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2 Sounds like an awful thing to consider Not suggesting things like casket color even though my wife wants purple and green Not even considering choosing a minister who you would want to perform your last rites Not even suggesting where you would want to be buried or where would you want the funeral to be Then Preacher, what are your talking about doing?

3 Let’s see - What would be your idea of a “Great” Funeral For You Lots of people attending from the community, family, friends, the church (full chapel, some even standing) Minister would : –Rave about your good family and relations –Praise your work in the community –Glorify you and your great abilities –Talk of all your successes and ventures –Honor your contributions to society –Salute your service to the nation – military - taps

4 After all it is a eulogy about you, right Some ministers think up funny stories and try to make the service as light hearted and easy as possible. (families request this often) Some ministers preach everyone into heaven so that all the family members will feel good after the service Everyone likes to think that heaven will be their home regardless of the kind of life they lived and what they believed and practiced.

5 Host of people at family night Flowers – lots and lots of them Beautiful soft music Tears flowing down the cheeks of those present Two maybe three preachers to hold the funeral with both regular and honorary pallbearers (16)

6 The Truth Is We need to be planning our funerals now Physical death is not the “end of our existence” We need to be thinking about life after death and what ours lives will be like We need to be viewing this current life as a vapor that appears only a second and then vanishes away We need to be preparing for life which will last throughout eternity, forever and forever

7 How should I plan to live for my funeral …

8 We should be serving God faithfully so we will be ready to meet him Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

9 We need to live close to God Songs teach us how to live close to God Let Me Live Close To Thee Each Day p.391 Near To The Heart Of God p.447 My Faith Looks Up To Thee p.442 O For A Closer Walk With God p.461 Nearer My God To Thee p. 450 Be With Me Lord p. 40 Abide With Me p. 7

10 We need to be mindful of sin in our lives Sin can and will keep man out of heaven 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Eph 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

11 Fight – Obey – Go On 1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection

12 Watchful – Strengthen - Overcome Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, To the best sort of men, the righteous, who are more excellent than their neighbours; to the best part of just men, their spirits, and to these in their best state, made perfect. Yes it is possible, and even probable, to those who plan ahead to make their calling and election sure just as we were taught to do.

14 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: