2. ““The biblical gospel writers’ good news was aboutThe biblical gospel writers’ good news was about
the restoration ofthe restoration of shalomshalom.”.”
- Shalom = the very goodness/perfection of God’s- Shalom = the very goodness/perfection of God’s
creation; restoration of relationship in Jesuscreation; restoration of relationship in Jesus
- The Fall = Sin = breaking of- The Fall = Sin = breaking of shalomshalom
8. 1. NATURAL: the “big death”; the end of our lives in this age
2. SYMBOLIC: “smaller deaths”; dying to ourselves in any
area of life where the character of Jesus isn’t fully formed
(a regular, ongoing, life-long process…)
TWO KINDS of DEATH to CONSIDER:
9. Sunday, September 30Sunday, September 30
Clinton LakeClinton Lake –– 10:30am10:30am
BAPTISM SERVICE & POTLUCKBAPTISM SERVICE & POTLUCK
11. Remember your creator in the days of your youth,Remember your creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come, and the yearsbefore the days of trouble come, and the years
draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;;
before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars arebefore the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are
darkened and the clouds return with the rain; in the daydarkened and the clouds return with the rain; in the day
when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong menwhen the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men
are bent, and the women who grind cease workingare bent, and the women who grind cease working
because they are few, and those who lookbecause they are few, and those who look
through the windows see dimlythrough the windows see dimly……
ECCLESIASTES 12:1-3
12. ……when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound ofwhen the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of
the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird,the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song are brought low; when one isand all the daughters of song are brought low; when one is
afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond treeafraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree
blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails;blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails;
because all must go to their eternal home, and the mournersbecause all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners
will go about the streets; before the silver cord is snapped,will go about the streets; before the silver cord is snapped,
and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher isand the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is
broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken atbroken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at
the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth asthe cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as
it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.
ECCLESIASTES 12:1-3
13. “Death is the great enemy, but it has been conquered
and will at the last be conquered fully…death is
important; it is an enemy, but…it is a beaten enemy…
at the last, death will be not simply redefined
but defeated. God’s intention is not to let
death have its way with us.”
N.T. Wright
14. When Jesus saw her weeping,When Jesus saw her weeping,
and the Jews who came with herand the Jews who came with her
also weeping, he wasalso weeping, he was greatly disturbedgreatly disturbed
in spirit andin spirit and deeply moveddeeply moved. He said,. He said,
““Where have you laid him?Where have you laid him?””
They said to him,They said to him, ““Lord, come and see.Lord, come and see.””
Jesus began toJesus began to weepweep..
JOHN 11:33-35
15. ““I believe that given the deteriorating stateI believe that given the deteriorating state
of life on earth, natural death places boundariesof life on earth, natural death places boundaries
on the pain of a fallen world. In the same wayon the pain of a fallen world. In the same way
that the land placed boundaries on the chaosthat the land placed boundaries on the chaos
and despair of the deep (Gen 1), natural deathand despair of the deep (Gen 1), natural death
places boundaries on the despair and futilityplaces boundaries on the despair and futility
of life in the context of the Fall. Could itof life in the context of the Fall. Could it
be thatbe that……God (allows) natural deathGod (allows) natural death
(in) the world as grace to a(in) the world as grace to a
fallen world?”fallen world?”
16. We know that God makesWe know that God makes all thingsall things
work together for good, for those whowork together for good, for those who
love God, who are called accordinglove God, who are called according
to his purpose.to his purpose.
ROMANS 8:28
17. We know that God makesWe know that God makes all thingsall things
work together for good, for those whowork together for good, for those who
love God, who are called accordinglove God, who are called according
to his purpose.to his purpose.
MEANING: when it comes to death, perhaps it isMEANING: when it comes to death, perhaps it is
both an enemy Jesus has already defeated,both an enemy Jesus has already defeated,
and something Godand something God –– in Divine wisdomin Divine wisdom ––
is able to bring something good out ofis able to bring something good out of
(i.e. placing boundaries on suffering(i.e. placing boundaries on suffering……))
ROMANS 8:28
18. - “I guess it was just God’s plan,” or “God is in control.”
- “Well, at least…you had (this many) years with them,” or
“you know they’re saved,” or “they’re in a better place.”
- “God needed another angel in the choir,” or
“God needed a new flower for heaven’s garden.”
- “I know how you feel.”
- “You’ll get over this…” or “This too shall pass…”
- “Let me know if you need anything…”*
- (Nothing at all; total withdrawal)
EXAMPLES of WHAT NOT to SAY to
OTHERS WHEN THEY’RE GRIEVING:
19. - “I am so, so sorry.”
- “I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you…”
- “I am here for you,” or “I will walk through this with you.”
- “When can I bring you a meal?” or “I’d like to come
sit with you,” or “We’re going to come clean
your house for you…”
EXAMPLES of WHAT YOU MIGHT SAY:
21. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man mustThen he began to teach them that the Son of Man must
undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders,undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders,
the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and afterthe chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after
three days rise again. He said all this quite openlythree days rise again. He said all this quite openly……
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them,He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them,
““If any want to become my followers, let themIf any want to become my followers, let them denydeny
themselvesthemselves andand take up their crosstake up their cross andand follow mefollow me..
For those who want to save their life will lose it,For those who want to save their life will lose it,
and those who lose their life for my sake, and forand those who lose their life for my sake, and for
the sake of the gospel, will save it.the sake of the gospel, will save it.
MARK 8:31-32a,
22. “Following Jesus is, more or less, Mark’s definition
of what being a Christian means; and Jesus is not
leading us on a pleasant afternoon hike, but on a
walk into danger and risk. Or did we suppose that
the kingdom of God would mean merely a few
minor adjustments in our ordinary lives?”
N.T. Wright
23. ““To ask for forgiveness is to die a small deathTo ask for forgiveness is to die a small death……humility ishumility is
a small death too, the death of supremacy. Trust is a smalla small death too, the death of supremacy. Trust is a small
death, the death of control. Truth is a small death, the deathdeath, the death of control. Truth is a small death, the death
of a lack of accountability. Reparation is a small death, theof a lack of accountability. Reparation is a small death, the
death of domination. Reciprocity is a small death, the deathdeath of domination. Reciprocity is a small death, the death
of autonomy. To embrace ‘the other’ is a small death, theof autonomy. To embrace ‘the other’ is a small death, the
death of self-absorption. But think about the alternativedeath of self-absorption. But think about the alternative ––
choosing supremacy, control, lack of accountability,choosing supremacy, control, lack of accountability,
domination, autonomy, self-absorption.domination, autonomy, self-absorption.
This path feels familiar, the path ofThis path feels familiar, the path of
this world. Do not be fooled; it leadsthis world. Do not be fooled; it leads
to the big death and separation. ”to the big death and separation. ”
24. 1. Deny yourself: surrender your life/will to God’s life/will
2. Take up your cross: to be willing to suffer if faithful
allegiance to Jesus should, for whatever reason, lead to it
3. Follow him: to all the places he goes, including the cross
IF ANYONE WANTS TO FOLLOW JESUS:
25. “(Jesus’) words don’t mean” ‘suffering for the sake of (it)’ or
the ‘redemptive value of suffering itself.’ Womanists rightly
warn us against such ‘spiritual’ notions, which are also
‘satanic’ ideas full of abusive potential. Instead, as Howard
Thurman suggests, one who follows Jesus ‘will choose
rather to do the thing that is to him/her the maximum
exposure to the love and therefore the
approval of God, rather than the things
that will save his/her own skin.’”
Emerson B. Powery
26. Sunday, September 30Sunday, September 30
Clinton LakeClinton Lake –– 10:30am10:30am
BAPTISM SERVICE & POTLUCKBAPTISM SERVICE & POTLUCK
27. ““The path of the Cross, and the smallThe path of the Cross, and the small deathsdeaths
of repentance, humility, truth, reparation,of repentance, humility, truth, reparation,
trust, reciprocity, and embracing ‘the other,’trust, reciprocity, and embracing ‘the other,’
lead tolead to lifelife andand resurrectionresurrection. And in the light. And in the light
of resurrection, the big death has no sting.of resurrection, the big death has no sting.
Separation does not win.”Separation does not win.”
AMEN.AMEN.
28. A Prayer For The People of God
God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive the petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.
Life-giving God, heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
29. Mark 12
Hear, O Israel:
the Lord our God, the Lord is one;
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’
And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment
greater than these.
