In this funeral sermon for Fern Mae Hillman, Pastor Karl Grant explores how God's love in Christ triumphs over dementia, loss, and death.
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Takeaways

• God's love in Christ Jesus is unbreakable, overwhelming every trial through His victory on the cross.
• Even when dementia erases memories, the Lord never forgets His redeemed children.
• Faith clings to Jesus' gospel promises alone, not our intellect or works, much like an infant trusts its parents or the thief on the cross pleaded for paradise.
• Christ's death destroys death, leading us to paradise where all pain is forever banished.
• We grieve with hope, comforted by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, knowing saints like Fern now dwell in perfect joy, awaiting the bodily resurrection.
• Jesus' scars eternally testify to His love, forgetting our sins but remembering us forever, calling us to live in gospel freedom and share this comfort with others.

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Scripture Index

• Romans 8:37-39 – Proclaims overwhelming victory in Christ, assuring nothing—neither death, life, fears, nor disease—can separate believers from God's love poured out through Jesus' sacrifice.
• Isaiah 49:15-16 – Illustrates God's unbreakable remembrance, contrasting a mother's possible forgetfulness with the Lord's eternal engraving of our names on His hands, pointing to the cross's scars.
• Luke 23:42-43 – Highlights the thief's plea for Jesus to remember him, receiving the promise of paradise today, emphasizing salvation by faith alone in Christ's kingdom despite apparent defeat.
• Psalm 23:4, 6 – Echoed in the assurance of walking through death's valley without fear, dwelling in the Lord's house forever with goodness and mercy following, fulfilled in Jesus.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

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