personal reasons, but by religious leaders who were determined to demonstrate how absurd the idea of resurrection is. In the process of his answer, Jesus gives some clues which speak to our hearts in times of loss, despite the ulterior motives of his questioners.
Old Testament law required the brother of a man who died childless to marry the widow so that the deceased brother would have his lineage continued by the brother. The Sadducees propose a question to Jesus.
"Supposing," they say, " A man dies leaving no children and his six brothers in turn marry the woman and then die without children. Then the woman dies. Who will be her husband in the resurrection?"
Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees translates to something like, "People don’t get married in the resurrection and there is no need to produce successors. Everyone in the resurrection is a child of God -- they don’t need the equivalent of earthly parents. In fact, they don’t die anymore, so there’s no necessity for the child rearing function of marriage. Heaven isn’t what you are making it out to be."
A--WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HEAVEN?
And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. Revelation 21:21-26
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. -- Revelation 21:4
• The description of heaven or resurrection life is incomplete given the limitation of human words.
B-- BIBLICAL IDEAS WHICH GIVE US POWER WHEN WE FACE THE TERRIBLE GRIEF OF SEPARATION FROM A LOVED ONE.
1. Nothing can separate me (or my deceased loved one) from God’s love.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
2. Jesus promised that he was going to get a place ready for me and that he was going to be with me always.
Jesus said to his disciples, "Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.” -- John 14:1-3 (CEV)
CONCLUSION:
The view from beyond the grave is simple and yet strong. There is resurrection. There is "the life everlasting’" after the mortal life. Life is for living—not dying. Today is the first day of the rest of your life and the loved one’s life. Death and taxes are not the bottom line. Life does not grow old. Life does not die. Life is for living—life is an eternal, dynamic, flowing process.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. --1 Cor. 13:12
