Glynlea Grace United Methodist Chruch

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body….Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?"

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. ¹⁷ For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. ⁶ So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

Summary and Function

Summary: We have had a lot of funerals and memorial services. Since July 2008 we’ve had 11 of them. That’s approximately 1 funeral every 2 months!! This, of course, brings tremendous grief. It’s hard and extremely painful to say good bye to our brothers and sisters. However, all these funerals should also bring great joy. The Christian understanding of death should not only bring us great comfort and joy but it should also motivate us to continue the great ‘Kingdom of God’ work that is before us.

Death was defeated at the cross. We share in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have eternal life, an eternal love relationship with God. People need to know this great news and that is why we need to continue with our ‘Kingdom of God’ work. In fact, there’s a ‘great cloud of witnesses’ consisting of the past saints who have already gone home to be with the Lord. These past saints should inspire us to continue in ‘Kingdom of God’ work. So, with their example and with power from the Holy Spirit, let’s continue on in our work to ‘make disciples of Jesus Christ for a transformed world’.

Purpose: To uplift the congregation as they say good-bye to recently departed brothers and sisters. To also encourage the congregation to continue the work started by the past saints.   

The Sermon

I. Introduction: Lot’s of funerals in past two years

1. Since July 2008 we had 11 funerals. That’s a funeral every other month!

• It hurts to say good bye to our brothers and sisters
• These are people we laughed and cried with. Shared intimate moments with. Some of our kids and grand kids grew up with their kids and grandkids.

• The Christian understanding of death and resurrection brings joy, hope and inspiration.
• Along with sorrow and grief, people should leave a Christian funeral with comfort, hope, joy and inspiration

II. Christian understanding of death

1. Death became a reality in Genesis.

• God said, “…but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." (Gen. 2:17)
• Adam and Eve, of course, ate the fruit.
• So, because of our sinful disobedience, death is a reality. It’s been the number one fear ever since.

• 1 Corinthian 15:54-55: “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?”
• Wages of sin is death. So, when Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, he conquered sin on our behalf.
• The resurrection demonstrates that Jesus was able to take care of our sins and conquer death.

• John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
• John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”
• So, when our physical bodies cease to function, we still maintain a close, personal relationship with God. This can only happen if we continue to live in some way.

III. Christian understanding of resurrection

1. We share in the resurrection of Jesus

• 1 Corinthians 15: 20-22: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
• Jesus is the first to be raised and everyone who belives in him will also be raised.

IV. Knowing that our departed loved ones are alive in heaven should inspire us.

2. We should strive to continue the ‘Kingdom of God’ work our past saints started.

3. Jesus has work for us to do. Let’s do it!!