A funeral message for a Christian woman who passed away. These sermon manuscripts are not copyrighted. But just in case it might not be, let's elaborate a bit. And my mind landed on the story about this woman named Dorcas from the Book of Acts. 1 Timothy 1:15 speaks of the Gospel, the good news of the blessed God, which is the good news that God is happy. Whatever pleases Him. ). Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount,"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. God is actually intending to reward you for good works. As Jesus said in Matthew 12:33, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit." He is among us; He is in us; He is our very life. James 2:18,"Someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.'" Preparing well for the funerals of unknowns is vital so that those who listen might find some consolation in Christ. Remember that picture of Jim Craig with the American flag around his shoulders, scanning the crowds, and you could see, you could read his lips. He came to find us, to forgive us, and to free us from the power of sin. The Parable of the Talents 22 The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, 'Master, you entrusted me with two talents. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." I'm going to put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master." See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Is that enough for you friends? So, I urge you to flee to Christ. The sermon manuscripts are given in 46 languages to about 120,000 computers each month. Are you living for yourself when you get money? Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. I sought to point out that our comfort (and hers) in the face of death was not based upon her age and physical condition, but rather in Christ. I dont know if I can say "I did everything God wanted me to do today". He reflected back over his amazing military career and the immense sacrifices that soldiers had made to win him an empire, and he uttered some famous words, "A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon." We swam in it and you couldn't go under the surface of the water. In all this, she used that which God gave her to multiply Gods gifts to her in order that she might do the will of God! I think it's because inside each one of us is a yearning for glory and recognition, for honor and praise. If you're here today and you're lost, if you don't know Jesus, and the rest of the sermon is going to be about rewards, just know this, if you stand before God on Judgment Day without Christ as your Savior, you will have no rewards, there will be none, nothing but wrath and anger for sin. W hen Jessica Mitford first published The American Way of Death in 1963, she unleashed a broadside against the entire funeral industry in this country. 2. MAT. We are justified by simple faith in Jesus Christ. It says in verse 14, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. So, you have this master and he's the owner. Dr. Hymers e-mail is at rlhymersjr@sbcglobal.net (click here). This was the funeral of a very lovely 94-year-old woman in our church, who was a believer. Speaking at a funeral or memorial service is a somber moment. As soon as he won, he turned and looked right to his father, and he climbs up over and around and through people to get up there and embrace him. Ever. Now I know that "celebrating" is not the usual term applied to this day. In Luke 19 says, The king sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, each person getting the same one mina, to find out what they had gained with it. He identifies them based on their works. They will ask you to go out through the back door to the street and to the foyer. Many sons have expressed that the central desire in their life is to make their father proud of them. Jesus said. It is natural for us to think about what happens to a Christian like Eloise after they die. Often, preachers see these funerals as a mere duty every clergyman simply must do. A Brief Sermon For A Memorial Service. As this sermon reminds us, the scriptures are very clear and forceful that in times of crisis, many people feel the absence of God. Isn't that good news? This isn't just any joy; this is the happiness that comes from God. I want you to look at this new Earth. Today, we're going to zero in on the concept of eternal rewards, heavenly rewards for being good stewards of the grace that God has entrusted to us. No, he didn't reach millions but he was faithful right where he was. To the first two servants Jesus said, "Well DONE! You have been faithful with a few things. It's all over the world, salvation by works. The cup of cold-water reward. She invested her talents in her love for ***. if you can. Therefore, we have no good works apart from Christ. 'well Done, Good and Faithful Servant', a Sermon, Preached After the Funeral of J.W. Goodbye arrogance. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Ephesians 2:8-10, Matthew 25:14-30, Revelation 21:4, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. Quite frankly, lost people, people who are dead in their transgressions and sins, they have no good works. But in the middle of it all is you get a sense of God's joy in what He's made. Over the past week, our church has grieved over the death of two members, and the father of Nyles and Dwayne Smith. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Each receives the same invitation: "You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Most importantly, she loved her Lord and she. Things seem to go well for us at one moment, then somehow in the next moment it is matched by an equal amounts of misfortune. This will happen after the rapture. by Timothy George 2 . IV. Yet, even in the context of a funeral, we remember what Ezekiel learned: God's breath suffocates death. He uses it for all eternity, so there it is, that's praise. Yes. Jesus shed His Blood on the Cross to cleanse you from all sin (I John 1:7). Do you see where they live way up high, where the Eries are, way up high up in the rocky crag and how it sees its food from afar. What is God doing? This sermon is useful when speaking at a memorial service for an unexpected passing. And after that, and then you may have your dinner.? He moves in us by faith through the Holy Spirit when the time comes to actually do those good works, overcoming our own native selfishness and weakness. This statement is a staggering one. Flee away that glory day! In our mourning of her passing, let us be comforted by the Word of God: sorrow, crying, or pain for everything will, be made new just as God intended for it to, I Thessalonians 4:13-14: Dont mourn as the, world does, for we do so with hope of the. Then when I came back, I would have received it back with interest. Again, works identified. Feb 17, 2013. I will now receive my crown of righteousness which my Lord will give to me. Flowers at the graveside might make you feel better, but your spouse could only have enjoyed them in life. An unregenerate person cannot improve his or her status in God's sight one fraction of an inch by his good works. And he said unto me, It is done. All sickness gone, all sore. "Here I am God to talk to you about me. Jesus said to the converted thief, who was dying on the cross next to Him, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly. The Napoleonic Wars resulted in the deaths of perhaps as many as six million human beings. It's like the honor and glory given to an Olympic athlete who wins the gold medal. 1. Sorrow and sighing shall flee away! Sometimes they are the words that they use at their funeral, or put on their headstone, or ask that their funeral sermon speak those words. It is the consummation of the very thing that we should have been seeking all along. He had led armies of over 600,000 men, he had won battles in Egypt and throughout Europe, and at one point controlled most of continental Europe. The glory and the honor of the nations will be brought into it. This sounds like the kings of the earth are bringing glory into the New Jerusalem, to say more than this is to indulge freely in speculation. at www.sermonsfortheworld.com. A monthly gift of $5 helps us reach 400 additional people a year! It's actually sinful not to yearn for it and long for it. Eloises body, and the bodies of all true Christians, will be caught upto meet the Lord in the air (v. 17). When Jesus Comes to Reign (by Dr. John R. Rice, 1895-1980). But even if I could, I would say, Im only an unworthy servant, I've only done my duty. These rewards are given to us by grace, we should just be staggered by all this. He says later,"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead." It provides us with a chance to reflect on our own personal relationship with the Lord. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile, but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile, for God does not show favoritism.". 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. As Napoleon was talking with the captain of the Bellerophon, the ship that would carry him to his exile, he was in a pensive and somewhat ironic mood. Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. I felt like I had a big cork tied to my chest, you just couldn't sink, and I just picture a buoyant swim in a sea of joy, friends. It's the story of redemption, of God's love extended to one whom many thought beyond his reach. The rewards Christ will give at this time will determine the position the Christian will have in Christs earthly kingdom (Luke 19:12-26). To know what kind of tree we are, there is a simple principle taught in the Sermon on the Mount. He says to the sheep, to the righteous, to the redeemed,"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. The healing that has been delayed, has now been realized. Why do I say this? Note: Ephesians 2:8-10: Works do not save us, but we are created in Christ to do them. Well done." But . He will save you for all time, and for all eternity. Actually, amazingly, the Scripture says, not only is it not wrong, but we must also yearn for it. To nail that in place, Jesus told a troublesome little parable. He's not making a mistake here, He's not forgetting himself and worshipping created beings, not at all. All of it taken away. FUNERAL HOMILY DOROTHY THOMPSON It is a basic tenant of our faith / that human life is sacred, / that the human person is respected, / that we are made / in the image and likeness of God. Is it wrong to yearn for praise from Jesus? To one servant he gave 5 talents - that was 5 sacks of treasure. There's going to be things to do in Heaven, responsibilities. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. . Turn away from your sins and trust Jesus with all your heart. Brother Moore, we love you and will carry on your legacy. Jesus shed His blood on the cross that you might have eternal life, and as we're going to find out in this message so much more than that. That's a doctrine of rewards. Tonight, one of my churches holds an 'All Souls Service', where we invite all the families for whom we have conducted funerals over the past year. So, we might immediately try to distance ourselves from that drive to be praised, that drive for glory. IT is the happiness of our religion, that all mankind, poor and rich, are equally able to please God. (Matthew Sermon 27 of 151), Christ's Absolute Power Over Demons (Matthew Sermon 28 of 151), Christ's Power on Earth to Forgive Sins (Matthew Sermon 29 of 151), The "Friend of Sinners" Saves a Tax Collector (Matthew Sermon 30 of 151). Paul and Barnabas had been forced to flee from Antioch and Iconium. Can we all say that? He might say, "Do you realize what this individual did, this Martyr, this missionary, this evangelist, this Pastor, this servant? I said last week that in Matthew 25:14-15, the greatest single-focused verse or two verses on the essentials of stewardship, all of the basic ingredients of stewardship are there. In addition, quoting the deceased loved one's favorite poems or lyrics or your own can help illustrate a life well-lived. Praise can be given to a created being without it being worship. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58). At his funeral countless numbers of his co-workers all told the same story - this man loved Jesus and loved people. John's funeral provides us with an opportunity to see what difference faith can make in one person's life. There are actually going to be responsibilities in the new heaven, the new Earth. Even though it may come after a long season of illness, even though there may be a sense of its closeness, death always catches us off guard, always comes as a surprise. What are you going to do with the fact that most knowledgeable Christians if you ask them and say, "What is the one thing you'd want on Judgment Day?" The purpose of this website is to provide free sermon manuscripts and sermon videos to pastors and missionaries throughout the world, especially the Third World, where there are few if any theological seminaries or Bible schools. The only comfort some funeral sermons bring is when they are over! Or what about the hawk or the eagle? Just salivating for it, couldn't wait for it. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Try, Slow Down, Big Fellawhat A Motorcyclist Taught Me About Preaching, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. There will be non-Christians in the crowd, and believers who need comfort and assurance from God. Goodbye pride. If you want a bigger part, then live like it, friends. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Paul says if you do that, you're not really a Jew. It's profound happiness, a delight that's very difficult to capture in words, and notice the invitation: Enter into the joy of your Master. When Jesus comes to reign. For me, John Wilde was one of those people. Eyes of the blind will be opened then; 3. Thus we are told that Christ will descend from Heaven into the atmosphere above the earth. There are great chapters on this at the end of Job. Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. Good job". Even as we rejoice, however, let us not forget that Lent is still not over. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. A key lesson of these parables is that God expects us to gain a measurable increase in our lives. That gold medal is a symbol of a lot of self-sacrifice of some extraordinary skill, and at the key moments when the time came to perform, winning that race or that contest and winning that gold medal. What we do is a little, but God uses our little, doesn't he? Where's my father? His mother was dead. Have all of Andy's new content emailed to you every Thursday! Dr. John O. Pete. I want to celebrate my joy over your good work together, let's do it together. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, the death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done." If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." His own Funeral Sermon "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep." Acts xiii. Or will we hear the other words? He is very zealous that you learn to not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret and your Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you. Enter into the joy of your Master". Christ shed His blood to cover our sins, but that's not all, He also gives us a fruitful life of service that's going to count for eternity. I. Without faith, he says, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. You've got to believe in rewards to be pleasing to God. When we reach the end of our life, unless Jesus comes, it will be the most precious thing said at our funeral. Funeral Sermon Ecclesiastes 3:11 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A . (END OF SERMON) If you don't have any increase, what you were entrusted is taken away. And recognize that Jesus is not only your Savior; He is also your Lord (see Luke 6:46 ). This is the focus of the rest of our time. Garden of Eden restored that day! Part of that is an instinct, rightly, to make little of the creature, we are just created beings. Learn about the parable that this Bible phrase originates from and the wisdom we can gain from it. We have said many good things about our friend today, and to the best of my knowledge they are all true. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. She loved playing the organ for her Lord. Nuts and Bolts: Things to Know About Your Sermon and the Funeral Process. Sorrow and sighing shall flee away! The dead rose from the grave. When we see Jesus, it will be the most important words we may hear. Did you know that the New Testament mentions rewards 28 different times? She was a real Christian for many years. What it does, can you do all that? It's like God got carried away, like He's on a horse riding it, says Isn't this awesome? First, I just want to lay the groundwork, doctrinally, so we understand biblically how to think about rewards. By the way, whoever does not have what? You may telephone him at (818)352-0452. Including words or songs from others in your funeral sermon can be "meaning-making.". You will learn both things to avoid and practices to emulate. May 25, 2022. Enter into the joy of your master!' 24 Finally, the servant who had . We have two full weeks of Lent ahead of us, followed by Holy Week before we arrive at the full-fledged joy of the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. III. Our lives here on Earth are an extended interview for our heavenly position. Look at what I've made. I'm going to close now with Jonathan Edwards' resolution, by way of application. Be in charge of 10 cities because of what you did. Look at verse 21 again, his master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little. As a matter of fact, Jesus criticizes His Jewish enemies, his adversaries, for not seeking praise from God, but rather praise from one another. Baptist. As we remember Miriam Smith, Tom Jacobs, and Bro. We're going to be judged by our works, assessed by them. She was married to James Roop on New Years Eve, December 31, 1994. A. Can I back it up? To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. Among the many laws in the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy 24:5 is one of the most quaint. (My other church will do the same in a fortnight.) "Well Done" are the words that we want to hear the Savior say to us when we see Him. Secondly, greater responsibility entrusted by God. Even if there were a system whereby, we could pay for our good works through our sins, through our good works, you would empty out your pockets on Judgment Day and find you didn't have a single one. I. To hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant," from Jesus, first make sure you are saved. I will do whatever I can to maximize my heavenly happiness. He will make no mistakes, his praise will not puff you up, it will not go to your head, it will not corrupt you. The gospel must be preached clearly in the sermon. I saw such strong similarities between the story of Dorcas and Elaine's story. Words like, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21) Or Revelation 2:10, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Now, let's look at verse 21, and what I'm going to do with verse 21 is tell you what rewards you'll get. God is an incredibly joyous being. The siren is going off. The nations will walk by its light. WELL DONE! Our good works are generally motivated by pride and self-focus, I feel good about myself, and I look good to others when I do good works, like the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. How did you like that one? His praise means He is pleased with you and with your service. Im going to teach you how to be happy about everything. Forever, you're going to learn joy of the increase of His kingdom, there will be no end. The one with the two talents reports that he gained two more, and gets the exact same commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant. I have no doubt that Brother Moore has already heard those words that await every faithful follower of Christ: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.". What does he do? There's also going to be responsibilities in the new Heaven, the new Earth, there's going to be jobs up there. He's anticipating it. The second is greater responsibility from God, and the third is joy in God. I never had the privilege of meeting this loved one, but I do know several of her family that I love very much, and I am . He's going on a journey, the master is going to be away for a key period of time, so the servants are going to be able to function without him visibly right there. (When Jesus Comes to Reign by Dr. John R. Rice, 1895-1980). Flee away that glory day! Goodbye competition. Your love has been appreciated very much! Perhaps you remember in 1980, after the men's hockey Olympic hockey team had defeated the Russians and went on to win the gold medal. You can read Dr. Hymers' sermons each week on the Internet Forever. We are not justified by works. Look at the procedure we see in the stories. Funeral Sermons For A Good Man. Funeral sermon example Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30 Alison Gerber There is a story Jesus told about a man who entrusted his servants with his possessions. I was on my own. 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