Funeral.086
Charles Chappell, age 76, Service @ Bayview Baptist Church 4-11-2001
From the pulpit of Bayview Baptist Church, Columbia, SC
Prelude
Processional: “Rejoice In the Lord, Always”
Congregational Hymn: “Majesty”
We have gathered here today to praise God, to be a witness of our Christian faith, and to celebrate and honor the life of Mr. Charles Chappell.
Scripture: Psalm 23 (K.J.V).
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names’ sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou prparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Prayer:
Solo: “How Great Thou Art”
Devotional Message: John 14:1-6
The 14th chapter of the Gospel of John has its setting in the Upper Room, where the disciples have eaten the Passover meal with Jesus.
Jesus knew exactly what the next few hours and days would bring, so He prepared His disciples to face the future without fear.
The words, “do not let your hearts be troubled…” were addressed by Jesus to all the disciples, but we can rightly include ourselves in His audience, and apply them to our own hearts and lives.
As Christians, we’re exposed to many adversities, troubles, and even sorrow and suffering sometimes on a daily basis.
What this passage teaches us is that while we cannot prevent the many adversities and losses of life, we are able to find the strength and the power with the help of the Lord to get us through them.
Jesus suggest to us that we “trust in God; and trust also in Christ.”
He was actually saying, “You have trusted God, now it’s time to trust in Me!”
One of the most amazing things that Jesus reveals to us is found in verse 2.
“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.”
This is one of the greatest truths found anywhere in the Bible, and it implies that God dwells somewhere in a permanent place.
The word “rooms” is actually translated “mansions” and the Greek says “In the house of the Father of me abodes many there are.”
What Jesus is teaching us is that in God’s house, which is heaven, there are many mansions to live.
To me, that gives me great comfort, that I can know for sure that Jesus has already prepared a mansion in heaven for me to live.
To know that when I die I’m going to my Father’s house gives me, and I pray it gives you great comfort.
My Father’s house is where I’m always accepted and loved.
My Father’s house is where I am not a guest, but where I’m a resident.
That’s home.
How can you and I know for certain there’s a place called heaven?
Because God says there is, and I would rather have God’s Word about this than to trust anyone else.
The second great truth we learn from this passage is that Jesus will come back.
Stop and think about that for a moment.
Jesus isn’t just going to show us the way, or write out some instructions for us about how we can get to heaven; but He’s going to come back and take us by the hand and personally lead us to our Father’s house.
The Apostle Paul expanded this truth when he wrote: “for the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (I Thess. 4:16).
Charles Chappell died in the Lord, knowing Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, so that means when Christ comes again in that great Second Coming, Charles will have a head start on those who are living, because “the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Another great truth from this passage in John chapter 14 is that we will be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever.
To me, that must be what makes heaven so wonderful.
When our lives are focused upon Christ, we walk in glory with Him forever.
Oh, the death of a Christian is a wonderful thing! For death takes the Christian to a better place.
Charles Chappell is now in heaven.
A person doesn’t go to heaven to find Christ, he or she goes to Christ to find heaven!
This passage of Scripture in the Gospel of John is the greatest promise of hope that Jesus ever made.
When our lives are focused upon Jesus, we walk hand-in-hand with Him in victory.
For Jesus takes care of your past.
He helps you with your present.
And He has already prepared for you the future.
I am thankful that I can count Charles Chappell as my personal friend.
As Charles’ pastor, I have known him as a tall, kind, gentle, soft spoken man who was at peace and very much content with his life.
I believe I can honestly say that Charles has been the most content man I have ever known.
He would always make you feel at home and bless your heart with a warm feeling of his friendship.
I remember once I was visiting Charles, and he told me he wanted to give me something.
So, Charles pulled out this play $100.00 and he gave it to me, and I placed it in my filing cabinet and dated it March 5, 1998.
I believe what he was really saying was, “Jimmy, you’re my pastor, but you’re also my friend!”
Christie & Charlene, your father wasn’t a wealthy man, he was a working man.
But he gave you something much more precious that wealth.
As your father, Charles gave you his unconditional love and devotion; always concerned for your well being.
And this same characteristic of love continued to all the grandchildren as well.
Iris, you and Charles have enjoyed a marriage made in heaven.
On June 25, 1998, you were fortunate enough to celebrate 50 wonderful years together.
When I looked at your marriage, as your pastor, you always thrilled my heart, and together, Iris, you and Charles gave me hope that God would always carry you through.
God has completed His promises to you and Charles.
For Charles reassured all of us before God took him home that Charles is eternally safe in the hands of our wise and merciful God.
Iris, yours was truly a marriage built upon the perfect foundation of love:
Read I Corinthians 13:1-8a
May our God of mercy and peace help us today to continue to find our comfort and strength in Him.
And may God bless the memory of Charles Chappell, who loves God and is with Him eternally today.
Solo: “The Lord’s Prayer”
Recessional: “Amazing Grace”
Postlude
At the grave:
Psalm 100
Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12
“Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Final prayer:
Eternal God in heaven, we have prepared our hearts to give Mr. Charles Chappell to you; for it has pleased you in your great mercy and love in receiving the soul of Mr. Chappell into heaven eternal.
` We, as Mr. Chappell’s family, friends, and pastor, commit his body to the ground in the certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May you, our God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant, work in our hearts what is pleasing to Him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Rev. Jimmy Davis
Bayview Baptist Church
5300 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC 29204
e-mail: BayviewBaptist@aol.com
Telephone: 803-754-8690
