funeral sermon a life well lived

New babies have life ahead of them, but what can we say about them yet? How to get us to feel, and see, and believe, and trust, and hope, and savor, not just with our heads, but with every fiber of our being. Because as I listened to Fran and his family talk, I could see Gods presence reflected in Leonard: in his desire to love and connect with others and in his broad love and appreciation for the rest of Gods wonderful works for all of Gods good creation. Sproul is famous for saying, Coram Deo- that is before the face of God. You alone can truly mend So what does it mean to add goodness to our lives, to our faith. I do not look forward to funerals. Amen. We have lots to worry about these days. He reached out and made connections to the Hanscom Park church community over the last few months as weve been meeting remotely. Today. Leonards jobs had to do with transportation, with security, but mostly, Fran told me: Leonard loved working with people. There is nothing to gain in death. Thats just who he was. The young woman was intimidated and said that it made no difference. By the same token, the ministry of the Apostle John is still impacting the lives of men and women around the world. With the love of his life present. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Of course, it meant The chief end of man is to love God and enjoy Him forever. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for this appearing.. It was PROBABLY a life bracketed and filled with some measure of goodness. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him.. Why? As a preacher, I can appreciate that sentiment. We must have a hunger for learning and a zest for life. As much as Leonard loved traveling and being out in the big, wide world, he loved being home as well with his doggies Holly & Buzz on his lap, sitting on the couch. wasted life. Before assigning them their mansions, St. Peter wanted to know He has also lived a full life as well. This stands in contrast to the warnings just a few verses later. Instead he told her that he forgave her for killing his brother. on earth. Rev. In the words of Captain Kirk of Star Trek, , One of Al and Sany's best friends commented in his eulogy that, I am reminded of a group of Filipino husbands who died and and went to heaven: one was a priest, the other a New York taxi driver. She had to move forward in her own faith journey, and she was baptized at age 67. All Saints Sermon 2019: Psalm 149; Luke 6: 20-31. Lay it to heart. What follows is what I shared at Leonards funeral: As I mentioned earlier, I only had the pleasure of knowing Leonard online. My friend Phil Downer of Discipleship Network reminds us that we will be judged for how well we steward our time and influence. After all this .I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John Ive been to a lot of funerals and thats something Ive observed. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.. To quote one Shakespeare: Life is We also lived in at least three A. Denomination: Try, Ed Stetzer: How To Fight Ministry Pornography, 7 Ideas For Creativity In Series Planning. These are people who departed from this earth early, yet accomplished more for the kingdom in half a lifetime than others do in 80 years. Genesis 26:1-34, Denomination: create. Yet this resonates with us today. A Life Well From what I have been toldabout Dorothytold by those who knew her well and loved her wellshe was, like Dickinson, an original. The final call is about to be announced, his flight into the arms of God about to be realized. . I have fought the good fight. They saw the plane emerged That means good men like Leonard. This is a bit of a mystery to us. In reading over this scripture, I pondered over the stories Ive heard, the personalities Ive learned and grown to love, and there was this lingering question: what does it take to have a life well-lived? Hypocrisy. It was so sad and beautiful all at the same time. - Cyril of Alexandria(1) In [the Gospel of John], Jesus says I [am going to] prepare a place for you, and I will come But when this yet sinners that Christ died for us. So our second mission in life is to All of these things are Gods great gifts. As the plane lifted up, the people below He began as part of our virtual bible study group gathered on Wednesdays at noon, and then he invited his wife Fran to start participating as well. By the way we live. Give away what you have. God gave him another gift: his daughter, Stephanie. Other friends exhibited a positive attitude in the face of extended illness. The letter to the Ephesians makes it clear that our veryraison dtreis to praise So I did something unusual. Eternal life is a mystery to us. We dont allow distractions within worship. [Reader reads passage]. And this is one thing that Jesus promises to give us when we follow him. will be welcomed by Jesus in the company of the saints and of those loved It makes you young when you have the curiosity of a However,, Our Mission Worship.com exists to glorify God, inviting people to pursue God wholeheartedly and in so doing mature into lifestyles that are in themselves a living sacrifice and which reflect God-worship as a way of life. James 3:13 - 4:10 It was in April, I believe, that a man named Leonard Neff started participating online. A well-ordered life will bring contentment. I am learning to live by preparing to die. I sit up and take notice when I hear someone like Zanardi speak. souvenirs, heard many stories, learned many cultures and met many friends. Al might not return to Philippines. We saw them faithfully here in virtual worship. Instead lets start with a reading from 2 Peter 1:5-8. If I had my life to live over I would not change anything! Fran and Leonard and Stephanie and Andrew went to NASCAR races together, a cruise together, and the best thing they did on that cruise was sit on adjoining balconies and eat pizza and ice cream and just talk and talk and talk: connected in the love of God, enjoying Gods works that are so wonderful. Whats been the effect in your own life of people who claimed a faith or claimed to be religious or claimed to be Christians, and yet who were dour or humourless, selfish or hypocritical? And we must remember in all things how to treat others around us: to do unto others as we would then to do unto us. Things done and some left undone, some good some not so good. His words, forceful yet full of live in leading them to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, are still influencing lives. to the Heavenly Airport---and Al will be there, with Jesus and the Welcoming Verses 1-2 tell us, Dont let your hearts be troubled. In Scripture, what sets godly strength apart is its added ability to be gentle. He and Fran traveled to Alaska, to the Caribbean, to the Mexican Riviera. Few of the books contained many words - Sermons about Life Well Lived - SermonCentral.com Often, our love is conditional. His was. I asked Fran if it would be okay if I shared Leonards funeral sermon with you. And even though she is now in heaven, her influence is still multiplying exponentially as those she gave selflessly to years ago now lead families, churches, and ministriesincluding one led by her son, Louie Giglio, that continues to reach college students year in and year out. Fears. Scriptures: In early summer, Leonard was admitted to the hospital. 1 Timothy 6:6-16, Denomination: Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. But there is something There is always something beautiful and disorientating in Sure, someone might facilitate a funeral or speak at it, but ultimately its the life that was lived that will do the talking. "No one is good--except God alone. The case was carefully followed all around the country. He began as part of our virtual bible study group gathered on Wednesdays at noon, and then he invited his wife Fran to start participating as well. Jesus would not have promised that, if it were not so When it comes to our life with God, I am leaving you with a giftpeace of mind and heart. No, I will not abandon you as orphansI will come to you. Rather than being caught up in worldly measures of greatness, and success, and power, we must seek to be close to Christ and to live as differently and radically as he did here on earth. And what a wave must be. Most people want to live a safe, secure and prosperous life. It urges us to sketch life and light on the canvas of our lives while we can. happen, those who watch Fran and Leonard and Stephanie and Andrew went to NASCAR races together, a cruise together, and the best thing they did on that cruise was sit on adjoining balconies and eat pizza and ice cream and just talk and talk and talk: Maybe some music on the radio anything from Kiss to Barry Manilow to Brooks & Dunn. She has a history. Were told also that we need to possess these qualities that were read to us in increasing measure. Funeral Sermons INTRODUCTION Nor visited in heaven; Yet certain am I of the spot As we navigate our lives as Christians, how do we end our time here on earth with a life well-lived? I did not retreat. There is only one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We all have death to look forward to. He was quite aggressive and even told us that he could take anyone of us who claimed a faith and could, with a friend of his, convert them to atheism in two days. But, its an example of someone as ordinary as it gets whos turned their. Preaching Your Own Funeral It was while we were To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. Everyone, that is, except They loved the weather in Colorado Springs. Fifteen years earlier, as a Formula One race car driver, he lost both his legs in a high-speed crash in Germany. of my friends was a British priest, Canon Roy Yin, who lived to be a hundred We see in our Gospel that we must seek to humbly and closely follow Christ, we must measure ourselves in the grace that Christ gives and not based on worldly markers of success and privilege, we must love our enemies even as Christ loved and forgave those who crucified him on the cross.

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