Finding Meaning in Loss

Dr. Jimmy Knott
May 18, 2008







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Job 1:13-22

Loss comes in different sizes.

We all experience loss in different ways.

Loss could be the single most important experience to make us more like Jesus.

Worship out of grief is powerful!

SONG: Through it all

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

Wisdom for living is at a funeral.

Death is life's greatest claim.

Research on Grief

Those who have religious beliefs have a stronger reaction to loved ones dying than non-believers and wrestle with God and world views.

Reports say faith deepens and the death of a love one makes it deeper.

Religious faith serves as a meaning that allows people to move on in positive ways

Jimmy's 5 Life Lessons from where he is today after the death of his son:

1. At times, Life is unfair

Job didn't deserve what he experienced.

Bad things happen to Godly people - life is unfair, Jesus-killed, Paul-beheaded, etc.

Some loss is due to people's bad choices.

There is no guarantee of safety - but there is a guarantee that God will be there with us.

2. Life's Most Painful loss is the death of a loved one

Everyone experiences loss.

Every 17 minutes someone commits suicide, 85 people a day, 5000 attempt it, and millions think about it.

Is suicide forgivable?
- There is a stigma that goes with it. You learn quickly who your real friends are when it happens.

There are 6 accounts of suicide in scripture and each involved:
1. Christian and non-Christians
2. Extremely difficult circumstances were happening
3. Some cases, there was Satanic influences in play
Suicide is Not the unpardonable sin - leaving Jesus is!

3. What God permits doesn't always make sense to us

Confused and troubles faith is better than no faith at all.

We always want to know "why?" We don't need an explanation.

God provides consultation. If you are hit by a bus do you really care why you are in pain? Or do you just need help with the pain as soon as possible.

People refuse the help because they don't have an explanation first

4. God is nearest when grief is its deepest

Private worship is hard but corporate worship got him though it-we were his family

You will never make it without worship

5. When tragedy strikes our response is critical

Shock, panic, bitterness, live in the why-zone or the rare response; trust and acceptance

Don't doubt in darkness what we learned in the light
1. Weep - grieve
2. Just worship - stop asking why and ask what!
What can you do to become a better person? What can you learn from the situation?

Isiah 50:10

How do you know who fears?
Do they trust and rely on God in darkness?
How we respond is critical.

CROSSTRAINER CLASS: What scripture inspires you to be a good Samaritan or to serve in a ministry?

Matthew 10:42
Matthew 25:40
Matthew 7:1-5
2 Peter 1:12-13
James 1:27
Mark 12:41-44
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Character before Career, Wisdom beyond scholarship, Service before self, and participation as a way of life

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