Praxis: The Final Word

Many of us want to be remembered well after we die. The best way is as men and women of God.

Biblical Reference: Acts 13:22, I Sam 13:14, Phil 2:5-11, Rom 2:1

Location The Cemetery

Background / Setup
Many people want to be remembered as great people, but it’s not their flashy acts that put great epitaphs on their tombstones. The Bible talks a lot about how we should live and what our attitudes should be. In wanting to be remembered in a positive way after we die, we should look to Christ and follow his example while we live.

Warm-up
Go to a cemetery. Each person walks through the cemetery looking at epitaphs and dates born and died. When the search is over, come back as a group and find out what the most interesting and worst epitaphs were. Ask some volunteers to make up some stories about some of the people who had epitaphs. Ask them what they would want on their grave stones. Ask if they noticed the life span of some of the deceased.

Study
Have Romans 2:17-24 read. Ask "How did the Jews think they were living? How did other people see them?"
Read Phil 2:5-11 If we lived as Christ’s example, what would our epitaphs be?
Read I Sam 13:14 and Acts 13:22What would be an epitaph for David? Why? What did he do to earn it?
Read I thes 5:23 and I Cor 15:58What kind of epitaph would we have if we followed these instructions?

Application
It is very important that we live a life worthy of the high calling Christ has given us. We are the witnesses to Christ and we need to ask his Holy Spirit to help us live our lives such that when we die, people will remember us as men and women after God’s own heart.

Reflection
Ask: What kind of epitaph would you have if you were to die today? What do you need to ask the Holy Spirit to help you with so that your epitaph will one day be worthy of a Christian?

Let’s pray and thank God for the example he has given us and thank Him that it’s not too late to change. Let’s ask him to help us live Godly lives and be His witnesses.