Getting Out Of Your Grave
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: The resurrection message is of course the heart of the Christian faith and not just for Easter or funerals. This sermon is concerned with the reasons for eternal life. (J-10 is about evidence for eternal life and K-9 is about what eternal life might be like.)
A woman took a shortcut through the cemetery going home from the late shift at work each night. One night, she fell into a newly dug grave along her path that she couldn't see in the dark. She was short and unable to get out, and finally sat in the corner to wait for day and help. Along came a man who fell in. The woman, sitting in the corner unobserved, watched to see if the man could get out and then she would call to him for help. He tried, but was unsuccessful. She finally spoke up and said, "I don't think you'll make it." But he did!
Everyone must die, probably fears death a little, and certainly wonders a lot about what lies beyond death. Many Christians maintain a faith that includes doubts. We believe in heaven, but we also wonder. We do all we can to avoid death unless conditions in this life get too much for us. Any of the resurrection stories in scripture would be appropriate.
a. Brings meaning to life. Everything takes its meaning from our lives. Without the human mind or soul to make sense of it, 3 x 3 = 9 means nothing. Great music and the beauty of nature are only silence and black void without our senses. But it is all a preparation for something greater. It is a mockery if a redwood tree exists for centuries and we seldom make it to one century. Not to have a life after this one would be like fire fighters rushing into a burning house to rescue the furniture and leaving the residents to perish! Our lives are wonderful and full of potential that can only be realized by an extension of this life.
b. Brings hope for life. A village played a trick on an alcoholic one night hoping to scare him out of his drinking. They carried him out to a grave in the cemetery dug for a service the next day, thinking that waking up there would shock him. Next day when he awoke, he looked around and said, "Well, here it is resurrection morning and I'm the first one up!" We dream and hope for eternal life to continue to share love with our family and friends and enjoy existence. It would be cruel simply to perish and dash the hope that is in all of us.
c. Brings justice to life. Life is unfair. Some innocent children may live a few years of abject poverty and torture, while some very cruel persons may have a very comfortable and long life. Heaven is necessary to bring justice to the universe. Otherwise life can be a cruel hoax for many.
Peter Pan said that death would be an awfully big adventure.
A woman took a shortcut through the cemetery going home from the late shift at work each night. One night, she fell into a newly dug grave along her path that she couldn't see in the dark. She was short and unable to get out, and finally sat in the corner to wait for day and help. Along came a man who fell in. The woman, sitting in the corner unobserved, watched to see if the man could get out and then she would call to him for help. He tried, but was unsuccessful. She finally spoke up and said, "I don't think you'll make it." But he did!
Everyone must die, probably fears death a little, and certainly wonders a lot about what lies beyond death. Many Christians maintain a faith that includes doubts. We believe in heaven, but we also wonder. We do all we can to avoid death unless conditions in this life get too much for us. Any of the resurrection stories in scripture would be appropriate.
a. Brings meaning to life. Everything takes its meaning from our lives. Without the human mind or soul to make sense of it, 3 x 3 = 9 means nothing. Great music and the beauty of nature are only silence and black void without our senses. But it is all a preparation for something greater. It is a mockery if a redwood tree exists for centuries and we seldom make it to one century. Not to have a life after this one would be like fire fighters rushing into a burning house to rescue the furniture and leaving the residents to perish! Our lives are wonderful and full of potential that can only be realized by an extension of this life.
b. Brings hope for life. A village played a trick on an alcoholic one night hoping to scare him out of his drinking. They carried him out to a grave in the cemetery dug for a service the next day, thinking that waking up there would shock him. Next day when he awoke, he looked around and said, "Well, here it is resurrection morning and I'm the first one up!" We dream and hope for eternal life to continue to share love with our family and friends and enjoy existence. It would be cruel simply to perish and dash the hope that is in all of us.
c. Brings justice to life. Life is unfair. Some innocent children may live a few years of abject poverty and torture, while some very cruel persons may have a very comfortable and long life. Heaven is necessary to bring justice to the universe. Otherwise life can be a cruel hoax for many.
Peter Pan said that death would be an awfully big adventure.
