A MASTER CLASS IN PREACHING
October 2022
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The sermon that the Archbishop of Canterbury preached at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was heard not only by the new King Charles III and the royal family, heads of state, kings and queens from Europe, and leaders from around the world who were present in Westminster Abbey but by an estimated TV audience of 37.5 million in the UK and 4 billion worldwide (official BBC figures).
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What an opportunity! And praise God, he took it! So often other archbishops before him have been vague, convoluted, and compromising but Justin Welby preached the gospel in a winsome, relevant, clear, and balanced way and with great authority.
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In just over five minutes the archbishop said a lot. He did not waste a word and the message followed through from beginning to end.
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If you are interested, let me take you through (what I see) makes that sermon such a master class in preaching (my comments are in red):
He invited the Holy Spirit to fill himself and his hearers:
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“Come Holy Spirit, fill us with the balm of your healing love. Amen.”
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How you begin a sermon is very important – it sets the scene for everything that will follow. Dr Welby looking at the leaders in front of him addressed them directly with this profound statement:
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“The pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God – famous or obscure, respected or ignored – is that death is the door to glory.”
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Before mentioning the Queen, he spoke about serving God - then he applied this to the situation and the reason why everyone was there:
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“Her Late Majesty famously declared on a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the Nation and Commonwealth. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept! Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen.”
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Then he preached the GOSPEL very clearly stating that Jesus is the WAY, the truth and the life (remember there were many unbelievers there and members of other world religions)
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“Jesus – who in our reading does not tell his disciples how to follow, but WHO to follow – said: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Her Late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through whom she followed. I know His Majesty shares the same faith and hope in Jesus Christ as his mother; the same sense of service and duty.
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"In 1953 the Queen began her Coronation with silent prayer, just there at the High Altar. Her allegiance to God was given before any person gave allegiance to her.”
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Dr. Welby pointed literally to the place where that had happened – and that was a real wow moment. He went on to declare that JESUS IS GOD and he gave His life for us:
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“Her service to so many people in this nation, the Commonwealth, and the world, had its foundation in her following Christ – God himself – who said that he ‘came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”
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The archbishop then picked up the point he made at the beginning of his sermon:
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“People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten.”
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He applied it once again (looking at world leaders in front of him). That was undeniably true but very courageous to say it! Obviously, there are notorious people like Nero and Hitler who are remembered - but only because they were so wicked and evil.
“The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth, and the world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us. She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.
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We pray especially for all her family, grieving as every family at a funeral - including so many families round the world who have themselves lost someone recently - but in this family’s case doing so in the brightest spotlight.
May God heal their sorrow, may the gap left in their lives be marked with memories of joy and life.
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Her Late Majesty’s broadcast during Covid lockdown ended with: “We will meet again,” words of hope from a song of Vera Lynn. Christian hope means certain expectation of something not yet seen.”
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Dr. Welby preached the GOSPEL again:
“Christ rose from the dead and offers life to all, abundant life now and life with God in eternity.”
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He invited his hearers to receive Christ:
“As the Christmas carol says ‘where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.’”
Dr. Welby did not compromise – he mentioned what so often is NOT mentioned these days in popular preaching – the judgement of God – and yes God is merciful but it is those who receive His mercy who have the hope of eternal life:
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“We will all face the merciful judgement of God: we can all share the Queen’s hope which in life and death inspired her servant leadership.”
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The great Protestant doctrine of justification by faith is declared:
“Service in life, hope in death. All who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: ‘We will meet again.’”
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Dr. Welby did say a lot about the Queen. Rightly so - because it was her funeral but he was fortunate in that she was not ashamed of the gospel and everything he said about her was true and everyone knows it. Many secular commentators on TV and the media mentioned time and time again Elizabeth II’s faith, so the sermon really put all of that in context and made it very relevant to all of us.
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The Queen was therefore a real role model in life
- and maybe in death,
her witness could yet be to the salvation of many around the world
who choose to follow the One that she followed!
Footnote:
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These are the scriptures that were read in the service.
They were either chosen or approved by Her Majesty the Queen herself!
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At the beginning of the Service by the Dean of Westminster:
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John 11: 25–26
I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never
die.
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Job 19: 25–27
I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the
earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see
God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.
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1 Timothy 6: 7; Job 1: 21
We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Read by Baroness Scotland, KC, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth:
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1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 53
NOW is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own
order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh
the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when
he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he
hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed
up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of
death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Read by Elizabeth Truss MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland (at the time):
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John 14:1-6
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and
the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and
how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known
my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto
him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so
long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath
seen the Father.