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? 

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 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. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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