When Death Takes Your Breath Away

Sermon preached by Pastor Julius Buelow at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE on October 4, 2025 for Trinity 16. More info at mtolivelincoln.org

keywords: faith, death, comfort, God's love,intercession, resurrection, eternal life, grief, hope, Christian life

summary: This conversation explores the profound themesof faith, comfort in death, and the promise of resurrection. It emphasizes how believers can find solace in God's love amidst suffering and the importance of intercession during times of grief. The discussion culminates in the assuranceof eternal life and the hope that comes from Jesus' resurrection.Text: 1 Kings 17:17-24

17After these events, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. The illness became worse until he stopped breathing. 18Then she said to Elijah, “What is the issue between us, man of God? Have you come to remind me of my sins and to kill my son?” 19He said to her, “Bring your son to me.” Then he took him and carried him to the upstairs room where he was living, and he laid him on his bed. 20Then he cried out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, have you sent tragedy on this woman with whom I am staying by killing her son?” 21Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times, and he cried out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, let this boy’s soul return to his body!” 22The Lord listened to Elijah’s voice, and the boy’s soul returned to his body, and he came to life. 23Then Elijah took the boy and brought him down to the house from his upstairs room, and he gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “See, your son is alive!” 24The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true.”

Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version (Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Publishing House, 2019), 1 Ki 17:17–24.