A loved one’s name can bring a smile, a tear, or both. In our All Saints Day message on November 1, Pastor Gustafson reminded us that we do not need to hide our sorrow to demonstrate our faith. Drawing on Revelation 7:9–17 and Jesus’ promise in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted,” he pointed us toward a hope stronger than death. Whether you joined us or missed the service, here are the key encouragements:

• Grief and faith can coexist. Jesus himself wept at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35). Our tears do not mean our faith is failing. Faith gives our grief a place to go: to the cross and the empty tomb, where Jesus’ victory assures us that death does not have the final word.
• A saint is a sinner who belongs to a perfect Savior. The multitude in Revelation stands before God because of what Christ has done, not what they have accomplished. Our confidence rests in Jesus’ cleansing blood, not our ability to get everything right. As 1 John 3:1 reminds us, we are God’s children now.
• Jesus promises more than memories—he promises resurrection. “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus declares in John 11:25. We await the day when God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 7:17). For those who belong to Christ, separation is real and painful, but it is not the end.

This week, take a moment to thank God for someone who helped nurture your faith. If you are grieving, bring that person’s name and your honest sorrow to Jesus in prayer. If someone around you is mourning, reach out with a call, a note, or an invitation to share a meal—without expecting them to put their tears away. As we remember those who have gone before us, let this promise steady our days: we belong to Jesus, and because he lives, we will live also (John 14:19).

All Saints Day: Grief, Hope, and Belonging to Jesus
Trinity Merrill Lutheran Church | Pastor Gustafson | November 1, 2026

Reading

• Matthew 5:1–12 — Jesus’ Beatitudes, including his promise of comfort to those who mourn.
• Revelation 7:9–17 — The multitude before the Lamb and God’s promise to wipe away every tear.
• 1 John 3:1–2 — God’s children now and the promise of seeing Christ.
• John 11:17–35 — Jesus comforts Martha and Mary, declares himself the resurrection and the life, and weeps.

Additional Scripture connections from the sermon: Romans 6:3–5 (baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection); 1 John 1:7–9 (cleansing and forgiveness); 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (grieving with hope); Revelation 21:4 (the end of death and suffering); John 14:19 (life because Jesus lives).

Warm Up

1. When has hearing someone’s name recently brought back a meaningful memory? Choose a memory you feel comfortable reflecting on.
2. What does the word “saint” mean to you as you begin this study?

Scripture Exploration

1. Read Revelation 7:9–12. What details describe the people gathered before the throne?
   • Optional follow-up: How does their song identify the source of salvation?
2. Read Revelation 7:13–17. How does the passage explain the multitude’s white robes?
   • Optional follow-up: Pastor Gustafson emphasized that they stand before God because of Christ’s work, not their achievements. Which words support that emphasis?
3. Read John 11:17–35. How does Jesus respond to Martha and Mary in their grief?
   • Optional follow-up: What do you notice about his promise in verses 25–26 alongside his tears in verse 35?

Personal Reflection

1. Compare Matthew 5:4 with John 11:35. How does Jesus’ own mourning help you understand his promise to those who mourn?
   • Optional follow-up: Why is promising comfort different from calling the pain of loss itself good?
2. Read 1 John 3:1–2 alongside 1 John 1:7–9. How do these passages support the sermon’s description of a saint as “a sinner, who belongs to a perfect Savior”?
   • Optional follow-up: How does Romans 6:3–5 connect baptism with belonging to Christ?
3. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and Revelation 21:4. How does the promise of resurrection change grief without removing it?
   • Optional follow-up: What distinction did Pastor Gustafson make between being with Christ after death and awaiting the resurrection of the body?

Personal Application

1. What grief or unresolved sorrow could you bring honestly to Jesus this week?
   • Action step: Set aside five minutes to pray about it using Matthew 5:4 or John 11:25–26.
2. Where are you tempted to measure your standing with God by your performance?
   • Action step: Write out 1 John 3:1 and read it each morning for the next seven days as a reminder of God’s gift of belonging.
3. Who in your church or wider community might appreciate companionship in grief?
   • Action step: Within the next week, offer one specific act of care, such as a phone call, a meal, or a visit. Let the person choose whether to accept, and listen without trying to fix their sorrow.
4. How might the promise “because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19) shape one decision you face this week?
   • Action step: Record one concrete response and revisit it at the end of the week.

Closing prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that our salvation rests in your finished work, not our achievements. Meet us in our grief, assure us that we belong to you, and help us care gently for those who mourn. Keep our hope fixed on your resurrection and the life to come. Amen.