Death Yes Death (John 14:1-4)
Gary McManus, 02/12/2023Part of the DCC Basics series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
February 11, 2023 John 14:1
Saint Valentine’s Day Sunday
But Pastor started this sermon series on America’s
fears. Still, love, apparently is the answer, 1 John
4:18. We should all learn what that verse means.
America’s Top Ten Fears: an annual survey conducted
by Chapman University.
Pastor observed: Americans cannot even agree about what they are afraid of.
Five of the ten concern the same issue: death..
2. People I love becoming seriously ill 60.2%
3. Russia using nuclear weapons 59.6%
4. People I love dying 58.1%
5. The U.S. becoming involved in another world war 56.0%
10. Biological warfare 51%
Today we focus on death. Most people don’t want to. The experience of Sheryl Sandberg, CEO of Facebook May, 2015.
America and death: fewer funerals, fewer attend funerals. Pastor has had plenty of experiences beginning at age six.
Pastor shares what is usually shared at funerals he conducts. (Pastor: minister of the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 1:1, Romans 10:17, 1 Corinthians 15:2)
God’s Word: God loves us more than we realize.
(God’s love is divine and we are human.)
The Bible takes seriously life and the Bible takes seriously the reality of death. And the Bible speaks of life after death.
As God’s Word in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 makes clear,
our lives have within them an expiration date.
We must all die.
Even if it is a part of God’s plan, we don’t have to
like it. But remember, as humans, we are all
part of God’s plan.(This was covered in an
earlier sermon January 29th.)
Our God provides a loving knowledge of life
on earth (through Jesus) and God provides
His loving presence with us through the Holy
Spirit. [God has made us more than creatures that
live and die.]
Death is a process; slow or quick.
Our fear of a loved one’s death is simply an
emotional response to a known reality.
Most of us want a “good death” (variously
understood).
Pastor’s preference: to know that death is approaching. Pastor read of Col. Joshua Laurence Chamberlain, commander of the 20th Maine Regiment (see the film “Gettysburg”, 1993). He was seriously wounded at Petersburg, Va. and it was believed that his wound was fatal. Chamberlain had a chance to reflect upon his life.
NDE = near death experience; people report their experiences during a time they were considered “clinically” dead.
Some Pastors say that they are not real.
Pastor McManus says that they are human experiences and often true, even if not “real”.
—the certainty of God’s great love for us. . . .
None of us knows the future. (Who would want to?)
Remember Isaiah 55:6.
When grief weighs heavy or fears annoy,
read Lamentations 3: 28-33
Our hope is in the Lord. Amen.
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