Funeral Service
Introduction
Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome. We’ve gathered today to remember and to celebrate the life of ______
John 11:25-26 (NASB)
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Prayer
Lord we’ve gathered today in your sight to remember and honor the life of _________ and to help his family and friends walk this journey through the valley of the shadow of death. We pray today as Job prayed so many years ago:
Job 1:21 (NASB)
“…The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
You gave us _______ as a special gift. He was indeed a special husband to his children, a husband who treasured his wife, a brother, and a good friend to many. Thank you for the gift of _________ life.
And now that he is gone from us, we can only say to you, Blessed be the name of the LORD. You are a good God and we trust you in this journey. We honor Your Name today.
We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen
Sharing memories of ______________
Dying at age 85, many would say that _________ lived a long good life. But death always seems to come too soon and we never feel quite prepared for it.
While _________ has moved on from here, we are left with his memory. I’d like at this time to ask you as friends and family to share a brief statement of remembrance about __________. What positive thing will you remember about him?
MESSAGE: How should we think about death?
Introduction
We don’t come to this place often and so it’s good for us to take this opportunity to think about the meaning of death in our own lives.
When we think about death, there’s more to it than meets the eye. In fact, I believe we know very little about death. But the Bible gives us clues to understanding death.
I want to give you a couple of pictures of death today, not to minimize it’s impact but to reveal more of the realities of death. Because everyone of us will one day take this journey of facing our own mortality.
Pictures of Death
Luke 12:20; Psalm 23:1-6; II Timothy 4:6-8
I. Death is like a thief.
1. Jesus once told a story about a man who was living to gather things. He had so much stuff that he had to keep buying larger houses to put it all in (or build larger barns). He was living for today and for all of the things money could buy. But suddenly all of that didn’t matter.
Luke 12:20 (NASB)
20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'
2. I’m telling this story because DEATH STEALS FROM US in this life by suddenly separating us from the people and things we’ve come to care about. It robs us. Now obviously the man in this story was caring about the wrong things in life – things rather than people. But death snuck up on him and robbed him.
3. A little while back, our church office building was broken into by thieves who took some of our equipment. Personally I’ve had my car broken into a couple of times. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has experienced things being stolen.
Each time it happens, you feel so violated – so unprotected. And you get angry, don’t you! I know I do.
Death is like that. It’s a reality of life that we never seem quite prepared for. And what it takes from us are our most valued possessions – our relationships with people we love.
The people we talk with, the people we dream with, the people we laugh with, the people we fight with, the people we cry with. Death steals them away.
4. And so the lesson from this story is this: Protect what is truly valuable – your relationships – with each other and with God. Jesus told us these should be our highest priority – Loving God and loving our neighbor.
II. Death is like a shadow.
1. We’re probably all familiar with these words from Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1-6 (NASB)
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not 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 the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 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 have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
In this passage, death is described as casting a shadow. Let’s look at that for a moment.
2. Have you ever been enjoying a nice sunny day when all of a sudden a dark cloud hides the sun? All of a sudden you’re in this shadow!
What does the shadow do? It hides the light. It makes it more difficult to see the world and people around you. Darkness makes you feel all alone because you can’t see anyone else.
Death is like a shadow. It makes us feel alone. It takes away some of the light in our lives.
3. The good news is that the shadow is temporary. There will again come a time of rejoicing.
As Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time for everything.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NASB)
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
So even though you are experiencing the shadow of death now, there will come a time again of rejoicing.
4. So the lesson is: Be ready to rejoice again. Let the shadow pass. Keep walking through the shadow to the brightness of life on the other side.
III. Death is like a finish line.
1. Toward the end of his life, Paul wrote these words as he anticipated his own death.
II Timothy 4: 6-8 (NIV)
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2. Paul said that death was like finishing the race. Like crossing the finish line. That all of life is really about one thing – finishing well. Accomplishing the dreams and goals that God has for your life.
3. I ran cross country in high school. We’d go out to these golf courses and really rather desolate places and run a couple of miles sometimes across creeks and through wooded areas. If the course was not well marked and if you were like me and got far behind from the other runners, there was a chance of getting off the course and never really getting to the finish line.
4. Some people get distracted running the race of life. They start off following the goals and path that God has for them but something leads them astray.
5. Others seem to give up the race too soon. They throw in the towel when the race isn’t over yet.
______________ doesn’t strike me as a quitter. And I want to encourage each of you to also not be a quitter.
Would you take his example of not being a quitter and apply it to your life in pursuing God’s purpose for you? God has each of you here for a reason. You’re in your job for a reason. You’re in your school for a reason. You’re in your family for a reason. God put you here and He’s given you a race to run.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
6. Death is like a finish line and the lesson is: Run your race well to the very end. Keep your eye on the goals and plans that God has for you.
CONCLUSION: Death is Not the End.
Life doesn’t stop after you cross the finish line.
Jesus endured the cross so that you and I could have forgiveness of sin and eternal life when we place our trust in Him. When we trust Jesus we can know that death isn’t the end. We cross that milestone and enter heaven victoriously.
John 11:25-26 (NASB)
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
When we live our lives believing and following Jesus, we don’t have to fear death. We can be ready for it.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you that we can look at death with understanding and hope. Because of what Jesus has done we can make sure our priorities are in order and can live our lives for you to the very end.
Some of us today in our hearts want to just commit ourselves to you in a fresh way. Thank You for reminding us of what is really important in our lives.
And once again we thank you for the life of _____________. Thank you for the memories we hold of him in our hearts. Thank you for the many lives he touched.
We commit ourselves to your care.
In Jesus Name
Amen
