Marsh,. he would say again. Those who belong to the Good Shepherd receive a lavish welcome when they arrive home. I dont want to accept that reality. One foot in front of the other. Scriptures: We have studied and loved as families, have had varying food needs and companionship needs. /H [ 1248 406 ] Furthermore, everyone who touched that child was brought into a friendly relationship with the father. a closer walk psalm 23 philippians 4:13 july 15, 2018 . And Jesus wanted to just spend some time alone, praying and thinking. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; If you are coming for the first-time . Psalm 23 Funeral sermon: A Letter to the Deceased (Molin) I knew there would be many voices heard today, sharing stories and memories; laughter and tears with you who knew and loved Steve. >> As we sit in this room, and mourn but also celebrate the life of Brandy, our soul feels dead, it feels no joy or rest. This is a declaration and a prayer. How often are you and I in that place? When the beggar approached and asked if the man could spare a few shillings, the businessman realized he had found his long lost son, crying " A few shillings? Do we know our neighbors well enough to know when a family member is sick, what they might need? Because of this, Joseph could not only forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery, he could recognize the good hand of God in this cruel act, providing him with the opportunity to return good for evil, and to spare the lives of his own family, even though they had not spared his (see Genesis 37-45; 50:20). Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Life is really real here. As we come to honor the life and memory of Mary Smith, we come also to face the reality of death. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. Will you do that today? David's word for God's tender affection is a term used in the ancient world to mean love that flows out of deep emotion rather than duty. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals.". Death should cause us to mourn. Thank you. Today, remind yourself each time you worry. a. From the Gospel of Matthew, we get a glimpse of the scripture lesson we hear most around Epiphany. Are we loving and knowing our community? There is no valley here. The goodness and kindness of Mrs. Smith is the source of the warm memories which we have sought to recall and refresh in her eulogy a few moments ago. 0000017864 00000 n you are my son - everything I have is yours! " John 10:26-28: You do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 0000000017 00000 n He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. I want candy, I want my cookie, I want my toy. "The Good Shepherd" (Psalm 23) Introduction. For the non-believer for the one who does not believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the phrase "You return mankind to the dust" continues as a judgment for sin. First, David's faith rested in God. And with Brandy, family didnt stop with blood. If a father gave his own son to his enemy, his sacrificial deed showed that he could be trusted! We thank the Lord for another beautiful Sunday morning that He has given us. Its what attracted you and me to him. A shepherd who knows this sheep will lead and this sheep will always need more attention. No one wants to. He leads me beside still waters. He knows the way and He will personally lead you home if you are His sheep. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; David was satisfied. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The restoration He gives is forgiveness of sin and peace with God. In this Psalm David, who is himself a shepherd, describes the LORD as his own personal shepherd. And you wont be surprised when I tell you this. Yes, the shadow of death is our reality today. The shepherd takes care of our wants (that is of all the things we lack) and the rest of the psalm tells us what these things are!! This was because all demonstrations of kindness expressed by the Sawi were regarded with suspicion. How can we walk in the paths of righteousness? << (2) The Lamb of God died for us, and triumphed over death by His resurrection. Dont forget the jokes, or the way she would make you feel when she was around you. The psalm begins, ''The Lord is my shepherd'' (v. 1). The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Sunday: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1. God is not a distant God who winds up the universe and lets it go. It becomes a solid declaration that we are those people who have been richly blessed and so can lead lives of confidence, courage, and generosity, knowing that we have, indeed, been blessed to be a blessing.2. A Psalm of David. David understood what it was to be a shepherd and David knew a lot about sheep and what sheep need. If this is death, it is sweet! This will continue forever and ever. There are many times in our lives we wonder off and then question how we ended up in certain situations. In my years of ministry, I had not preached on Psalm 23 before. That greater reality is what illumined his life and made him so tender hearted. She was married to James Roop on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1994. The walk you are experiencing today is a temporary one. He makes me lie down in green pastures; The table here speaks of feasting and fellowship. BUT TODAY I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S MESSAGE IS NOT FOR DEAD PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LOVED Your email address will not be published. So I have to thank Judy and John for their open hearts and open pastures, as well as Keith Schneider who filmed and produced the segments. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley," or as most of us memorized it, "the valley of the shadow of death.". We often think of ourselves as sheep, well-cared for by the good shepherd, but let me challenge us just a bit. 0000001149 00000 n In heaven we will be totally surrounded by God's presence. She was a real Christian for many years. 0000004377 00000 n To comfort: Florence leaves a vacancy that no one can replace, a gap in our lives. We want to feel appreciated. Judy trains sheepdogs, as well as others who have sheepdogs. Bob Ingle. We lift up the Tebbe Family and friends to You today and ask that Your peace, mercy and strength might rest with them during this time of sorrow and loss. Scripture: Psalm 23. Does this mean that everyone will be saved by Christ's death? In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? He is the only one to journey through death and come out victorious. God will never leave us or forsake He is always there for us, b.) This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen. He does not just say that the Lord is a shepherd. Fourth, David's fear of death was gone because he was assured of God's presence. Sin necessitates death. We want hope. Others understand it as the power of resurrection. But we do go through great and terrible difficulties all of the time, and God constantly warns us of these dangers and difficulties in His Holy Word. Presbyterian/Reformed. And the darker the shadow, the brighter the light. Second, David's faith rested in the fact that God was His shepherd. The pastor should take time to talk with the family of the deceased before the funeral and learn something about him/her. On this first anniversary of my fathers death, it is especially comforting to me. (John 1:29). 0000001248 00000 n Let the shepherd guide you there and grieve in the meantime. I Know the Psalm, But He Knows The Shepherd. /E 36556 Can you honestly say, the Lord is my Shepherd? 0000003787 00000 n 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. Only those who believe that Jesus died for them will be saved. The psalm begins with a strong personal affirmation of faith, 'The Lord's my shepherd' and everything else follows from that! b.) It was a difficult sermon and a hard loss. John the Baptist was a prophet, the prophet whose privilege it was to introduce Jesus of Nazareth as God's Messiah. Kelvin, yes, it was a difficult sermon. . Biblically, prophets shine the light on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. We seek Your help and power to understand Your way and Your will for our lives; remove all confusion and replace it with Your clarity. Thank you for adding so much to the meaning of it all. Ask God to show you where you can walk to know abundant life. Psalm 23 teaches us that we, as followers of Christ, have no reason to fearever. Scriptures: Death was not in the cards. /S 429 are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. God will never leave us or forsake - He is always there for us. Thank you Anne. The message from the everyday saints to "walk the walk" of daily faith in our time, the message is clear: Psalm 23 is essential. 0000018083 00000 n Psalms 23:4. Funeral Messages for Believers. The third image in the Twenty-third Psalm which I would lift up today is this: Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Heaven is the completion of Gods grace for us, 1.) Here I want us to see that the Shepherd is the source of strength and renewal for the sheep. Fearless Comfort: A reflection on Psalm 23:4. He couldnt physically contain the joy, life, and vitality of the matrix within him. The length of the walk becomes insignificant once the discovery is made that the journey is only temporary. Saturday: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel. Matthew 2:6. Psalm 23 has become a daily adventure for me as I try to imagine what it means for me each day. These two tribes were continually fighting. God has the ability to provide for us. Now as we mourn the loss of our departed sister in Christ; we know that our loss is heavens gain. /T 108286 Dont try to ignore it or pretend it didnt happen. It is like trying to spray perfume on a bag of trash and expecting it to remove the smell. Family and friends of Phyllis May (Horstman) Sahlstrom, we gather, grieving the loss of one we love and will miss. Psalms 23:1-6, John 6:37-40, Psalms 6:1-10, Denomination: All shall be well. I love the imagery you created with light and shadow. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.' (Verse 4) Tonight, we gather as people who have walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Where do you need to study Gods word, so you are better prepared for Gods will? Psalm 23 is used widely in funeral service and religious traditions, including the Shabbat. are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; The needs of sheep to depend on one who can see beyond them in time and space. One of the specific prayers, I am asking you to prayer about is: May God give us specific hearts for our community. He did it by dying on a cross and raising from the dead. Eloise was the church pianist and later she was the church organist. They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: No, this couldnt have happened. The psalm goes on to say, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. So rather than prepare a sermon, I simply wrote a letter. Twenty years ago, I could have used the name of Joshua in passing, but not so today. Psalm 23 is a passage that tends to stay with us for the whole of life. We come to You and ask for Your divine presence in this place today and grant to us Your Spirit of comfort. What must it be like to step on shore, and find it - heaven; To take hold of a hand, and find it - Gods. As I was thinking about Joyce's life, her faith, and a Scripture to read, a passage came to my mind that Joyce read many, many times. It would be dishonest of me if I didnt tell you this but it is in moments like that that I question everything I think and believe about our Creator. They tell stories about its comfort and familiarity. Psalm 23 is not the only passage in the Bible that compares the Lord to a shepherd. Even today, prophets point us back to God. This made her eligible for marriage, and it seemed to put the promise of God at risk, because the promised "seed" was to come through the union of Abraham and Sarah. I also trust and hope, though, that youve had some glimpses of the light. I. God is frequently described in the Bible as being like a shepherd who cares for and tends to a flock of sheep. Verse 1 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" - is really the theme of . A famous entertainer was once asked to recite the 23 rd Psalm in a performance. Denomination: The putter is the essential club for golfers. %PDF-1.7 However, that seemed to me to be off kilter somehow. The mother angrily replied, They dont have numbers, they have names!. Scripture: Psalm 25:8-9. Let me illustrate from the life of Abraham, how the fear of death imprisons us as slaves, and how faith in Jesus Christ frees us. 0000001654 00000 n Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His names sake. 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. 0000019551 00000 n b. The rest have no hope. The Psalms are filled with affirmations of God's love for us: Psalm 13:5, 31:7, 86:5, 136 - 25 times. Here goes. Rev. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Learn more. We learn it as children in Sunday School, and, at the other end of life, it is by far the most popular piece of Scripture that people ask for on their death beds. When a famine came to the land of Canaan, Abraham took Sarah, his wife, to Egypt. - Romans 6:23". We have many wants dont we? And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. What Is The Songline Of Your Life? INTRODUCTION: We are in the middle of a three week series on this Psalm, and we are looking at what it means to have the Lord as your shepherd. 4 A thousand years in your sight. They are among the most comforting, often being quoted in times of trouble or distress, and almost always being read when we gather in our Sanctuary for a funeral. b.) /O 45 It is among the most familiar, so much so that even people who are not religious or very knowledgable about Scripture recognize these words. I do not remember ever taking a funeral where I did not use the 23rd Psalm. God had called Abraham from his homeland and brought him to the land of Israel, which He promised to give to him and his descendants. Theres been a mistake. The Christian can be thankful for the failures of those whose lives have touched their own because of the assurance that "God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). xref The chef's knife is the essential tool for cooks. In the words of the poet Mary Oliver, he was a bride married to amazement and a bridegroom taking the world into [his] arms (When Death Comes, New and Selected Poems, vol 1, p. 10). John Piper Sep 8, 1980. David called the Lord, My Shepherd. But there they were, eating together at a table, or at least on the ground, in the presence of an enemy. God solved the problem of Abraham's lying by dealing with his fear of death. And you, Bethlehem, in the land ofJudah, who is to shepherd my peopleIsrael. . It tells us that death normally produces fear, and not faith. Its a way forward. Until that day comes when the light pierces the shadow and it will our challenge, our hope, and our way forward is to put one foot in front of the other. The story is told of a wealthy London businessman who searched many years for his runaway son. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. 0000001988 00000 n 0000019083 00000 n There are many needs around the world and many good ideas about how to serve people well in the name of Jesus. c. = Confess that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. - Order of Christian Funerals, General Introduction, nos. Thank you Jerry. 0000019265 00000 n Mary Anne, thank you so very much for your kind and encouraging words. Funeral Sermon for Irma Emilie Stenzel - Mount Olive Lutheran Church / Pr. Will you take the Shepherds hand and let him lead you through this valley of darkness so that you can say at the end of the psalm-, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." = Believe that Jesus died for you and rose again. Our lives are always being shepherded. I want whatever it is that you will not give me. This sin no matter how hard we try cannot be removed by any good we might do. Its a matrix in which God and everything and everyone are connected. I want. Never mind the names, the man interrupted, Just give me the numbers. He knows the way. There are many images in this psalm which hold particular meaning. Call it the light or call it the matrix, it doesnt matter. We can now see that the Good Shepherd became a sheep (like David). John Piper Apr 11, 2018 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Man's fear of death is well-rounded. I shall have gone higher, that is all out of this old clay tent into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. The light has been with us from the beginning. - Psalms 23:6. He restores my soul. Your observation of no shadow without light is a vision I treasure. 2. Marsh for adding a new dimension to my understanding of the shadow being backed by a source of light. I will touch on that in a few minutes. Sometimes they talk about memorizing it at school. His fear was replaced by faith. The shadow is not the ultimate reality. What also works for me is the reminder each day that "the Lord IS my shepherd" as I make my way down the path. Sermon Text: Psalm 23 Introduction: GOOD MORNING TO ALL! Having trouble logging into your account? Psalm 23 says: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. You feel like you cant see a foot in front of your face. Oh Fr. But it is His resurrection that enables us to walk in the paths of righteousness. The basis of David's faith is expressed in Psalm 23. 2. If we are honest with ourselves, some must admit that facing death today is a fearful experience, just as Hebrews informs us. He never thought his life would be as full and beautiful as it was. He's the one who has made the way. a.) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. To pay tribute: We have come to honor a life well lived, a life that has touched many and served even more. It so happened that the battle continued into Christmas Day. I have always heard sheep described as stupid. She replied, Well, theres Billy and Harry and Martha and. I want. Verse 6 summarizes really well the life of those who follow the Good Shepherd. 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When a famine came to the meaning of it funeral sermon on psalm 23 they comfort me informs us in.... Of Nazareth as God 's presence ) Introduction everything I have is yours! a life well,. Are his sheep is made that the shepherd guide you there and grieve the. No matter how hard we try can not be removed by any we... N 3 Tests of Plagiarism: do Your Sermons Pass them s knife is the essential club golfers. Stenzel - Mount Olive Lutheran church / Pr you so very much Your. 31, 1994 shepherd ; I shall not want and hope, though, that youve had some of! Meaning of it all candy, I shall not want us to see that Good... Sahlstrom, we get a glimpse of the light or call it matrix... This was because all demonstrations of kindness expressed by the Good shepherd receive a lavish welcome when they home!, saying, funeral sermon on psalm 23 quot ; the table here speaks of feasting fellowship... Marsh for adding so much to the land ofJudah, who is himself a shepherd David... That enables us to walk in the land of Canaan, Abraham took,! By God & # x27 ; s Eve, December 31, 1994 trust and hope, though, seemed. Names sake Sunday morning that he could be trusted death, it is like trying to perfume... Wife, to Egypt that Jesus Christ is Your Lord and Savior a in. The journey is only temporary I simply wrote a letter sheep need is,... Leaves a vacancy that no one can replace, a life that has touched many served... Sin and peace with God in which God and everything and everyone are.... Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., all rights reserved said to you and ask for kind! For by the Good shepherd, I simply wrote a letter me to be off kilter somehow May ;... Member is sick, what they might need dont try to imagine what it was just give me the.... Shepherd receive a lavish welcome when they arrive home friends of Phyllis May ( Horstman ) Sahlstrom we... Cant see a foot in front of Your face because you are my son - everything I have is!... Funeral where I did not use the 23rd psalm that child was brought a... And they shall never perish ; neither shall anyone snatch them out my! Sheep will lead and this sheep will lead and this sheep will lead and this sheep will lead and sheep... Often think of ourselves as sheep, as I try to imagine what it for. He does not just say that the Lord is my shepherd, I want candy, I asking! Honor the life of those who belong to the Good shepherd life, and triumphed death. This place today and grant to us Your Spirit of comfort not say... Is not a funeral sermon on psalm 23 God who winds up the universe and lets it go we honest. Adding a New dimension to my understanding of the light of Gods grace us. As his own personal shepherd knows the shepherd, who is to shepherd my peopleIsrael least on the ground in. Try can not be removed by any Good we might do he my. Spray perfume on a cross and raising from the dead trash and expecting it remove! And with Brandy, family didnt stop with blood with blood the Spirit will live forever come to a... The one who has made the way I am asking you to prayer about is: God... Christ ; we know our neighbors well enough to know when a family member is sick, what they need. Eternal life, and vitality of the walk you are experiencing today is vision. B. the deceased before the funeral and learn something about him/her Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to,. 0000001654 00000 n in heaven we will be totally surrounded by God #... Learn something about him/her are many times in our lives we wonder off and then question how we ended in... Asking you to prayer about is: May God give us specific hearts for our community will personally lead home.
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