FUNERAL SERMON - FOR A CHRISTIAN
By David J. Riggs
I. Eccl. 7:2 - With the passing of our beloved sister (or brother) in
Christ, there are several important things we can take to heart.
A. Life is short. James 4:13-14
1. The Psalmist also spoke of the brief nature of life when he
said - Psalm 103:15-16.
2. Again the Psalmist says - Psalm 90:10-12.
a. Because of good health practices, diet and exercise, we
might live a little longer, yet the greatest thing we can
do as we contemplate death is prepare ourselves to die,
because at death the spirit returns to the God who gave
it.
B. All of us are made in the image of God, with an eternal spirit
or soul. Gen. 1:26
1. God Himself is the father of our spirit. Heb. 12:9
2. When we die, our spirit will return to the God who gave it.
Eccl. 12:6-7
3. All of us are valuable because we have an immortal soul.
Matt. 16:24-26
a. When this old world passes, the only thing that will
remain is God and people.
C. Physical death, which is inevitable for all of us, is something
that most people view with fear and dread.
1. Yet, the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 116:15 - "Precious in the
eyes..."
2. To us, though, with our limitations, death never, under any
circumstances, seems to be a precious thing. However, we
need to try to view things as God does.
D. The death of God's saint, rather than being a senseless end, is
the crowning glory.
1. For death is the transition to a better life. Phil. 1:21-23;
2 Cor. 5:4,8
2. The child of God simply changes worlds.
a. He goes from one that is temporal, to one that is
eternal.
b. He goes form one that is darkened by sin, to one where
the glory of God is the light.
c. He goes from one that is filled with agony and suffering,
to one of happiness. Rev. 7:16-17; 14:13; 21:4
E. In spite of this, sorrow hovers over us as we stand in the
presence of death.
1. In a time such as this, "Where can I go but to the Lord?"
2. God is the God of all comfort. 2 Cor. 1:3
3. Listen to these words of comfort. 1 Thess. 4:13-18
F. Jesus Christ came to the earth to gain victory over death.
1. He willingly went to the cross as the sacrificial Lamb and
was raised by the power of God in victory over death.
2. He allows His saints to share in that victory. 1 Cor.
15:51-57
3. Thus, though death is certain, we can triumph over it.
4. The Lord will be with us as we face death and as we sorrow
over the death of others. Heb. 2:15
G. Let us close with a prayer:
Our Father in heaven, holy and reverend is thy name. Please
give comfort to all of us, especially to the family in this
time of sorrow. We ask for the comfort that only You can give.
Help us to not sorrow like others who have no hope of life
beyond the grave. We are thankful that through Thee we can be
free from the fear of death and escape the bondage of
corruption.
We are grateful for __________ and the life she lived. May we
follow her example, in being happy, and especially, in desiring
to go to heaven. Though her body will be lying here in the
grave, may she continue to speak to all of us by the way she
lived.
Help us all to remember that we are but dust, and unto dust we
must return. Teach us to number our days that we may apply our
hearts to wisdom.
When our time comes to walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, may we fear no evil. Help us to live in such a way
that we will be numbered with the righteous, whose bodies await
the resurrection of the just. May we receive that glorious
immortality and live with Thee forever in heaven. We know that
in that day, You will wipe away all tears from our eyes. There
will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there will
be no more pain, for all the former things will have passed
away.
Please be will us this day, and on through life. These things
we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.