The Life and Death of David Brainerd:  The Insignificant Man Who Changed the World

• Born 1718 in Haddam, Connecticut
• Death of his father at the age of 9 and of his mother at the age of 14
• Came to faith in 1739 at the age of 21
• First signs of his decade long battle with tuberculosis in 1740
• Expelled from Yale 1742
• Begins work among Native American tribes in summer of 1742 at the age of 24
• Leaves mission field due to illness in 1747
• Dies in the home of Jonathan Edwards after five months of intense illness on October 9, 1747 at the age of 29
• Jonathan Edwards publishes The Life and diary of the Rev. David Brainerd in 1749

Notes from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon at David Brainerd’s funeral:

“Saints Absent from the Body” from II Corinthians 5:8

I.  The Great Future Hope of this Promise to True Saints
     A.  Immediately upon death go to the presence of Christ
     B.  Immediately upon death enjoy the glorious fellowship with Christ in His             blessedness
II. The Present Benefit of this Promise as a Reminder
     A.  Of the present frailty of our current condition
     B.  Of the future glory for which we now currently live
     C.  Of the potential future glory for those who are lost