Honey from a Strange Hive and Other Funeral Sermons Carlton L. Coon Sr.
Honey from a Strange Hive and Other Funeral Sermons by Carlton L. Coon Sr. 2007 Word Aflame Press Hazelwood MO 63042 Cover design by Laura Jurek All Scripture quotations in this book are from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise identified. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in an electronic system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Word Aflame Press. Brief quotations may be used in literary reviews. Printed in United States of America Printed by Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Coon, Carlton L. Honey from a strange hive and other funeral sermons / Carlton L. Coon. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-56722-719-2 1. Funeral sermons. 2. Funeral sermons--outlines, syllabi, etc. I. Title. BV4275.C56 2007 252'.1--dc22 2007035441
Table of Contents Introduction.............................. 11 Suicide Remember Me for My Good.............. 21 Elderly Saints Honey from a Strange Hive.............. 27 To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain.......... 31 Young Lives Making It Well When It Is Not Well........ 35 Thou Shalt Be Missed................... 41 When the Good Die Young............... 49 General Settling the Issue....................... 55 Selah Pause and Consider This........... 59 Looking and Listening................... 63 As Others Which Have No Hope........... 67 As You Walk and Are Sad................ 73 Terminal Illness The Lord Is My Shepherd................ 77 Loved Ones/Close Friends The Lord Is My Memorial................ 85 Preaching in the Valley.................. 93 When a Hero Dies...................... 97 Other The God of Recovery................... 103 Funeral Sermon Nuggets................ 107
Remember Me for My Good I first heard this text used by Crawford Coon at the funeral of a former preacher who had known some failure. On several occasions it has fallen my lot to preach the funeral of one who committed suicide. This is the best text and message that I have found for the circumstance. When one cannot improve on something, just use what you have already heard. I. Eulogy A. Every person I ve met has remembered as a caring man with a constant smile. B. He was one who, once met, could not be forgotten. II. Yet in an unexpected appointment, one that not one person in this room had scheduled a week ago, we gather in this room to commemorate the life of. III. It is obvious from last evening and today that had many friends. A. His devotion to his country and enjoyment of service is seen in his eighteen years of service in the Army Reserve. B. Today, his unit is well represented. C. A man s friendship will be missed. D. Last night a brother mentioned that not only 21
HONEY FROM A STRANGE HIVE had his brother died, but he also had lost his best friend. IV. What a tragedy, what a loss, what a waste one for which I attempt no explanation. V. There are several things I want to address today. The first has to do with the way I think would want us to remember him. VI. Let me take you back in Scripture to the latter years of Nehemiah s life. A. Nehemiah had been a key leader in rebuilding the ruined walls of the city of Jerusalem. Now the sun was setting on his very influential life. Yet his life was not destined to end without conflict or controversy. B. In those days, certain men were allowed the privilege of living in the Temple. 1. One of those men who lived in the Temple was named Tobiah. Tobiah really had no right to be there. 2. Tobiah had done everything he could to influence the citizens of Jerusalem to not follow Nehemiah s leadership. 3. Nehemiah literally physically expelled Tobiah from his living quarters in the Temple. 4. Nehemiah was controversial and could have been easily misunderstood. C. During the same time Nehemiah had difficulty with some of the other leaders of Israel called Levites. 1. He did not approve of their conduct in certain matters, so he took physical action. 2. Again, it was controversial and easily misunderstood. 22
Suicide VII. In this setting, Nehemiah made a statement that I think is relevant to the family and friends gathered here today: Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof (Nehemiah 13:14). A. Nehemiah basically prayed, O God, remember me for my good. B. If I could put it into the context of our situation today, Remember me, not just for these last three days but remember me for some other times and other occasions. C. It is obvious from looking at the pictures last night that had many times of laughter with each of you. Could I speak for him today and ask you on his behalf, Remember me for my good? VIII. Life has its good moments and bad, its ups and downs. There is not one person in this room who does not have some monumental failures in your life. Yet not one of you would like to be remembered as a failure. IX. All through the Scripture there are men who would like to be remembered for their good. A. One of the last Bible accounts of Noah is of him in a drunken stupor. Noah would say, Remember me for my good! B. The New Testament speaks of Lot as righteous Lot, yet our last view of him in the Old Testament looks differently. It is the story of his seduction by his own daughters, who thought him to be the only man still alive. Lot would say, Remember me for my good! C. Solomon remember his wisdom? He who 23
HONEY FROM A STRANGE HIVE impressed queens was a masterful writer of poem and proverb. Yet at Solomon s latter time he was married to many wives and a worshiper of idols. Solomon would say, Remember me for my good! X. Today we are gathered for a sad occasion one for which I will attempt no explanation. A. This is a mother s worst nightmare. B. It is the loss of a father a friend. The loss of tomorrow s opportunity. The question will always be, What might have been? C. Yet would not want us to base our memory of him on these days. D. Let us remember him for his good. XI. To precious friends and family, in this momentary pause: Consider your own life. What could you say of your own life? Living as you do today, could you say with Nehemiah, Remember me for my good? XII. Prayer 24