Funeral Service

Greetings: We have gathered here this evening in God's presence as family and friends to remember the life of Brother ………… and to commend his soul into the gracious care of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.

May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection. We dare to celebrate the home going of our brother, friend and loved one because Jesus has promised and we believe his word to be true, "Because I live ye shall live also". In this wonderful passage of scripture we find these words of assurance and hope.

Scripture Verses:
The Word of God tells us that:
    Dying, Christ destroyed our death.
    Rising, Christ restored our life.
What we shall be has not yet been revealed;
But we know that when Christ appears, we will be like him for we shall see Christ as he is.
This is our Christian hope.

Listen to the Word of grace:
Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet they shall live,
and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end the first and the last. I died and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death because I live, you shall live also.

I would like to share one short scripture verse from I Samuel 20:18, ..., and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. These flowers, the cards, and your presence are a testimony that Brother …. will be missed.
When we lose a loved one, it leaves an emptiness that's hard and often impossible to fill. Brother …. occupied a number of seats in his life, seats that will be difficult and impossible to fill.

We are gathered here today to pay our respects to Brother ….. Today for comfort and hope, lets turn our thoughts to God's word. He cares for us even when we don't deserve it. We need to trust in God. He is a God of sympathy and understanding. He knows our hurts and loneliness. He knows how we feel. The Bible tells us that He knows our sorrow and records our tears. If He takes the time to see our tears then He knows why they fall from our eyes.

Now Brother …. cannot come back to us, nor would we call her back if we could. David said of the baby he lost, "He can't come to me but I can go to him."

So Brother …. is receiving the welcome of eternity. Did you know that there are folks on the other side who have been waiting for this moment and their happiness now is as great as our sorrow.

Brother ….. occupied the seat of a Christian. His testimony was great. He was loving, faithful, considerate, understanding, caring, attentive, and compassionate. Brother …. was greatly loved and respected and he will be missed by his church family. We weep over …., because of the fond memories and our love. But Mark loved Jesus with all his heart. He wasn't afraid to speak about his Savior. Because he knew the Lord as his Savior, it gave him purpose for life. He enjoyed life. Jesus does give meaning to life. And the Christian life is a happy, enjoyable life. ….. enjoyed (a long) life. It wasn't always easy, but knowing Jesus gives purpose and meaning. …………. was faithful.

Brother ……. occupied the seat of a faithful father and grandfather. Proverbs 31:10-31. This seat is now empty. You have the memories, they are wonderful memories of a father that loved you and cared about you. There will a great void in you life that only God can fill. He kept the faith with his children. When parents bring children into this world, that is an adventure of faith. They do not know whether the children will bring honor or shame to the family, they proceed with faith. On the other hand, the children cannot know whether the parents will keep faith with them. They may disappoint them or forsake them. One of God's greatest blessings is Godly parents. Children who have such parent need to thank God daily. His children, enjoyed the privilege of a Christian father and his faith will remain a part of both of you. This love will remain with you for the rest of your lives. No one can take the memories, they are precious to you.

Brother …… occupied the seat of a faithful husband. A wife that Brother …. honored and respected. His seat is empty, Sister ……… will need her children more than ever. …. kept the faith with his wife. When two people enter the marriage bond, they do so in faith. Neither one knows whether the other will always be true. But they accept each other on faith, taking their vows, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. Faith is a lovely thing at the marriage altar, but it is far more lovely after many, many wedding anniversaries have been celebrated at which one can say, Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three for the greatest of these is love.

Brother ….. occupied the seat of a faithful friend. All the flowers and people speak of his friendliness …. kept the faith with his friends. All the cards, flowers, and people speak to that fact. Never did I hear him say a bad word about anyone. Always happy and glad to see you. Never complaining, what a great character he set as an example for us all. And all of us found it easy to love ….. It is a shame we can't all be like that.
I would like to think for a few minutes that …… came back for a few moments and was filling his seat in this chapel

I would like to ask him a few questions. Maybe give answers I think he would give.

1. Tell me of Heaven? Cannot, it is too wonderful.
2. Tell me what was the greatest site you saw? Jesus!
3. What words would you tell your wife, children and grandchildren? Serve Jesus!
4. What would tell you friends, enemies if you had them and strangers? Jesus.
5. What would tell the ministers to do? Evangelize and teach their people to evangelize.
6. ….., I am your friend, I am preaching your funeral, what do you want me to do at your funeral? We have been together in Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Mexico and America. You’re worked with me with a worldwide radio ministry for years. What one thing would you like me to do? Invite people to Christ!
7. Would there be one more message from you if you were here? Yes, do not miss heaven, I will be waiting for you.

Consider death just for a moment. For it is death, that has caused us this loss and grief. But death is an over rated event for the Christian. It is not an enemy but a friend. You see, death delivers the key that lets the Christian out of the sufferings of this life into the presence of the living Savior and into a land where there is no sorrow, no more separation, no sighing. To that place not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Where eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God had prepared for those that love Him.

When a person like …., has a personal relationship with God through Jesus, then death is an event that we wait for. It is the fulfilling of our hopes and dreams. It is the beginning.

The void is great and …… will be missed. No human being can quite fill that emptiness. But there is one who can, who is touched by the feelings of your sorrow.

He is the God of all comfort and He can bind the broken heart with His love God loves you and sees your needs, let Him meet those needs today and every day. Lean on Him today and every day.

Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us.
The Creator of the universe has been spending 2,000 years preparing a home for us. God only spent six days creating the world, and look at its beauty! Imagine, what the home He has been preparing for you must look like. And when we come to the end of this life, it will be waiting for us.

Jesus said in My Father's house is many mansions, rooms, or dwelling places. But this isn't just any house. This is our Father's house. This is where our Father lives. This is a place with many rooms. An ample place for ….. and for all who will believe is welcome.

The most important thing that you and I can do is to make sure that we are prepared to go when death calls us. The question is not; When will death come to me? for none of us knows that, yet we know it will come. So the question must be, Am I ready to meet Jesus when death does come?

We need to look at this today as a graduation service. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known (I Corinthians 13:12). And the question we must ask is, Do you have that eternal life? (John 11:25 KJV) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:(John 11:26 KJV) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

God loves you, He sees your needs, let Him meet your need. Lean on Him, today and everyday. Trust in God and let Him turn your fears into faith, your sorrows into joy, your doubts into certainty, your loneliness into Divine companionship. Jesus said, "peace I give you, not as the world giveth, let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid, trust in God"

Here are a few closing thoughts on a Funeral Sermon
 I. Resurrection
    A. Incorruptible body (It will not decay)(1 Cor.15:52)
    B. Immortal body (It will not die)
    C. Invincible body (It will not be diseased) (Rev.21:4-"Former things are passed away")
 
II. Rejoicing
    A. Without shame (Some ashamed in this life to shout--not so in heaven)
    B. Without suffering (Some rejoice in suffering now but no suffering in glory.)
    C. Without sickness- (When you are bad sick, it will tend to urge you to complain instead of thank God for His goodness to you).
 
III. Reunion (departed friends and loved ones) "I will go to him"(2 Sam. 12:23)
    A. Lasting reunion- continual (forever with the Lord)(1 Thess.4:17)
    B. Loving reunion- compassionate--much love manifested
    C. Lord centered reunion- centered on Jesus (Rev.5:6)
 
IV. Responsibility
    A. For the live we live--- "after this the judgment" (Heb.9:27)
    B. For the service we will give--- "shall serve Him" (Rev.22:3).
 
V. Revelation "door opened" (show thee things)(Rev.4:1)
    A. A beautiful place- Rev. Ch. 21-22
    B. A bountiful provision- "a mansion" (Jn.14:2)
    C. A blessed Person - (We shall see Him as He is-- 1 Jn. 3:2).