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I'd like prayer for an event tomorrow night (and ongoing prayer for how to "model the Kingdom" outside institutional life).
One of our neighbors passed away, and we offered to host a memorial service in our home.
It will be a very small gathering, and mostly our non-church/non-kingdom neighbors.
We need Holy Spirit guidance for how to balance people's expectations of formalities on one hand and the desire to model the Kingdom by not being "churchy" on the other.
Any thoughts you have about sharing would be appreciated.
The Beloved may share an illustration he once did about how big the New Jerusalem is going to be, and talking about the "many rooms" to the children.
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Awesome of you all to extend this hospitality - a most overlooked virtue in these days, especially at such a sensitive time.
You and your family desires to serve the Lord and others. It shows, friend!
I was thinking of how the early church was a burial society and of how the morning often went on for several days.
I suppose I would give everyone the opportunity to speak and be accommodating of what the other family members might desire at such an occasion. Photographs (and digital presentations) are used more and more, I've noticed.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Romans 12:15
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Death is very sobering. I will pray for your event. Please pray for my neighbor as she awaits a lung transplant donor. She is suffocating for lack of oxygen.
Now, about sharing. Paul admonished us to comfort each other with the hope of the resurrection. Of course, if you preach them into heaven, as most pastors do, then the resurrection hope kinda loses its power. I mean, what would be the point of resurrecting a body which isn't going to be used anyway? Corruption must put on incorruption. Mortal must put on immortality. If they are already in heaven then what is the point of the resurrection? Will God make them return to earth so they can come up? And, if we exist in heaven as out-of-body spirits then wouldn't the body impose limitations on our freedom? But, then, Christ was not a spirit but had flesh and bones such that he could eat and Thomas could place his hands into his side. Hmmm? Maybe our IC pastors have corrupted the truth?
Anyway, don't know how you could give anyone hope by talking about the resurrection when they believe their loved-one is already in heaven as a spirit, but here is the reference anyway.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I called a few people in our network to bring food or flowers or ?
They came through beautifully. One family brought sandwiches and stayed for a half hour or so, being introduced as our "house fellowship" friends.
Another family acted as hostesses for us.
Jeff did an illustration of how big the New Jerusalem would be. I talked about how, being so big, God must want a lot of people there, and that some think God wants everybody out, but really, he's made a way to get as many people as possible in.
I talked about coming into the kingdom "like a child", as the deceased was brain damaged and very child-like. I talked about obeying Jesus.
The people here talked and laughed at stories about Betty.
Finally we adjourned to food and mingling, and people were surprised at how we provided that, and several stayed a long time visiting, and saying, "When we are finished moving, we are going to come over here more often."
Nothing awful happened, which is also huge. I'm sure you know what I mean!
We never acted as leaders, but tried to just share here and there in the midst of everything.
I found a long version of Amazing Grace that had several more verses about heaven and death, which worked out great - the music was very familiar, but I hope the words ministered.
I made a program as a memento of the occasion, with a color photo.
I have been gone for a while on a family road trip vacation- lots of fun ! Anyway- what an awesome and encouraging story to return to Laurie Ann!!! What a wonderful relationship you have with your neighbors that tey would come to you at such a sensitive time! What a mighty work that God is doing through you! Thanks for sharing!
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