Preaching In The Public Square

What should we be mindful of if called on to preach a very public funeral sermon? One pastor shares both the sermon and the reflections on preaching in the public square that guided him through this challenge.

Grappling with God

This sermon calls us to imagine our own funeral and asks the question: How do we want people to remember us? Will people remember how, like Jacob, we grappled with God and would not let go?

Singularly Important

Someone from our church dies nearly every week. If that happened in most churches in America, complaints would be made to the local health department. Fifty-two funerals a year would cause most churches to close their doors forever. But if a church is large enough (and ours qualifies), a funera
god's breath

Funeral Sermon: God’s Breath Suffocates Death

As this sermon reminds us, the scriptures are very clear and forceful that in times of crisis, many people feel the absence of God. There is pain, loss, brokenness and death in all of our lives. Yet, even in the context of a funeral, we remember what Ezekiel learned: God's breath suffocates death.
moving funeral messages

Funeral Sermon: Moving Funeral Messages Honor Parents

The two sermons which follow were preached by Robert E. Coleman at the funerals of his parents. His father, James Henry Coleman, was buried January 7, 1975, and his mother, Helen Hood Coleman on August 21, 1985. Both messages offer fitting tribute to loved ones, and provide a model for bringing comfort and inspiration in the funeral setting.