Funeral Idea

[Dr. Bob]

Have a very large funeral Saturday. (estimate 400-500+) Nice guy, well liked and only 50ish. Family has no church, no religion, no spirituality. I did a wedding a few years ago for a relative and we got to know the one who passed and his wife, so I guess I was the only "spiritual" person they remembered to do the funeral.

When I met with the widow and two college-aged sons, I asked them point blank about spiritual issues. Favorite songs, verses, prayer, etc. Trying to get something to tie in my message.

They had no clue. Said he was a "praying man" - always praying for the Cornhuskers to win, and praying God to kill most of the drivers in town. When asked of music, they said "spiritual solace in KISS or Nirvana".

I have my work cut out.

Wonder if anyone here knows of ANY "spiritual" lyrics of a KISS or Nirvana song that I might be able to use?? I have never heard either group and can't seem to google anything of value. I have a direction for the sermon (after the family does the usual platitudes of a eulogy and slide show) but looking for some illustrative ideas.

Thanks.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I have my work cut out.

To say the least...

Spiritual tots from KISS... that's a tough one.

Maybe something from Nirvana, but that wasn't my time.

I'm not any help, but will be praying for you. I've done a few of them like that in our community.

 

[menageriekeeper]

This is as close as I think you will get to something you will use. Lyrics are from the Nirvana song "Come As You Are" and the rest of song is well, useless. This is from their "nevermind" album.

Come as you are, as you were,
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late

This is perhaps the best place to find other lyrics

http://www.nirvanaclub.com/

Click on the lyric tab at the top of the page. That will lead to an album list. Click on one and the individual songs come up. Click on one and you have lyrics. Good luck. Nirvana had rather liberal ideas. It'd be easier to come up with spiritual lyrics from lady gaga than Nirvana!

 

[webdog]

Excellent, menageriekeeper :thumbs:

KISS had a song "You're all that I want" (KISS unmasked, 1997) in reference to a romantic relationship, but could be applied...

You're all that I want
You're all that I need
You're all that I see
You're everything to me
You're all that I feel
You're my dream come true
You're my everything
No matter what you do
You're all that I want

 

[Tom Bryant]

Dr. Bob -I hold you responsible for the song going thru my mind since i first read this: "I'm going to rock-n-roll all night and party everyday!"

Out... Out Cursed Song!

:BangHead: :tongue3:

 

[webdog]

Dr. Bob -I hold you responsible for the song going thru my mind since i first read this: "I'm going to rock-n-roll all night and party everyday!"

Out... Out Cursed Song!

:BangHead: :tongue3:

Funny you said that, "God gave rock 'n roll to you" had been going through mine... :laugh:

 

[Dr. Bob]

Youse guyz are making me thankful I am from the hootenany/folk era before elvis the pelvis and the beatles and dead lepers and such

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Youse guyz are making me thankful I am from the hootenany/folk era before elvis the pelvis and the beatles and dead lepers and such

Seriously then was the guy ever raised as anything prior to his whatever? Old standby....Amazing Grace.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Not a kiss fan here but none of the songs I googled are even remotely appropriate, except maybe "I was made to love you: but even that has to do with sex.

 

[freeatlast]

Why not just give them something in music that honors the Lord from someone who knows or knew the Lord, tell them the truth about the gospel and leave it at that?

 

[Tom Bryant]

Youse guyz are making me thankful I am from the hootenany/folk era before elvis the pelvis and the beatles and dead lepers and such

Actually, KISS and Nirvana are after my rock-n-roll days... But as a Youth pastor, I had some young people who tried to tell me that KISS was not that bad and just a party band. Then I listened to the music :BangHead:

btw, Freeatlast, I am sure Bob will give them the Gospel.

 

[righteousdude2]

Use Football and Cornhuskers as Your Theme

I am from Nebraska, and I know how deep Husker Red flows in some of these folks. If you could some tie the game of footbal, the Huskers and winning and losing into your message, you will have their undivided attention. That is unless, some of the crowd are Colorado or Oklahome fans :laugh:

Honestly, you should be able to draw some kind of comparison between a winning season and a winning spiritual choice. Gaining eternal life would be like being the mythical BCS Champion, only better, because it has to do with eternity.

Like Paul's running the race with conviction and not looking back.

It looks as though you have a tough message, so, you'll be in my prayers.

Pastor Paul

 

[Jim1999]

The lead singer of KISS actually sang a lead role in Phantom of the Opera....Marvellous singer; wonderful voice.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[preacher4truth]

Just use Metallicas "And Justice for All..." and close with their "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

This should bring reality home, then preach that Gospel!!!!

On a serious note, that is a heavy load and burden right there that he is under, Dr. Bob needs our prayers in this. I hope some folks get born-again.

- Peace

 

[Tom Butler]

The funeral message must be aimed at those who are left behind. Use the Bible descriptions of what Heaven is like, and point them to the way to get there.

 

[John Toppass]

You could use Nirvana if you spruced up a bit and did a buddist service. :thumbs:

 

[Iconoclast]

DR.Bob,
You might be better off building on the idea of prayer, that all prayer needs to go through the one mediator. If he prayed that way...
Having not known this person....or what if any profession of faith he had or did not have......you might be better served to speak about him .....more abstractly .....Something like....It is Good that he lived in a country where the facts of the gospel are freely available to everyone to search out.
We all can search out the truth , and learn of the perfect sacrifice of the cross for sinners.....any realistic hope is set forth in the scriptres,etc
There could be a few that are forced by his death to think of their own mortality...

4.Ecclesiastes 7:2
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-3 (in Context) Ecclesiastes 7 (Whole Chapter)
5.Ecclesiastes 7:4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

 

[Gershom]

I would skip the music thing and deliver an evangelistic sermon.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Spiritual solice in Nirvana and KISS, huh.

Wow.

I was searching through Nirvana lyrics for ANYTHING... and nothing with any HOPE!!

I went to a visitation a while back and the guy who was only young 20's was killed by a lover. I was going to stay for the funeral but decided against it when there was so much wailing going on ... of people who need to know the Lord.....and saw no hope in the way my young friend had lived his life... When I knew him, he attended church some and had made commitments to the Lord...but as he grew older, it did not reflect in his life.

The hope is the Lord. The hope for these folks at the funeral that you will be doing is only in the Lord.

They played a non religious song at my young friend's funeral which reflected his life... ugh. I think the preacher, who i know, spoke evangelistically.

 

[SaggyWoman]

KISS's Reason to live Lyrics would be a good illustration. Google them.