Paul Powell, in his "Minister's Manual," suggests that the pastor keep a half dozen or so funeral messages ready to go at a minute's notice so that the busy pastor is not caught off guard by a funeral. Obviously, you never just preach a sermon repeatedly at a funeral impersonally verbatim. But the major gist is pretty well set. I practice this in my ministry. I have some passages I preach from, and can add some personal things that personalize each sermon.
Do you do this?
How long is your typical funeral sermon?
Do you include a gospel appeal to the unsaved and/or "rededication appeal" (Oh I hate that phrase)? Do you include a formal invitation to "walk the aisle"? (Another phrase I hate)
My practice is to preach about 10 minutes, absolutely no more than 15. Grieving people can't hang on longer than that. I present the gospel in such a way as to tell the unsaved how to be saved and the straying one to come home. Above all, I preach to comfort the hurting and point them to the Great Physician who heals body and soul.
Do you do this?
How long is your typical funeral sermon?
Do you include a gospel appeal to the unsaved and/or "rededication appeal" (Oh I hate that phrase)? Do you include a formal invitation to "walk the aisle"? (Another phrase I hate)
My practice is to preach about 10 minutes, absolutely no more than 15. Grieving people can't hang on longer than that. I present the gospel in such a way as to tell the unsaved how to be saved and the straying one to come home. Above all, I preach to comfort the hurting and point them to the Great Physician who heals body and soul.
