Celebrating a Life of Faith and Love

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we come together to celebrate the life and legacy of our beloved sister, Jocelyn Brenda Spencer. This is not a moment of sorrow but a celebration of a life well-lived, a testament to her faith and dedication. Our sister lived with intentionality, embodying the teachings of Christ in her daily life. Her journey was marked by a profound faith that was not just theoretical but practical, a faith that translated into action, especially during the most challenging times of her life.

Jocelyn was a woman of deep affection, particularly for children, dedicating her professional life to nurturing and caring for them. Her love extended to her family and her church community, where she was known for her vibrant spirit and unwavering loyalty. She was the "real deal," a true embodiment of Christian values, living out her faith with courage and conviction.

Her life was a reflection of the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, where he speaks of being poured out as a drink offering, fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith. Jocelyn's life mirrored these principles. She fought valiantly, not just in her personal battles but in her commitment to her husband, Brother Cleveland, and her community. She finished her race with grace, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and service.

As we reflect on her life, we are reminded of the importance of living with purpose and faith. Jocelyn's story encourages us to invest in our spiritual journey, knowing that God is faithful to reward those who diligently seek Him. Her life is a powerful reminder that our faith should be evident in our actions, and that we should live each day with the intentionality and love that she exemplified.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith in Action: Jocelyn's life was a testament to living out one's faith in practical ways. Her actions reflected her deep belief in God's promises, showing that true faith is not just spoken but demonstrated through love and service. [57:04]

- Intentional Living: She lived with a sense of purpose, ensuring that her days were filled with meaningful actions and decisions. This intentionality is a call for us to evaluate how we spend our time and to live with purpose and direction. [01:07:46]

- The Real Deal: Jocelyn was genuine in her faith, not just attending church but embodying the teachings of Christ in her daily life. Her authenticity challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith and commitment. [01:04:26]

- Legacy of Love: Her life was marked by a profound love for her family, friends, and community. This legacy of love is a reminder of the impact we can have on others when we live with compassion and care. [01:17:22]

- Eternal Perspective: Jocelyn's life encourages us to keep an eternal perspective, focusing on the promises of God and the hope of eternal life. Her faith in the face of adversity is a powerful reminder of the peace and assurance that comes from trusting in God. [01:08:36]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:16] - Opening Prayer and Readings
[53:07] - Words of Comfort and Testimonies
[54:50] - Scripture Reflections
[55:46] - The Real Deal: Jocelyn's Faith
[57:04] - Faith in Action
[01:00:11] - Caring for Brother Cleveland
[01:01:33] - A Heart of Service
[01:02:32] - Facing Life's Challenges
[01:04:26] - Authentic Faith
[01:06:11] - Reflections on Life's Phases
[01:07:46] - Intentional Living
[01:08:36] - Eternal Perspective
[01:11:26] - Thanksgiving Memories
[01:12:32] - Fighting the Good Fight
[01:17:22] - Legacy of Love
[01:27:19] - Invitation to Faith
[01:30:08] - Closing Prayer and Fellowship Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Timothy 4:6-8
- Psalm 116:15
- 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

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Observation Questions:

1. How did Jocelyn Brenda Spencer's life reflect the principles found in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, particularly in terms of fighting the good fight and finishing the race? [01:06:51]

2. What does Psalm 116:15 mean when it says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," and how was this reflected in the sermon? [54:50]

3. In what ways did the sermon illustrate the concept of living with intentionality, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5? [01:07:46]

4. How did Jocelyn's actions demonstrate her faith in practical ways, according to the sermon? [57:04]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to live with an "eternal perspective," and how did Jocelyn's life exemplify this concept? [01:08:36]

2. How can the idea of being "poured out as a drink offering" be applied to our own lives, and what does it signify about our commitment to faith? [01:07:46]

3. In what ways did Jocelyn's life challenge the congregation to examine the depth of their own faith and commitment? [01:04:26]

4. How does the sermon encourage believers to translate their faith into action, and what are some practical examples given? [57:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel you are not living with intentionality? What steps can you take to align your daily actions with your faith? [01:07:46]

2. Jocelyn's life was described as "the real deal" in terms of her faith. How can you ensure that your faith is genuine and not just a Sunday morning routine? [01:04:26]

3. Consider the legacy you are leaving behind. What actions can you take today to ensure that your legacy reflects love, faith, and service, similar to Jocelyn's? [01:17:22]

4. How can you incorporate the idea of "faith in action" into your daily life? Identify one specific way you can serve others this week as a demonstration of your faith. [57:04]

5. Jocelyn's life was a testament to living with an eternal perspective. How can you shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal values in your decision-making? [01:08:36]

6. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge. How did your faith help you navigate that situation, and what can you learn from Jocelyn's example of facing life's challenges with courage? [01:02:32]

7. Identify one person in your life who could benefit from seeing faith in action. What specific steps can you take to be a positive influence in their spiritual journey this week? [57:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in Action: Living Out God's Promises
Jocelyn's life was a vivid illustration of faith in action. Her belief in God's promises was not confined to words but was evident in her deeds. She demonstrated her faith through acts of love and service, particularly in her dedication to children and her community. Her life challenges us to consider how our faith is reflected in our daily actions. Are we merely speaking about our beliefs, or are we living them out in tangible ways? Jocelyn's example encourages us to embody our faith, allowing it to guide our interactions and decisions. [57:04]

"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one specific way you can demonstrate your faith through an act of service today. How can you make this a regular practice in your life?


Day 2: Intentional Living: Purposeful Days and Meaningful Actions
Jocelyn lived with a clear sense of purpose, ensuring that her days were filled with meaningful actions and decisions. Her intentionality serves as a call for us to evaluate how we spend our time and to live with purpose and direction. In a world full of distractions, it is easy to drift through life without a clear sense of purpose. Jocelyn's life reminds us of the importance of living intentionally, making deliberate choices that align with our values and faith. By doing so, we can ensure that our lives are impactful and meaningful. [01:07:46]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel you are not living intentionally? What steps can you take today to align this area with your values and faith?


Day 3: Authentic Faith: Genuine Commitment to Christ's Teachings
Jocelyn was known for her authenticity, embodying the teachings of Christ in her daily life. Her faith was not just about attending church but was a genuine commitment to living out Christian values. This authenticity challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith and commitment. Are we truly living out the teachings of Christ, or are we merely going through the motions? Jocelyn's life encourages us to be genuine in our faith, allowing it to permeate every aspect of our lives. [01:04:26]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. Is there an area where you feel your actions do not align with your faith? How can you bring authenticity to this area?


Day 4: Legacy of Love: Impacting Others with Compassion and Care
Jocelyn's life was marked by a profound love for her family, friends, and community. Her legacy of love is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have on others when we live with compassion and care. Love is not just a feeling but an action that can transform lives. Jocelyn's example encourages us to consider how we can leave a legacy of love in our own lives, impacting those around us with kindness and empathy. [01:17:22]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to feel loved today. What is one specific action you can take to show them compassion and care?


Day 5: Eternal Perspective: Trusting in God's Promises
Jocelyn's life encourages us to keep an eternal perspective, focusing on the promises of God and the hope of eternal life. Her faith in the face of adversity is a powerful reminder of the peace and assurance that comes from trusting in God. In a world that often prioritizes the temporary, Jocelyn's example calls us to focus on the eternal, trusting in God's promises and living with the hope of eternal life. [01:08:36]

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing? How can you shift your perspective to focus on the eternal promises of God in this situation?

Quotes



Heavenly Father, we do thank you and praise you, Lord, for your goodness, your grace, and your mercy, Father. God, this is the day that you have made. And so, God, by faith, we are going to rejoice and be glad in it. Lord, we wouldn't have chosen to be here this day. We wouldn't expect to even be here on this day, Father, for this occasion. But God, you have so ordained it. Now, God, in the spirit and the attitude and in the spirit and the attitude and in the attitude and in the in the reflection of our sister on today, Father, the last thing she want us to do, God, is to be here sad, upset, depressed, and discouraged, God. Our sister, God, would tell us, y 'all just keep on going. And so, Father, here we are today, Father, to celebrate her life and her legacy, God. Lord, as her pastor, God, I love her, Father. And God, I loved how she finished her life, Father, and how she lived her life, Father. So, I pray, God, that Lord, although we're going to miss her, Father, we can celebrate knowing that, God, she genuinely is in a better place today, Father. So, I pray, God, that by faith, God, we would worship you, we would celebrate you, God. We would thank you, God, for the life that you lent to us for a short period of time, Father. And now, God, she's back with her maker. It's in Jesus' name we ask it all. Amen. [00:11:32] (83 seconds)



Come on now, how many of y 'all really believe he is worthy to be praised in life and in death? He is worthy to be praised. Amen. And so the other day, that was not the end of our sister's life. God put a comma right there. And so now she is continuing in glory. Amen. So I don't want you all to think she got the worst end of the stick. She got the best end of the stick. Right now, she's in a heavenly father's presence. Right now, she's got no cancer. Right now, she's totally whole. And so we can worship God. We can celebrate God. We can lift up his name because God, it's not just a promise maker, but God is a promise keeper. Amen. [00:33:05] (39 seconds)



It's important in life that we don't allow our experiences to direct us. But we allow God's revelation to direct us. Amen. Feelings are not reliable. And feelings are fleeting. And feelings fluctuate. And feelings are fragile. But God's word should be able to direct us and guide us and lead us as followers of Christ. Amen. His word says in Psalm 116 .15, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Amen. Amen. Amen. He went home to be with God a few days ago. Amen. [00:53:49] (38 seconds)



Because very often we go to Bible studies and we go to church and we do personal Bible study and we go to Sunday school class. But very often that doesn't translate. Translate over into our practical lives. At the biggest test of her life, her lessons that she had learned in Christ, translated. It wasn't just theoretical information. It wasn't just some esoteric things that she had heard. It wasn't just a Sunday morning faith. It was a any day faith. It was a right now faith. It was he's a very present help in a time of trouble kind of faith. Amen. [00:56:37] (45 seconds)



Sister Jocelyn Brenda Spencer is the real deal. You know, in Christianity right now, you got a bunch of people who go to church, but the church is not in them. You got a bunch of people who talk about God when they need God. They put God on layaway. Until they need God, you've got a bunch of people who serve God at a funeral, you got people who serve God on Christmas, Mother's Day, and Easter, but if it's not CME or funeral, they really don't serve God, they really don't prioritize God, they really don't walk with God, they really don't live for God, and then they wonder why there's no return on their investment, because there has not been no investment, but I've systemated in my life. investment in Christ. [00:57:28] (48 seconds)



And boy, when she needed it most, God made a return on her investment. Remember her and Brother Cleveland was sitting right about up in this section right here, and they caught me after service one day. They wanted to introduce themselves and let me know I had the privilege of being their pastor. They wanted to let me know they were good stock. They wanted to let me know they were serious about the Bible. They wanted to see where I was coming from. They wanted to make sure I was well prepared. They wanted to make sure I was serious. They wanted to make sure I was serious about what I was doing, because they were serious about what they were doing. [00:58:20] (33 seconds)



She was the real deal. And they would come in faithfully and serve God, and my brother Cleveland had several siblings, and they would go and visit his siblings hours away just to go in. I'd say, y 'all barely doing well. How you going to encourage somebody else? They made that trek once a week to go and visit his sisters to make sure they were taking care of him. She was the real deal. But when I learned the most, she was the real deal. You all know the whole story. And the story is that she was trying to take care of her husband, Brother Cleveland. [00:59:49] (35 seconds)



And boy, she was serious about him, and she wanted to make sure she had everything he needed. And so I assigned Sister Patsy, Sister Patsy, will you go check on them every week, and every week, make sure you give me an update, so I know exactly how they're doing. And Sister Patsy was faithful. And she, I think she was about at two or three times a week going to check on them and giving me updates on how they were doing, how they were faring. I started going by whenever I could to go visit with them and just spend time just sitting there talking with them. And Brother Cleveland's dementia was getting worse and worse. [00:59:54] (38 seconds)



And so, but she was so persistent, she wanted to make sure she got him out the house. And so he was on a bus with the kids as well. I don't know if that was voluntary. I don't know if that was voluntary or involuntary, but she was going to work and so was he. And so she would tell me some days he would just want to drive around. So she would go and get in the car and she would just drive him around because he wanted to drive around. She wanted to make sure she was serving him and she was taking care of him. And so I encouraged at one point, you can't tell grown people what to do, and you sure enough can't tell strong willed people, smile at me, what to do. Amen. [01:00:09] (41 seconds)



So I've learned this. As a pastor, you don't tell people, you just make suggestions. You just ask questions. And so it had become evident that she really couldn't handle Brother Cleveland anymore at home. And so her heart was causing her to make emotional decisions, but not probably doing what she was suited for. And so she was extremely exhausted. She was she was tired trying to stay up half the night, take care of him and and then be up. Most. Of the day, trying to take care of him. And so she was just trying to be all she could be for him. [01:00:48] (36 seconds)



And so I said, Well, do you think it would be best to kind of try finding a place that could care for him? And she was almost offended and she knew I wasn't coming from a bad place, so she didn't get offended. She says, I told him I take care of him and take care of my sweetie. So a couple of weeks later, she called me, she said, Pastor, I found a place for my sweetie. And so she went and took him there and she said, Pastor, they told me I can't come for two weeks. I said, Yes, ma 'am, that's so that you all can establish this new reality and you find a good place. And I want to encourage you. You made a good decision. They can take extremely good care of him. [01:01:32] (42 seconds)



Little did I know she was still driving over there trying to peek through the window and see what he was up to. I said, Ma 'am, you can't be driving over there to see what he's doing, what he's up to. And you all know the story there. It turned out not to be a very safe place at all. And he ended up getting out. Well, you know her. She called and said, How my sweetie doing? And she said, well, when the last time you seen him? And she already knew he had been gone from the place. So she immediately went and moved him and took him to another place. And then she ended up, he ended up getting sick, ended up being in the hospital. [01:02:32] (35 seconds)



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Transcript
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