The following messages are full-text funeral sermons done on various occasions. Name and portions of names are removed for the sake of privacy. Otherwise I have left them intact so that readers may see how each one was delivered. Funeral messages can be very tough. They certainly are for me. They do present an opportunity to serve and present the Christian testimony and hope however, so the time spent can be rewarding for the kingdom.
I generally meet with as many family members as I can a couple of days in advance of the service, asking them to reflect, getting an idea what they want to be said, and gathering personal information about the deceased person. I also try to obtain the obituary that is written for the newspaper whenever I can. This saves the family the process of going through this information again if they have already supplied it to the funeral home. Most funeral homes are willing to fax a copy. (Be sure to double check this with the family for accuracy.) I then spend about a half day in preparation of the message.
It is my opinion that it is appropriate to speak of the Christian hope in a funeral and express confidence in it but usually not a time to present the details of the gospel. This I try to do later with any who may be interested as I continue to minister to responsive family members. You may differ in this view. If so, do what you believe God would have you do.
Often I am asked what should be said at the funeral of a known unbeliever. This is certainly one of the most difficult funeral services to do. I typically just try to talk about the person, making mention of the Christian hope several times in the message, but not passing judgment on the destination of the deceased. Some will disagree with me on this, feeling rather that we should preach heaven and hell to all who are present. To me it seems most effective to leave pronouncement of these matters to God since the fate of the deceased is settled anyway. There can be follow-up on any interest in these things at a later date if bridges aren't burned at a time when people are hurting.
 | Funeral Service 1 - For an elderly gentleman who became a Christian, fell away from the Lord, then returned to God before his death. |
| Funeral Service 2 - For an elderly gentleman who became a Christian just a few weeks before he died of cancer. |
| Funeral Service 3 - For an elderly Christian lady who was religious for most of her life. |
| Funeral Service 4 - For a 50 year-old Christian lady (and close friend) who died of cancer.(Sermon: Death of One of God's Saints) |
| Funeral Service 5 - For an infant girl who died at birth. |
| Funeral Service 6 - For a middle-aged lady who was not a Christian. (Sermon: In Everything Give Thanks) |
| Funeral Service 7 - Sermon used for a Christian teen who was killed in a car wreck. (Sermon: Lessons Learned in the House of Mourning) |
| Funeral Service 8 - For an elderly Christian man who served Christ for many years. (Sermon: A Look Around at Death) |
| Funeral Service 9 - For a Christian Widow who Died. (Sermon: Where There's Death, there's Hope) |
| Funeral Service 10 - For a 35 year-old husband and father of four who was not a Christian. |
| Funeral Service 11 - Memorial for an 86 year-old Christian man who was survived by his Christian wife of 64 years. |
| Funeral Service 12 - Memorial for an 85 year-old non-Christian man who was survived by his Christian wife of 53 years. (Sermon: Things we can be Grateful for Today, Even in Our Time of Loss) |
| Funeral Service 13 - Memorial for a Christian lady who lived on this earth 101 years. (Sermon: Remember Your Creator) |
| Funeral Service 14 - Graveside service for a 73 year old Christian widow. |