Life Is a Gift to Be Respected As God Is Taking It
“Is it OK to pull the plug? Do I really need a medical directive?”
Sermon Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-13
Sermon Theme & Parts:
The Right Way to Die (or – Let’s Learn From Paul the Right Way to
Die)
I.
Having Finished the Race
II.
Having Your Needs Met
Introduction – Begin with examples of people in your congregation or family who have met death
well (or poorly).
Or discuss your
own death and some ways you
could view it. (e.g. Grandpa
couldn’t wait to die – is that
OK? Or, I personally don’t want to lose my physical abilities and be limited to a wheelchair in my last years of life).
Then lead into the theme by asking
the question: “What is the right way to die?” Last week we talked about how important it is to defend the sanctity of life as a gift from God and not allow anyone take it out of
selfishness or fear.
But, let’s face it. Each of us has to die eventually – unless Jesus comes first. So, it would
be good to know how to do it. In God’s Word today, the Holy Spirit
inspired the Apostle Paul at the
end of his life to teach us the right
way to die.
The Right Way to Die (or – Let’s Learn From Paul the Right Way to
Die)
I.
Having finished the race
a. Earlier he was torn, now certain of death
i. Phil 1:23
ii. V. 6 – time for my
departure
1. Picture of moorings – right
way to die
2. Picture of tent ropes
– right way to die
b. View life as a drink offering
i. Description of picture
of drink offering
ii. Total giving over to God’s
service
1. So if God’s will is to take
me, so be it.
2. In faith, I accept
God’s decision and early look forward to heaven. If God’s plan is to keep me living, then I recognize that God still has a purpose
for me here on earth.
c. Keep the faith
i. All of the other things we
do – guarding the faith
ii. All of interactions with others – guarding the faith
d. Expect the crown of righteousness
i. There shouldn’t be – we aren’t Paul (Specific Law)
1.
Easy to love the world
– Demas
2. Hard
to keep faith
ii. Through Jesus
there is crown
(Specific Gospel)
1. He was poured out
2. He ran our race
3.
He declared it
finished
Transition – Jesus,
through His death, fulfilled
God’s will. His death and resurrection guarantee that we
too can face death with the assurance of the crown of righteousness which his perfection won for all of
us. So as we prepare for that, or as we watch our loved ones prepare, we can follow
Paul’s example of confidence in God’s
perfect plan for our lives.
II.
Having Needs Met
a.
Companionship
a. Paul in prison – fellowship
b.
How often to visit Grandma
c. Imagine self – what would you need
b. Comfort
a. Paul asked for cloak
b. Nursing
homes, etc., but need…
c.
God’s Word
a. Share
it
i.
For first or 1,000,001st time (Paul wrote it and longed
for it)
ii.
2 Corinthians 6:2 - now (kids sing hymns)
b. Read it
i.
Describe opportunities to visit
shut-ins
ii.
Describe responsibility to visit family
Conclusion: Reminder of opening story and show how God’s Word provides the comfort that our lives are in God’s hands, and
when death is imminent, we can gladly accept
His will to bring us
to our eternal home.
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