Sermon Outline Archive 2006:

Sermon Outline Dec 2, 2007 Evening Service

Topic: Don’t Bury Them Until They’re Dead

I. Probably all of us feel that we attend too many funerals.

A. A fairly set pattern is followed.

B. It is at the grave that reality begins to set in for many.

C. It is as natural as any part of life could ever be (Romans 5:12; Hebrews 9:27).

II. The real tragedy is that we too often bury people who are still living.

A. You’ve heard it (maybe you’ve even done it).

B. We need to come to understand that even symbolically we cannot bury them until they are dead.

I. Examples of living people who could have easily been buried.

A. Rahab (Joshua 2:8-14).

1. Sinners can be useful.

2. On the other hand the church often views sinners with utter contempt.

3. God changed Rahab’s life.

4. Don’t bury sinners before they’re dead.

B. Job (Job 2:9-10).

1. Sometimes your own family is against you.

2. Without tragedy it is sometimes difficult to grow.

3. Let’s not rush to bury those who are facing hardships.

C. Peter (Matthew 26:69-75).

1. Peter wavered back and forth from being the role model of faith to a pathetic example of human frailty.

2. Sometimes our failures open the door to true greatness.

3. Don’t bury those who have failed but who keep on trying.

D. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:19-27).

1. During the transitional period of his life no one liked Saul.

2. Barnabas didn’t bury Saul.

3. We ought not bury those who have yet to reach their potential.

II. What does the Bible teach about burying those who aren’t dead?

A. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:22-24).

1. You can’t run far enough away from God (Psalm 139:7-12).

2. Sometimes you aren’t as dead as you think you are.

B. Give God time to work (2 Peter 3:8-9).

1. There is a difference between being patient and being slow.

2. If God is patient with people like me shouldn’t I be too?

I. It is so easy to form opinions of people.

A. Even when we try not to we probably still do.

B. Perhaps our efforts would be better spent if we realize that often our impressions are flawed.

II. Nearly all of the great men and women of the Bible had their character flaws.

A. Their sins and quirks could make it easy to dismiss them.

B. Someone has observed, “God doesn’t judge a man until he is dead”.