March 9, 2025
Hope-Full
- Darrin Simpson
Sermon Notes
NOTE: Today's sermon covers the heavy topic of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, do not wait. Call or text '988' to receive immediate help from a crisis counselor.
Rule #1 – Nobody Sits Alone
Suicide Hotline - 988
- Every 11 minutes someone commits suicide.
- Every 31 seconds someone attempts suicide.
- 49,000 people die every year due to suicide.
- 13.2 million people have thought about it.
- 3.8 million make a plan.
- 1.6 million attempts.
- 4 out of 5 show warning signs.
Suicide is Sin (Self-Murder).
Suicide is not a 1-way ticket to Hell.
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense
Grace - The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
Romans 5:8 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Judas:
- One of the twelve disciples
- The treasurer of the group
- Watched Jesus perform miracles
- Helped perform miracles in the name of Jesus
- Feet were washed by Jesus the night he betrayed Him
- Name means, “Praise God”
- Outsider
- Quit profession to follow Jesus
- Wasn’t suspected when Jesus called out the betrayal to the disciples
- Gives credibility to the Gospel Message
- Called friend by Jesus when he betrayed Jesus
- Known for the Kiss of Death (Betrayal of Christ)
- Committed suicide by hanging himself
Matthew 27:3-5 NIV
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
What do you do after you’ve committed what many consider the worst betrayal in history?
Have you ever felt that level of pain in your life?
How did we get here?
Luke 22:3 NIV
Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
Judas gave the devil a foothold. It’s greed!
Luke 22:14-20 NIV
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:21 NIV
“But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.”
Matthew 27:3-5 NIV
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Judas isn’t the only disciple who betrays Jesus. He’s the only one to kill himself.
Suicide is not, and has never been, the right answer to the problem.
To the Church, to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, to those who may be suicidal…
People think suicide gets rid of their problems. It doesn’t get rid of their problems; it just gives them to someone else. - Jude Simpson (my son)