My First Funeral Sermon…

I was thinking about my friend Chad Watson today.  Many have been following me on Facebook as I’ve updated during the tragic events that took his wife and 8 of his 9 children home to be with Jesus when their home burned to the ground.  I’ve decided that a moment like this is only redemptive if Jesus is honored through it so I’ve decided to post my unedited notes from my sermon at the funeral in hopes that many would come to faith in Jesus through this tragedy.  The following personal sketches are of Nikki and the three eldest girls whom I knew best. I interviewed Chad and asked him to tell me about them because he knew them best.

 

 

I have a solemn conviction of the grandness of the Gospel opportunity offered to us in this moment. This obscure moment which began in tragedy in a small rural town in Kentucky. A moment when only a relatively few people who have had the opportunity to know my Lionhearted Brother Chad and his beautiful wife Nikki and his quiver of exquisite children got to see the strength, courage, and grace we all know for. This obscure moment which has exploded into a worldwide showcase for the Glory of Jesus Christ. The true power of this obscure moment is having an eternal impact on people around the world. 

 

Today is the day The Lord has made I will REJOICE and be glad in it!

 

I offer praise to the Father in the name of Jesus through power of the Holy Spirit for this tragedy of earthly death and the symphony of grace and life extended to those under the judgement God for their sins, who are being made new creations through this Gospel!

 

Nikki Watson was All about the kids. She would have died for them and she did. 

Proverbs 31 woman

Always trying to make something for the kids

Always looking for deals to clothe them. 

Awesome cook. Loved cooking

Loved having people over

Believed in Chad. Always. Confidence in doctrine teaching. She was an unwavering rock of comfort to him second only to Jesus. 

Searched scripture for validation of his teaching. 

Nikki knew the gospel meant taking care of the babies, loving and respecting her husband, and honoring God. Her life was a testimony of Gods transforming grace through Jesus. 

 

Madison loved to invent things. Her approach to every situation was to think creatively to innovate to not say no. It wasn’t a worthy answer to be considered. 

She believed there was a solution to every problem.

Wanted to please mom and dad. 

She so wanted to work with animals. Whatever poor animal she found, found a home with her loving caring heart. She was just like her daddy that way. 

All kinds of pets. 

She was growing into a lady a beautiful godly young woman. She wanted more than anything to Please her daddy. And God. They are both fully pleased today. 

 The Gospel through Madison was embodied by a definite sense justice. She wanted things to be fair and just in an unjust world. Now through Jesus justice is served death is dead. 

 

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 

“O death, where is your victory? 

“O death, where is your sting?” 

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, awho gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Kenzie had become a beautiful woman. Inside and out. 

Was mature could read people she knew how to speak wisdom into other’s lives. Even her daddy’s. 

Loved talk and play and act goofy with her sisters, but had an uncanny sense of the moment. 

Loved to mother the babies. She had a servants heart and depth of compassion. 

She along with her sisters would never stay mad each other. They were best friends. 

Loved her books. Always reading. 

She loved God more, more than any other person. 

Kenzie’s gospel example was one of settled faith. Her faith ran deep. Her heart was filled with God’s word. She wants you to have faith. 

 

Morgan was very passionate

Life was about feeling, about expression. 

Would have made someone a hot wife. An excellent wife. 

She knew no matter what she was safe in God’s hands. She had no fear no worry. 

The Gospel through Morgan is this:

God created us for life. Live it without worry. 

There is only one way to live without worry. That’s through faith in the son of God. 

 

 

 

Chad’s Gospel call

This entire family will be raised in the end. They are without question being comforted this very moment by a loving God. They have come into the presence of the prince of peace. The lover of their souls. Jesus Christ The True Son of God. 

Parents you cannot bring your kids to Jesus. Don’t even try. Shepherd their hearts until The Lord saves them. You can’t save. Only the gospel can save. 

 

My gospel call. Take care not to ignore this moment. In God’s mind there are no obscure moments, no obscure people, no obscure sins. God is beckoning every sinner to come. Do not leave here unchanged. You are sinners in need of salvation. You are fallen. You can do nothing to save yourself. Jesus fulfilled all righteousness on behalf of all who call upon his name he lived a life you could not live. He died a death you should have died. He rose on the third day to prove he was the son of God in power. He offers eternal life for you today if you will only believe.