But when we lose a loved one who is a believer, we need to remember an important truth that will help us deal with the loss. In a year of too much death and dying, we lost some notable Christian leaders. Even though this may be one of the most difficult times within your church family, it will also be a time to see God work and a time for your church to grow closer to God as well as each other. Heres an example of how you might outline a sermonmaybe a funeral sermonfrom this passage: Christians can have hope in the face of death because: Not only did Christ experience what its like to remain dead, he conquered death in the process. Usually, a pastor is a person who has had a major impact in the life of the church and in the lives of a lot of people in the community. Pastor Andy Stanley reveals his father Charles Stanley's last words to You stand at the threshold of a new era in the life of this church. He was 90. In his sermon before the attack, Scruggs had already plunged into deeper, ancient, mysteries -- stressing that believers can trust that God understands the grief, anger and confusion caused by violence and death. Missionary Henry Breidenthal taught generations of Thai pastors as a doctor, Bible college founder, and evangelist. Deuteronomy 34 recounts the death of Moses, but I could not read this passage without thinking of this congregation, without thinking of the pain you have experienced through the death of your pastor, Lyman Reed. In 1969, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross introduced the five stages of grief that she noticed while dealing with terminally-ill patients. The Last Enemy, Death, has already been defeated. Death doesnt have the last word with Steve. The mother reacted hysterically. But God develops grit and endurance in his people through suffering. And give them victory oer the grave. Dr. Stanley faced a major challenge to his hold on First Baptist in the 1990s with the deterioration of his marriage to Anna Johnson. But in Baptism, he died with Christ. Some church members asked him to resign. He proved his greatness by leaving. We are weak in many ways, but we have the love of God in Christ and a deep commitment to one another, he said. In other words, when we say that Jesus descended to the dead, were simply confessing: (1) Jesus really died a truly human death and really remained dead. ", Tagged: The Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Chad Scruggs, Audrey Hale, manifesto, Gospel of John, Jesus wept, Brent Leatherwood, Holy Week, Good Friday, Easter. Moses looked ahead into the promised land, but he was not to lead his people there. I am sure there will be challenges there, just as there were challenges for Israel, even in the promised land. Those are times children just dont forget.. He knows what its like to remain dead, and is with us even in our own deaths, during the intermediate state while we await the resurrection of the dead. even in death. He helped lead a conservative takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention, and he mastered the use of media to spread his message. His feet are rare with beauty Verses 6-7: As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. The Culture Tool and Bad Hire Calculator are free tools to help you grow. Grief will inevitably strike us, but by God's grace, sorrow does not . Moses died, but the future of Gods people did not die with him. He has broken down the gates of Deaths stronghold. It is vital that a church take the time to reflect on all that God has done in the past through the life of their pastor. His passing was confirmed Saturday by Jack Van Impe Ministries. It may be very difficult to envision but truly God may be preparing you for some of your best days yet! Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that challenges would come after he left (v. 2930). He held a special place in your life and in the life of this congregation about which you care. But Mrs. Stanley said that their marriage was broken. Funeral Sermon: God's Breath Suffocates Death. Required fields are marked *. The church was experiencing a season where ministry was fun and exciting and we were seeing God do some amazing life transformation in the church. The entire service was "led" by four different avatars on the screen, two young women, and two . Rejoice! They were not all saints. We say so gratefully: They also help us analyze general site traffic so we can improve the website for everyone. If it dies when you die, you are a failure," said Munroe. "True leaders don't invest in buildings. Weeks before the attack, Covenant's pastor preached on death, grief and His son and heir apparent, Andy Stanley, suggested that he read a letter of resignation to his congregation and let them decide if they wanted him to stay. Death doesnt have the last word with Steve. Like St. Paul, Steve was determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucifiedboth in his preaching and in his devotion. " If you die today as a leader, leaving the studio in an accident, what happens to your organization? To God all glory be! Unlike Moses, I have not been to the mountaintop to see what the future may hold. The Lords Supper Is a Multiethnic Love Feast, Nondenominational Churches Are Growing and Multiplying in DC. Jesus wasnt abandoned in death, and neither are those united to him. I learned later that he had made several of these crosses over the years and given them as gifts to other would-be pastors. New movies Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and The Flash reinforce why the multiverse plot is bad for cinematic drama and unsatisfying as an answer to the meaning crisis in secular modernity. This passage, along with others (Matt. Your email address will not be published. With great sympathy, Jesus tells us to come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. After the vote, Dr. Stanley was asked about his positions against abortion and in favor of prayer in public schools. During the time of loss, we can rest assured that God has not left or abandoned the church during this very difficult season. Why? We should never accept this as a reality. The Lord has done it. In Deuteronomy 34, Israel still had to take possession of the land. And now that he rests from his labors, Steve has finally stopped dying. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and their four children, 10 grandchildren and four great . Charles Frazier Stanley Jr. was born on Sept. 25, 1932, in the farming community of Dry Fork, Va. He became the churchs senior pastor in 1971. He also told me in one of our last conversations that it was also his greatest joy as a pastor. A new era will soon begin. "We might say with great conviction here that Jesus hates death and Jesus doesn't just hate death theoretically. Jesus experienced the same thing we do when we die. St. Pauls words in I Corinthians 2:2 formed the basis, then, for the hope that Steve held to the end. Learn more about our values and award-winning culture that drives everything we do. But, if theres one thing I knew about our congregation, its that they are, by Gods grace, a strong and courageous people. He died before reaching his goal. with us in deathhes already walked through the valley of the shadow of death before us. What they needed was a Joshua, a different leader, with different skills, for a different era. They mourned for thirty days. John tells us that Jesus sat down in that moment, and he wept. After God called Moses home, he told Joshua three times to be strong and courageous (Josh. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Stephen who faithfully shepherded Your flock here on earth. They knew what Moses had done. After a lifetime of ministry supposedly focused on grace, we bring the poor soul to his grave with eloquent eulogies and high tributes that give the lie to it all. "Many have asked what's next? Until Jesus returns, he will continue his attacks on Christs churches. Christians have, At its core, then, the descent is a doctrine that proclaims Christs solidarity with us in death and his victory over it. Your future is in Gods hands. Atlanta pastor Andy Stanley, son of the late Dr. Charles Stanley, has revealed the last words his father's final words to him. He Still Hasnt Left. Preaching the descent is thus simply a matter of declaring that Christ is. He is also the author of several books, including The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper and the Making of a Classic. @RichSandomir, A version of this article appears in print on, Charles Stanley, Atlanta Pastor Who Preached to the World, Dies at 90, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/us/charles-stanley-dead.html, The Rev. The loss of a pastor is a very challenging experience for all of those involved. Phil. 50+ free eBooks to help you build your best team. Joshua never became another Moses. This sermon is Chapter 8 of A Minister's Treasury of Funeral and Memorial Messages by Jim Henry, former pastor of First Baptist Church Orlando, Fla. . (1/X). But the great hope of the Christian faith is that this seemingly insurmountable enemy, Death, has also already been defeated and his fortress has been plundered. When he was nine months old, his father died of nephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys. He founded and was president of In Touch Ministries, which widely broadcasts his sermons through television and radio.He also served two one-year terms as president of the . The plans of God transcend our finite lives. Preaching death as "death" and the dead as "dead" maintains the universality of the consequences of sin, allowing little wiggle room for domestication. The church at Ephesus was Gods church, not Pauls church. Who Will Be the Missionaries to Western Culture. I wanted our church to know that we must not be so naive as to think that Satan isnt looking to take advantage of us. That was all they did. There are other stories and lessons that will emerge from the Covenant School tragedy, but that can wait, noted Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Amen. This was the starting point of a daily renewing of the new man that was in him, even as his body was dying (II Corinthians 4:16). He invites us to carry our sad hearts to him. We are all given to God; and there I am, and love to be. With the same baptism he had applied to countless others, the Lord drowned the deaththat lurked in Steves flesh. Tension within the church grew when Mrs. Stanley filed for divorce in 1993; she dropped the suit, but refiled it in 1995. Remember that Gods providence is mysterious and he does things we dont understand. 0:00 / 3:53 Pastor Dies Shortly After Preaching These Words Fight of Faith (Doug Eaton) 19.7K subscribers Subscribe 6.2M views 2 years ago Watch this man fulfill his ministry after 55 years of. SBC and United Methodist news: Where are America's two largest Protestant flocks heading? "This is why, in our organization, I am unnecessary. As Christians face their own or a loved ones death, we can do so with the hope that Christ is with us and for us. Paul reminded the elders in Acts 20:28 that the church is the property of God and was bought with the blood of Christ. But in Baptism, he died with Christ. Like St. Paul, Steve was determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified-both in his . All the deceased's good works are . Mark Redfern is a pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Our work is possible by the generosity of our readers. As Christians face their own or a loved ones death, we can do so with the hope that Christ is, In other words, as Christians face their own or a loved ones death, we do so with the hope that Christ is. This was a verse Steve often used as the basis for sermons for installing vicars, and was even his text for the last sermon he preached in Yuma before his retirement. We get to demonstrate the all-sufficiency of his grace as he bears us up and carries us forward in his strong and loving care. I am often reminded at such times of Lincolns remark at the burial of one of his generals: If he had known hed get a funeral like this, hed have died much sooner.. (4) that he brought everyone out of hell and/or destroyed hell forever so that no one now inhabits it (so, a form of universalism). Grant that we, too, may be faithful until death and receive the crown of life. He brought staunch beliefs among them that the Bible was infallible and that women should not be ordained to a continuing battle over control of the convention between conservatives, who were in ascent, and moderates. In the months leading up to his funeral, like any good pastor would do, Steve helped his pastor, the Rev. Privacy Policy. Sometimes a pastor in a smaller church may have been the person that has led them to Christ, baptized family, performed marriages, been at the birth of children, and even sometimes performed the funeral services of loved ones. Death & Dying | Desiring God There will be opportunities for people to step up and fill in some of the gaps that will be left behind during the loss of the pastor. Jesus has taken the full brunt of its sting and in doing so destroyed its power and dominion. It is important to remember that it will be possible as a church family to move forward in the hope of a new and promised future. Similarly, our church is Gods church. On that morning, I stood in front of our church on the first Sunday without our pastor of 46 years. William Temple, one-time archbishop of Canterbury, said this about prayer: When I pray, coincidences happen. Maybe if we did nothing else for thirty days, we could end our grief in thirty days, but Im not even sure about that. Do you believe that too? By 1984, Christian Today magazine reported, the convention had ordained more than 200 women. 4. Just as death couldnt hold Christ, neither can it hold Steve (Romans 6:5-11). Jesus has already confronted our Last Enemy in the latters own territory and come out the victor. Do You Have Seat Fillers On Your Church Staff? (His former wife died in 2014.) 34:8). (2) that his human soul departed to the place of the dead, and particularly to the righteous compartmentParadise, or Abrahams Bosomdue to his uniquely righteous life, (3) that he proclaimed his victory to all those in the place of the dead, and. "How do we face death in our world," he asked, "especially untimely deaths, without the pain and confusion of death leading us to despair?". Moving forward doesnt mean forgetting about your former pastor. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. All things that come into our lives pass through the hands of our loving fathereven the hard things. TheLutheran Service Book: Agenda says, The casket is positioned before thealtar at right angles to it. Steve preached the cross of Christ as a pastor, but it was also his hope as a Christian. Help TGC bring biblical wisdom to the confusing issues across the world by making a gift to our international work. But as we look ahead, I am confident that you will find a pastor to help you meet those challenges. One of the hymns he picked out with his pastor contained a stanza that was particularly appropriate for a pastors funeral: O blessed saints in bright array At this point, our New Testament reading has a word to say: Paul writes, Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Jimmy Gentry Luke 23:44-49 In George Seaton's 1956 film, The Proud and the Profane, the steps of a young nurse are traced to To Those Who Have Loved and Lost Daniel T. Hans Jeremiah 29:11 (Note: This message was originally preached as part of an annual county-wide memorial service for families of traffic fatalities.) Read about The Vanderbloemen Difference, our 12 pillars that allow us to serve our clients better than anyone else. This is where the cross stamped with I Cor. Still, my heart is totally broken for these families. Although there is no specific timeline for grief, the healing process cannot move forward without intentional time for the church to express their grief in some way. Jesuss resurrection proves his victory over Death, Hell, and the Grave. Doctrine and discrimination: Is the California anti-'caste' bill unfair to Hindu believers? This text and others therefore teaches Jesuss. That was three weeks before a gunman crashed through the glass doors of his church's Covenant School and killed three staff members and three 9-year-old students -- including the pastor's daughter, Hallie Scruggs. One of its members told The Atlanta Constitution that he was power hungry. As the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Dr. Stanley was known as one of the leading American preachers of his time, alongside figures like the Rev. Count me as a solution seeker on this. We are afraid of what happens when we die. In Acts 20, we find Paul telling the Ephesian elders that he would no longer see their faces again (v. 25). Have you been involved in a situation like this in the past? But not only was this the content of Steves preaching and life, but it was also his confession in death. He knew that he would die, though none of us thought it would be like this. All the deceaseds good works are magnificent and, of course, all shortcomings passed over. Our Hope: The Redemption of Our . Steve was conceived and born in Adams sin and death. The greatest leader of all. Jesus has already walked through the valley of the shadow of death and come out victoriously on the other side. When I dont, they dont. Death is Not the End of Our Story | Keep Believing Ministries What they needed was a Joshua, and God provided a Joshua. Now, I have the privilege of working with Vanderbloemen Search Group and serving churches during all seasons of transition. Steve often said something to me during my vicarage year that has always stuck with me: Vic [he called me this instead of vicar], when they nail that coffin shut, thats when Ill finally stop dying. And he was right. I believe God's grace is such that if a person confessed to the Lord and asked for His forgiveness with his or her very last breath, that would be sufficient for salvation. Feel free to mourn the death of Lyman Reed. If youre looking for more sermon ideas on Deuteronomy, be sure to head over to SermonSearch.com to find 100s of sermons on Deuteronomy to help you out! As the historic readings for thatday put it, Steve cannow see the kingdom of God he had entered when he was born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3, 5). Exclusive interviews about how to build, run, and keep a great team. They asked a group of people how long grief lasted. Lukeas well as these other authorsdraws on the Old Testaments and Second Temple Judaisms understanding of death, in which the body is buried and the soul departs to the place of the dead (either to the righteous or unrighteous compartment). There's too much light there and too many people leaning in for it to be otherwise. They did, however, find a Joshua. A pastor is among two . The world is a confusing place right now. There, as the sign of the cross was placed upon his forehead and heart, marking him as one redeemed by Christ the Crucified, the Lord Jesus bid Steve to follow Him into the cruciform Christian life. In the eerie clip that in hindsight seems like a prescient farewell, Munroe, who was speaking from a television studio at the time of the video's recording, challenged his audience to think about what would happen to their legacy if they suddenly died in an accident after leaving the studio. Has the doctrinal DNA of the Southern Baptist Convention changed that much? In a video clip posted on YouTubedescribed as "Myles Munroe's Message Shortly Before His Death," Munroe told leaders: "The greatest act of leadership is what happens in your absence. And because of what he has done, we can face our own deaths and those of our loved ones with hope, hope in this conquering King who has bound the strong man and broken down his doors. Who with His Word Bart Barber's easy win as SBC president? 4 Bible verses for weary Christian parents, Ask Chuck: Climbing out of a financial dark hole, No, women cannot be pastors. (LSB 676:3), The watchmans sacred duty We believe that faithful proclamation of the gospel is what our hostile and disoriented world needs. Role, not work.. While the loss is still acute and the wound is still fresh, the promises of God remain precious. 2022 Vanderbloemen. No less than her martyred husband, she could be inspiring and frustrating all at once. Remember that God is faithful to provide his church with leaders. Dr. Stanley and his son eventually ended their rift. 10:9), simply affirms that Jesus died a truly human death. It is perfectly natural. In addition to being an amateur blacksmith, the man also held a degree in welding. His family's three children at the school are "safe now," while the "trauma from that day & the memories of six friends, classmates, leaders, & servants will be with us for the rest of our lives," he wrote, on Twitter. We are often called upon to help a church navigate the season of the loss of their pastor. Munroe, 60, who led the Bahama Faith Ministries up until his untimely death Sunday, released a book this year, titled, The Power of Character in Leadership, which addresses the crisis of leadership today. 3:1822) all emphasize this victorious aspect of Christs descent, and so push us to see it as the beginning of his exaltation. When the news was announced at the church, the congregation rose and applauded, The Constitution reported in a front-page article. What responsibility do journalists have when covering incendiary wars about religion and culture? overcoming fear of death, and never losing trust in Jesus Christ. Community allows the congregation to bear each other's burdens, hold each other accountable, and spend time praying together for the future. The child was brought to the hospital with what seemed a relatively minor ailment, but half an hour later the child was dead. Dr. Stanley was known as one of the leading American preachers of his time, He graduated from the University of Richmond. Email to a Friend: Sermon: Funeral Sermon for a Sudden, Unexpected Death - Mark 4 . I mentored them. J ack Van Impe, a popular televangelist and one of the world's most well-known end times preachers, died at the age of 88. What was I to say? He was more impressed by the . He could look into the promised land, but he could not enter it. Remember and celebrate his unique gifts for ministry. While God uses men and means, the men and means are never ultimatethe Word of God is. His final purpose is not to take us away from the earth to spend eternity in heaven, but to make a new heaven and a new earth where we will live in happiness forever. Christs descent to the dead, rather than a doctrine that confuses or misleads, is a beautiful, hopeful, celebratory aspect of Christian theology. Grieve While there is no one way for people to grieve, grieving for the loss of a pastor will help the congregation to take steps to cope and heal. Take the time as a church to celebrate the legacy that the pastor is leaving behind. 6. But somewhere out there is a Joshua or a Deborah, a Ruth or a David, prepared by God to lead this congregation into the future. Defenseless, innocent lives being taken. Christs descent is thus primary the beginning of his exaltation, not a continuation of his humiliation. The younger pastor told an Atlanta TV station after his fathers death that he was a role model not just as a preacher or a church builder, but also because he showed how to get to a finish line with integrity, and to be able to look back and be proud of everything that came before, and unfortunately thats increasingly rare., Richard Sandomir is an obituaries writer. I've left more than enough evidence behind.". He even loves our kids so much more than we do. The pastors at Stedfast Baptist Church, now based in Watauga . 4:810; 1 Pet. "Who are you mentoring to take your place? I was preaching a lot of things that made some of the church leaders uncomfortable the Holy Spirit, the coming of the Lord, evangelism, Dr. Stanley told The Constitution in 1982, explaining why his acceptance had come slowly. Thus, the importance of the Gospel of John's blunt words: "Jesus wept. Christs descent to the dead, rather than a doctrine that confuses or misleads, is a beautiful, hopeful, celebratory aspect of Christian theology. Without a doubt, grieving is a painful process but it is essential to let grief run its course as the church begins its healing process. During my early years of my ministry, I had the privilege to serve at a large, thriving and growing church in the Southeast. And during his first advent, Jesus descended to the place of the dead after his death on the cross and remained there three days until his resurrection, and by doing so declared that Death no longer has dominion over those in Christs kingdom. Evangelicals just loved him, Barry Hankins, a professor of history at Baylor University who, with Thomas Kidd, wrote Baptists in America (2015), said in a phone interview.