ICEL Times of Grief (or Times of Opportunity?) Michael Fletcher

ICEL “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2.2, NASB

ICEL Times of Grief or Times of Opportunity? Intro Intro Point 1: Giving Opportunity Point 1: Giving Opportunity Point 2: Seizing Opportunity Point 2: Seizing Opportunity

ICEL Grief is Weighty Latin: gravis (or gravity) Latin: gravis (or gravity) Literally means “heavy” or “weighty” Literally means “heavy” or “weighty” We cannot carry it alone. We cannot carry it alone. We need to be reconciled, otherwise, in times of grief, we will be alone. We need to be reconciled, otherwise, in times of grief, we will be alone.

ICEL Cry Out to Jesus (& His Church) We cry out to Jesus in times of grief, but if the Church is Christ existing in Church-Community, then we can also cry out to one another.

ICEL Grief in my family The Car Accident The Car Accident I don't want to see others handle grief in unhealthy ways, because I know how destructive it can be. I don't want to see others handle grief in unhealthy ways, because I know how destructive it can be.

ICEL Giving Opportunity When you are grieving, you ought to give others the opportunity to serve God through serving you.

ICEL Giving Opportunity No one ever asked for grief! But we all have it. No one ever asked for grief! But we all have it. How ought we to face it when (not if) it comes? How ought we to face it when (not if) it comes? We start by “giving opportunity”

ICEL Wisdom from Sailing “You can't run from the wind. You trim your sails. Face the music. And keep going.” Skipper Sheldon, White Squall

ICEL Macedonia, Corinth, Jerusalem

ICEL 2 Corinthians (NIV) And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

ICEL 2 Corinthians (NIV) 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

ICEL 2 Corinthians (NIV) 10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

ICEL 2 Corinthians (NIV) 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: "The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little."

ICEL The Opportunity There can be no better opportunity or time to serve than in times of grief, for when things are going well, there is no need to serve. There can be no better opportunity or time to serve than in times of grief, for when things are going well, there is no need to serve.

ICEL Two Temptations Minimizing our grief Minimizing our grief Maximizing our grief Maximizing our grief

ICEL Minimizing When we minimize our grief, it robs our fellow Christians of the opportunity to serve us. When we minimize our grief, it robs our fellow Christians of the opportunity to serve us. And it causes further problems in your own life because the grief was never dealt with. And it causes further problems in your own life because the grief was never dealt with.

ICEL Maximizing When we maximize our grief, it places a unneeded amount of grief upon our fellow Christians. When we maximize our grief, it places a unneeded amount of grief upon our fellow Christians. Making their lives over-burdened, or making them think you are simply lying. Making their lives over-burdened, or making them think you are simply lying.

ICEL Grief is not a bad thing! Grief is not a bad thing! It is not unchristian to have grief It is not unchristian to have grief Just look at Psalm 88! Or the fact that Jesus wept, or went to the cross! Just look at Psalm 88! Or the fact that Jesus wept, or went to the cross!

ICEL A Bold Claim I would be so bold as to agree with Bonhoeffer when he says: I would be so bold as to agree with Bonhoeffer when he says: “the fellowship we belong to is not Christian if my brother or sister is not a burden to me.” It is precisely because you are a burden to me that I can serve God through serving you. It is precisely because you are a burden to me that I can serve God through serving you.

ICEL Seizing Opportunity If we see others grieving, then it is our job to seize the opportunity to serve God through serving them. through serving them.

ICEL Sam Seized the Opportunity ffAhttps:// ffA not included since too big

ICEL “I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you.” Seize the opportunity to serve God by serving others Seize the opportunity to serve God by serving others Allow them to be a burden to you. Allow them to be a burden to you.

ICEL How ought we to face times of grief? As “Times of Opportunity” As “Times of Opportunity” The way the Macedonians did The way the Macedonians did The way Paul encouraged the Corinthians The way Paul encouraged the Corinthians Modeled After Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 8.9) Modeled After Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 8.9)

ICEL Times of Grief are nothing less than Times of Opportunity I pray that you are willing to give others the opportunity to serve the Lord when you are grieving. I pray that you are willing to give others the opportunity to serve the Lord when you are grieving. I pray that you seize every opportunity to serve the Lord through serving others when they are grieving. I pray that you seize every opportunity to serve the Lord through serving others when they are grieving.

ICEL Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6.10