Sermon Tone Analysis

I. God’s plans are not always easy plans.

A. Our hope is not a pain free life, but that God walks with us in our pain.

Illus: As Jeff shared earlier, Brady did not walk through life pain free.

Neither do we.

On this end of eternity we hurt.

Today we hurt.

We hurt because the sting of death is real.

We hurt because we know the pain of loss.

In this passage God is sharing with the people of Israel that they are about to walk though Babylon. is not give as promise that life will always be good, but instead that God will see us thorugh the hardest points of our lives.

Brady’s death was unexpected.

Lacy, the road you walk over the next months and years will be filled with many days of sorrow.

That said God knows the plans he has for you, and he will see you through these dark days to a hope and a future.

Illus:

(CSB)

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He renews my life;

he leads me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

B. We live in a day of pain and death, one day God will bring life and heal our broken world.

Illus: Though it is a day of sadness for us, today is a day of peace and rest for Brady… Brady has been made new.

When we see God promising his plans of a hope and a future, we as believers know what he is talking about.

God’s plans are heaven.

God’s plans are giving believers new bodies.

God’s plans are of freedom from pain and freedom from sorrow, but while we are on this side of death we can’t know it fully.

Brady know God’s hope and future today.

Illus: (CSB)

(CSB)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:, Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them.

They will be his peoples,, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

II.

God is not distant when you walk the hard roads.

(CSB) 11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

A.

A. God is not distant.

He is with you every step you take.

Illus: Lacy, Since Brady passed, I imagine life has been a blur.

You have been surrounded by people, have had to make arangements and probably have not had time to think about and truly deal with what happens.

As friends we have a responsibility to surround lacy not just this week, but also in the months and years to come.

But Lacy, when life slows down, when it goes back to normal again, it is in those times you will begin to walk through the process of understanding and dealing with this loss.

The one thing I would share with you as you walk this road is that Jesus is with you.

He has not left you alone, but instead he is walking every step of the way by your side.

When you walk through hurt, share that with Jesus, When you feel pain, express that to him.

God understands, he is not distant, but ready to walk every step with you.

(CSB) 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

B. IN the midst of your brokenness, find your peace in God who listens.

Illus: There are times when you pray that God seems far off.

It seems like your prayers hit the ceiling and stop.

In those times, hold to the promise that God not only hears your prayers, he listens to your prayers.

Hold fast to the promisee in 29:12 12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

When you pray, it is admitting you are not strong enough on your own, but instead that you need God to give you strength.

Illus: (CSB) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

Illus: (CSB) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

(CSB) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

CONCLUSION

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

III.

God is the destination of the road you travel.

(CSB) 11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.

11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.

A. IN the end, true peace, and life will be found in eternity with Jesus.

Illus: Today we hurt, Brady does not.

We feel sorrow, Brady knows the fulfillment of being in the presence of Jesus.

Today we look forward knowing that on this end of eternity we will never be complete.

But jesus died so that death would not reign over us.

He gave his life to conquer death and has given us new life if we trust him by faith.

For everyone who trust Jesus, we know perfection waits for us.

We will be made perfect to live in the presence of our perfect God.

Today Brady not only knows this, he has experienced it!