Death is a Teacher

September 19, 2023

Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, September 17, 2023.

Sermon text: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14



1.) Death teaches us more about life than birth can.

You are supposed to linger at the funeral home. You are supposed take your time at the graveside. You are supposed to not rush through mourning the loss of a loved one, because in the lingering and mourning, there is a lot to learn about life. In fact, without entering into the house of mourning, we lack the wisdom needed for a life that produces gladness of heart.


2.) Death teaches us that we are not in control

 If you are in denial of death, you have believed the myth of control.

 We set our schedules and make our budgets. We invest wisely and try to avoid pitfalls. We have a plan and a back-up plan. The idea of death gets in our way. And for many, it is avoided, and instead they seek an escape...


3.) Denying death leads to escapism

 MIRTH v. 4 Those who don't want to go to the house of mourning, go to the house of mirth. They try to escape reality. Mirth - Endless laughter and light heartedness...Partying, substance abuse, and recklessness. This is foolishness. Death teaches us that it is wise to be soberly in touch with reality.

 MONEY v. 7 talks about bribes and extortion. These are the ones who try to escape reality through money. They try to control people and circumstances with their money. This is foolishness. Death teaches us that the love of money leads to many self-inflicted wounds that you will regret on your death bed.

 IMPATIENCE v. 8 says that the end of a thing is better than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Some try to escape reality by acting as if they shouldn't have to put up with anything that it an inconvenience. Their pride leads them to being impatient with their spouses, children, friends and coworkers. This is foolishness. Death teaches us that patience is a virtue because life is a blessing even when things don't go your way. Stop acting like you are supposed to have a life where you don't ever have to do anything that you don't enjoy!

 ANGER v. 9 exhorts us to not be quick to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Maybe you have met a person who is perpetually angry. They act as though life has dealt them an unfair hand. They constantly tear down the people in their lives because their appetite for control has lodged anger in their hearts. This is foolishness. Death teaches us that life is better lived in kindness.

 NOSTALGIA v. 10 "Say not, 'Why were the former days better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask this." This one feels like it becomes more prevalent as time marches on. A longing for the good old days. Back when I was a kid... This is foolishness. Death teaches us that you can desire for things to be better, yet still be completely out of touch with reality.


All of these things are foolish. Death pushes us into reality, and in doing so, pushes us into

wisdom.


4.) True wisdom is learning to live with the limitations of wisdom itself. vs 7, 13-14... Wisdom can be corrupted. Wisdom cannot change everything. Wisdom cannot predict the future. We pray for wisdom, but it was never God's plan to give us wisdom so that we no longer need HIM! Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." I am burdened that evil is well organized while the local church often is not. That reality drives me to pursue good order and wisdom and stewardship for the church. But, if evil is so well organized, the way that we overcome evil isn't with the wisdom of being better organized! We need God! Wisdom is limited and God is not! All of the wisdom in the world cannot prevent catastrophes, failures, loss OR death. Don't give way to the fear of death. Don't try to escape reality. Allow death to lead you to wisdom. And allow wisdom to teach you its own limitations. Fear God and keep his commandments. By the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living sacrifice. Your created purpose is to glorify God. And because of God, we can glorify Him in both life and death. He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He never leaves or forsakes us. As we really lean into the reality of death, we know that it is the wage we are owed because of our sin. All have sinned and fallen short of perfection. We have wronged a holy God. We deserve His wrath. But by faith, we receive the gift of Christ. And instead of God's wrath being poured out on us, He pours it out on his perfect, beloved, spotless Son. This is what we are reminded of when we take the Supper every week. 1 Corinthians 15 beautifully proclaims... "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."




Discipleship Questions:

  1. How do you feel about funerals? Be honest... 
  2. Why is it dangerous to be in denial about death?
  3. In what ways do you try to "escape" from the realities of life and how can you lean into wisdom?
  4. How can nostalgia be a dangerous thing?
  5. What are some of the limitations of wisdom?
  6. What does it look like to cling to God when wisdom fails?
  7. Why is God trustworthy? 

Everything We Need

July 29, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:3-4 We have everything we need for a godly life. Sentence has: 68 words 9 prepositional phrases 5 dependent clauses God called us. “By His divine power” The word here is summon Like Lazarus, come forth. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. By revealing Christ to us. “Through the knowledge of Him” Side note, ambiguity: The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We need to note that this comes to us by grace, but also that we have a part to play here. Effort is not a 4 letter word. You have no excuse for: Pornography- You have everything you need. Substance Abuse- You have everything you need. Pride- You have everything you need Laziness- You have everything you need Anger- You have everything you need. Prayer and Scripture Reading- You have everything you need. Evangelism- You have everything you need. He’ll go on to mention supplementing He has given us what we need for godliness now, and He promises us even greater things to come. We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature 2 Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature Unusual word… The “divine nature” (Theos) appears only here and in Acts where Paul addresses the Areopagus an odd work choice and would have appealed to his pagan readers. Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. Redefining what it means to become like God. Christ shared in our nature that we might share in His. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. In 1:3, it’s through the knowledge of Christ that we are called to Him. Here, we see that a fuller revelation of Christ will conform us even more fully into His likeness. How so? Purity Immortality Restoration to Eden Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, We have everything we need for a godly life. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Purity Immortality Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable.’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. Discipleship Questions: 2 Peter 1:3 says we’ve been given everything we need for life and godliness… Do you find that verse encouraging, challenging or both? Are there any areas of your walk where you struggle to believe that you already have everything you need for success? Do you ever make excuses to yourself or others for a lack of godliness? If yes, explain. How much work does it take to live as a Christian? What does it mean that we will be “partakers in the divine nature”?

The Genuine Gospel

July 21, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:1-2  Peter is warning us about counterfeit teaching and false teachers The genuine gospel came from Jesus through His apostles —servant (humility and honor) —apostle (called, unique, sent) The genuine gospel is just as precious to us today —received and believed “How does someone become a Christian? One person might say, ‘Because I believe,’ and another, ‘Because God chose me.’ According to Peter, both ways of stating it are correct. On the one hand, we believe. It is a fundamental definition of a Christian that he or she is a ‘believe-er’; that he or she ‘has faith’ But Peter also knows that it is not our feeble faith that holds us close to God. It is God who does all the holding, and that is the reality behind the word received.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel is centered on the person and work of Jesus —God —Savior —Christ —Lord “This fourfold description of Jesus is important because it puts him at the focal point of human history. As God, he guarantees that his words and his works cannot be replaced or revoked; as Christ, he fulfills all the Old Testament promises; as Savior, he died on the cross for our salvation in the past, present and future; and as Lord he claims the right to our individual love and obedience—notice how Peter calls him our Lord.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel transforms us as we grow in knowledge of Jesus —grace and peace multiplied Discipleship Questions: Why is false teaching so dangerous? How does remembering and focusing on the true gospel help us stand against false teaching? In what ways is the gospel just as precious to us as it was to the apostles? How do you relate to Jesus as God, Savior, Christ, and Lord? What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him?

The God of All Grace

July 16, 2025
Notes from Zach Snow's sermon on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:8-14 Why is the lion roaring? Wouldn’t it be a better strategy to be quiet…subtle…sneaky, in an attempt to “devour” Christians? I think that Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, was very intentional with his description here of the devil being a roaring lion. Went into a rabbit hole on a lion's roar…there are some spiritual applications to these: Can reach up to 114 decibels…almost as loud as a jet engine taking off They roar for social reasons (territory, create bonds, locate other members of their pride) as well as for purposes of intimidation. One of the primary purposes of the lion's roar is to strike fear in the heart of their prey. The lion will always start with a psychological advantage Fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred - these things can absolutely paralyse you spiritually The lion is not necessarily trying to kill you, but to destroy your faith Prayer: Be sober-minded - Have a clear and self disciplined mind - Titus 2 Exercise self control in thoughts, words, and action this is the 3rd time Peter has said this to us in 1 Peter - 1:13, 4:7 - it’s a call to remain alert and focused Being sober-minded means waging war against the things that are detrimental to the mind: fear, hatred, anxiety, depression, anger I believe these are specific things the enemy uses to derail our mental health and cause us to take our guard down Be watchful - this is the same word that Jesus used in the garden before he was arrested and crucified - this is a call to pray Prayers for others - Eph. 6:18 - Ephesians 6:18 - [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Prayers for yourself - James 1:5 - 5 j If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. So here’s the question… Do you believe in prayer? How much do you trust that God can do the things that you are not able to do? Do you trust God with the big stuff AND the small stuff? Discipleship Questions: 1.) In your personal life, what does being sober minded and watchful look like to you? 2.) Who are the people who help you stand firm in your faith the most? 3.) As a CG look at each of the points of the Theology of Suffering and find Scripture to support each one of those statements: God is ALWAYS good God is ALWAYS enough God will ALWAYS love you 4.) Discuss ways that the God of all grace has restored, confirmed, strengthened, and established you.
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