Sermon Tone Analysis

Samuel Valencia, B.A. Biblical Studies

Sermon

October 12, 2008

Good Shepherd Community Church of El Cajon (EBP)

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TITTLE

The Conquering of Death

 

MAIN PASSAGE

 

*John 11:1-44

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Our subject this morning is death.

Though it is a somber topic, it is a fact of life.

Every culture around the world has its views and traditions about it… Here in the United States during October death is the underlying theme of Halloween.

Halloween had its origins in “the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain , a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture…  The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31… the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops.

The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown.

Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them…” (1) Today Halloween has grown into a massive commercial holiday.

Many other ideas and traditions have been added to it, but nevertheless death and all that accompanies it are still the underlying theme of it.

Halloween presents death in a convoluted way and treats it as a plaything.

In stores and around our neighborhoods there are decorations uplifting death and all other things that have to do with the dark things of death.

For this reason it is a good time to see what the Bible teaches us about death…

 

What is death and where did it come from?

It affects all creation… It has afflicted men throughout history… It cannot be avoided… It is wrapped up in mystery...

Those that try to understand it, control it, and cheat it have meddled into the occult via witchcraft, sorcery, psychic methods and so on.

All such things surface and are playthings during Halloween.

Indeed Halloween has a darker side, but that is a topic for another day...

 

The Bible reveals what death is.

Dr. Billy Graham states “…we cannot begin to understand the riddle of death without the guiding knowledge of the Word of God.

Outside of the Bible death will forever remain an unknown phantom, stalking helpless human victims.”

(2) So what does the Bible teach us about death?

One of the best passages to take up this subject is found in John 11.

Here we see that death is a reality, it has a sting, but more importantly that it has been conquered!

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TRANSITION TO MAIN POINT I

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I.

THE REALITY OF DEATH

 

*John 11:11-14

 

A.

The Meaning of Death

 

1.

Scientific~/Medically

 

Medically speaking death is “the ending of all vital functions or processes in an organism or cell” [1]

2. Philosophically

 

a.

The cessation of existence…

b.

Wondering around in the spiritual world…

 

3.

Religiously

 

            a.

Purgatory

            b.

Incarnation

            c.

Man made theories of death…

 

4.

Theologically (THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION)

 

ONLY THE BIBLE GIVES US THE CORRECT DEFINITION OF DEATH... “Death always indicates a separation of some kind…” [2]

 

B.

The Image of Death

 

The Encarta Dictionary states that “a personification of death [is] usually represented as a ghostly form or skeleton holding a scythe.”

The Bible holds silence as to the aspect of death…

 

C.

The Origin of Death

 

*Genesis 2:17

 

ADAM AND EVE ATE FROM THE TREE

 

D.

Three Types of Death

Norman L. Geisler states “…the disobedience of the original humans brought death into the world.

There are three kinds of death: spiritual, physical, and eternal.

Adam and Eve died /spiritually/ the moment they sinned.

They also began to die /physically/ that very day…” [3]

 

1.      Physical Death

 

*Genesis 3:17-19

                                    a.

All Men will Die…

 

*Hebrews 9:27

 

                                    b.

Some Exceptions

 

i.

Enoch

*Genesis 5:23-24

ii.

Elijah

*2 Kings 2:11

iii.

Believers in the Rapture

 

*1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

 

2.

Spiritual Death

 

Separation from God… Genesis 3:24

 

*Genesis 3:24*

 

3.

Eternal Death

 

*Revelation 20:14-15.

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TRANSITION TO MAIN POINT II

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II.

THE STING OF DEATH

 

*Primarily when we think of death we focus on physical death… *

 

*John 11:17-19

 

*John 11:31-35

 

A.

The Nonbeliever

 

1.

Pain

2.      Suffering

3.      Despair

4.      A Complete Change in Life

5.      Hopelessness