We come together today in the shadow of sorrow and grief, and yet we realize the glorious light, the greatest hope, that the world has ever known. The promise of an eternal life for the faithful Christian. There are many wonderful memories that shine out this day like the stars in the night sky. Let us hold to them instead of the sorrow, for it is our memories that give us comfort and carries us through our lifetime
There are many occasions that draw people together, but none affect us more than the loss of, a mother, a grandmother,, a great grandmother, a family member, a friend and a faithful Christian woman. We gather today to remember ----- and the treasured times that we drew from her love, strength and encouragement. In this, all gathered here today extend to her family love, sympathy and compassion. We weep together in our grief.
In Times like this we turn to the only place that we can find genuine comfort, The Word of God. I believe that ----- would echo the words of Paul as he wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 -I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
It is a fact that all of us will suffer death. Every child and adult that is here today, Unless the Lord comes, will someday come face to face with death. What we do with our lives while living here on earth will determine our destination at the judgement.
2 Corinthians 5:10-
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Today we are not here to mourn the loss of a loved one but to rejoice that she has run her race and her reward awaits.
In reality, none can preach our funeral; we preach our own funerals while we live.
------ will always be a part of those lives he touched. I feel the writer of Proverbs speaks of her life very well:
Proverbs 31:10-31
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate
This beautiful poem says a lot about the Life of a Christian woman :
---- was TRUSTWORTHY and DEPENDABLE, filled with AN ENDURING LOVE, INDUSTRIOUS, COMPASSIONATE, she SPOKE WORDS OF WISDOM & KINDNESS, She DILIGENTLY SAW TO THE NEEDS OF HER FAMILY and SHE FEARED Her God and kept His commands.
The love---- had for her family was apparent and she also included that love to her church family. My family has always felt like part of the --------- family because she imparted to each person what you needed, love, encouragement and she shared her faith openly and lovingly with all her friends.
When you ate one of those fried pies or apple dumplins it made you experience that lovin feelin.
Although --------- made it clear she was the favorite granddaughter (because -------has known her longer)! -------- was quick to respond, but I have the tinker toy pan and the blue skillet and soon that Fried pie apple dumpling lovin feelin would be a comin from her kitchen! I quickly reminded ---------- our church potluck was comin soon!
Questions remain unanswered Who’s making the peanut brittle? and where are the pumpkin rolls? ---------enjoyed cooking and had decided this year she was going to make the dressing after the infamous hazelnut dressing last year. ---------- said it stunk! But------ said It’s not that bad but agreed she needed to make it this time.
You can quickly tell that this family is blended with love because of the way they joke and pick on one another. The granddaughters teamed up telling the story of the time when ----- went to get nuts for a gathering and brought back Beer nuts they giggled as they said ------ gave him the stank eye.
May the memories you each have ,and those you shared with ---- be the most precious gift that you could ever receive ... Hold them within your hearts forever and her life and her love will never depart from you.
----- was an example of Christian living and lived a faithful Christian life, she loved her family and friends, but most of all she loved the Lord.
Let us pray-
Our most loving and gracious heavenly Father,
Our God our refuge and strength,
close at hand in our distress;
meet us in our sorrow and lift our eyes
to the peace and light of your constant care.
Help us so to hear your word of grace
that our fear will be dispelled by your love,
our loneliness eased by your presence
and our hope renewed by your promises
God our Father,
We thank you for ------- life ,
the years we shared with her,
the love we received from her.
Now give us strength and courage
to leave her in your care,
Knowing your promise of eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In Jesus’s name we pray Amen
I have talked with ---- many times about what she wished to be said at her funeral. She told me that there were friends that when it came to religion she had to agree to disagree with and she was concerned about this. She was concerned with the state of the world today and wanted a sermon that might help someone understand the importance of baptism and the plan of salvation.
In order to become a Christian… you have to die.
• You have to die to the past.
• You have to die to your old way of life.
Romans 6:3-4-
‘ don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his DEATH?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into DEATH in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
And Romans 6:6 -says “For we know that our old self was CRUCIFIED with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin”
This theme is repeated in Colossians 3:3-which says
“For you DIED, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Again and again in the New Testament we’re told that in order to belong to Jesus we have to die. We have to die to our past sinfulness and our old way of living.
Baptism was God’s way of driving that truth home:
Baptism was meant to remind us that our past is now gone. The old man of sin is dead and buried. Our sinful past doesn’t exist anymore… it’s been buried
And that’s where my earthly body will reside until Jesus comes and the trumpet call of God calls me out of that grave.
Romans 6- tells us that when we’re baptized into Christ, we’re buried with Him and that’s why water Baptism always involved a lot of water.
Acts 8- tells us of the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch, and we’re told that
“… both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:38-39
There’d be no sense going “down into the water” and coming “up out of the water” if all Philip needed to do was sprinkle a little water on the Eunuch’s head. He could have done that with a canteen full of water.
Baptism required a lot of water because it represented a physical death and a burial.
If you are baptized into Christ you would be lowered into the water as into a grave.
God designed your baptism NOT ONLY to represent your death but also to reassure you that one day you will rise from the dead.
That’s what Romans 6:4- means when it says“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Baptism IS all about obedience to the Gospel the death… and burial and resurrection.
Repeatedly in Scripture, people were baptized immediately upon making their decision for Christ
• Acts 16- tells us about a business woman named Lydia. She was down at the riverside studying the Bible with a bunch of other ladies. Paul came along and preached to them… and baptized her. He didn’t wait a few days/ few weeks. He baptized her right then. Is that the way it happened with you?
• On Pentecost, Peter talked to a large crowd of people in Jerusalem.
3000 people responded to the message
BUT Peter didn’t wait a few days/ few weeks. They baptized all 3000 that day.
Again and again in Acts we find people were baptized immediately upon believing in Jesus
Why?
Because you don’t leave dead bodies lying around
If a person is dying to their sin… you bury them
why do some churches wait?
Why don’t they baptize people right away?
Well, they wait because they don’t believe baptism is involved in our salvation.
“You’re already saved” they’ll say and baptism is merely a public declaration of the decision you’ve made.
They say “baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace”.
Instead, the Bible teaches us that
When you have been “baptized into Christ (you have) clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27
I thought I was saved by the Grace of God through faith?
Yes you are.
But our faith is shown by our repentance of sins, confession of Jesus as Lord and our allowing ourselves to be buried in the waters of baptism.
Baptism is an expression of our faith.
That’s what Colossians 2:12- that says “having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him THROUGH YOUR FAITH in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Faith and baptism work hand in hand in our salvation
Believe-Mark 16:15-16-15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (death burial resurrection) to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned
Repent-Luke 13:3-3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish
Confess-Matthew 10:32-33-.
32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Baptism-Acts 2:38-38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
