Lessons Through Loss
SERMON STARTER
Lois and I viewed the film, “We Are Marshall” this past weekend. The film is about a 1970 commercial plane crash that took the lives of a small town’s entire football team, coaching staff and supporters. It is based in Huntington, West Virginia. “We Are Marshall” is not just another football story. It is the story of an entire town and college’s grief and power to do more than just survive, but overcome the consequences of such an awesome tragedy.
Check out this UTube piece that describes the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO3_g9g4vYU
For more than thirty-five years now I have been following my call to comfort the broken-hearted. During that time I have given more than 600 funeral eulogies and homilies. I have been there at the bedside of scores of people as they pass from this life to the next. I have sat with countless people and heard their pain over losses in their lives. If this qualifies me to be seen as an “expert” on human grief and tragedy, then I’m an expert.
I attempted to give this sermon more than twelve years ago, but it flopped. Yes, some sermon attempts are just that: attempts. This time I feel like I did what I came to do. These are my personal lessons through loss. Everyone who listened or will read this sermon has their own life’s lessons through loss. You could write your own lessons.
One thing is certain, the losses will come, whether through death of a close loved one or friend, or through situations or circumstances over which you have little or no control. How you will act and react to these losses will reveal the character within you. Will you be bitter or better? The choice is yours.
Pastor Phil <><<
November 4, 2007
Pastor Phil Roland, Sheepfold Ministries
Lessons Through Loss
Various Texts
“Pain and loss are teachers in the school of God’s spirit. The lessons will make us bitter or better. The choice is yours.” Pastor Phil
1. DIVINE APPOINTMENTS ARE JUST-AROUND-THE-CORNER
a. You never know when you might encounter Jesus
Matt 25:37-40
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You
hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a
stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You
sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to
them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of
these My brethren, you did it to Me.'”
b. Jesus meets the Samaritan woman - John 4
c. Jesus meets Zacchaeus, the tax collector - Luke 19
d. Grieving people are met by Him in unusual ways – Matt. 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”
2. SEE FARTHER THRU A TEAR, THAN A TELESCOPE
a. Tears cleanse the Soul
b. God sees your tears and knows your heart -Psalm 56:8
“Put my tears into Your bottle (Oh Lord); Are they not in Your book?”
3. YOUR HIGHEST VALUES ARE RELATIONAL
a. The time for loving is short
b. One loving act at a time – Ephesians 5:16
“redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
4. SUSTAINED ANGER IS AN UNAFFORDABLE LUXURY
a. Losing someone you love causes natural anger - Eph. 4:26
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give
place to the devil.” (“Don’t give the devil a foothold.” NIV)
b. Getting angry is easy, staying angry takes effort
c. God’s love can convert your rage into His peace – Rom. 5:5b
“God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
5. LOVE, NOT TIME, HEALS ALL WOUNDS
a. God’s love through us is the greatest healer – Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”
b. His love never fails - 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
6. THE WORLD DOESN’T STOP FOR YOUR GRIEF
a. Life’s cycles continue: Birth and Death
b. Love doesn’t die, people do
7. THOSE YOU LOVE, LEAVE TOO SOON
a. Human flesh is temporal - Isaiah 40:6b-8
"All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The
grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon
it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the
word of our God stands forever."
b. Life is like a morning fog – James 4:14
“. . .you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is
even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
c. Human life is unreliable – Job 7:6
"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.”
8. LIFE'S FRAGILE, HANDLE CAREFULLY
a. Life’s Short – Sin’s the Cause – The Cross, the Cure
b. Time’s Quick
c. Death’s Sure – Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
9. YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TIME IS NOW
a. Kingdom Time is Now - Acts 1: 6,7 - Greek = “Kai-ros”
“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will
You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for
you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
end of the earth."
b. Your best time is NOW - Hebrews 4:7b
"Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."
c. Don’t put God off - 2 Cor. 6:2
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
N o w !
If you have some hard work to do, Do It Now!
Today the skies are clear and blue,
Tomorrow clouds may come in view,
yesterday is not for you; Do It Now!
If you have a song to sing, Sing It Now!
Let the notes of gladness ring
Clear as the song of birds in Spring,
Let every day some music bring; Sing It Now!
If you have some kind words to say, Say Them Now!
Tomorrow may not come your way.
Do a kindness while you may,
Loved ones will not always stay; Say them now!
If you have a smile to show, Show It Now!
Make hearts happy, roses grow,
Let the friends around you know
The love you have before they go; Show It Now!
Author Unknown
Courtesy of Sheepfold Ministries, Sharon, PA 2007
The Legacy
When I die, give that which is left of me to children.
If you need to cry, cry for your brothers walking beside you.
Put your arms around anyone and give them what you need to give me.
I want to leave you with something, something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I have known and loved.
And if you cannot live without me, then let me live on in your eyes, your mind and your acts of kindness.
You can love me most by letting hands touch hands and letting go of children that need to be free.
Love does not die, people do.
So when all that is left of me is love. . .
Give me away. . .
Author Unknown
Courtesy of Sheepfold Ministries, Sharon, PA 2007