Christian Minister's Manual for Funerals

Guthrie Veech

• Publisher: David C Cook
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781434711595
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

Updated and expanded with 32 pages of additional content designed to meet the growing demands of busy ministers, the Christian Minister's Manual is an essential tool for ministers. This essential tool for ministers features Scripture readings, sermons, outlines, and practical tips for • Worship services • Weddings • Funerals • Ordinations • Communion meditations • Baptisms • Dedications • Hospital visitation • Evangelism • and much more!

Funeral Sermon Outlines

For a Friend of God

by Leon Appel

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” James 2:23 (KJV ).

1. Why was Abraham called the friend of God?

a. He believed God.

b. He was a righteous man.

2. In the same way (name of deceased ) was the friend of God.

a. He believed God.

b. He was a righteous man.

3. God calls us to live as friends of God.

a. Do you believe God?

b. Are you a righteous man or woman?

For a Believer Well Known to the Minister

by Wayne B. Smith

Someone once said, “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same.” When I think of (name of deceased ), I think of 5 Fs:

1. Family. (Tell stories about the deceased’s family.)
2. Fun. (Tell stories about the fun the deceased had in life: hobbies, vacations, work, etc.)
3. Friends. To have a good friend is one of the highest delights of life. To be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings. Friendship depends not upon sentiment, but upon character. There is no man so poor that he is not rich if he has a real friend. There is no man so rich that he is not poor without a friend.
   Real friendship is abiding; like charity it suffers long and is kind. Like love, it boasts not in itself, but pursues the even tenor of its way, not fearful by ill report. It is loyal in adversity. It is the shining jewel in an uncertain world. To aspire to friendship, one must be willing to cultivate a capacity for faithful affection.
   Friendship is a gift, but it is also a requirement. It is like the rope with which those who climb the very high mountains bind themselves together for safety; only a coward cuts the rope when a comrade is in danger. Friendships are precious and should be treasured. To have a real friend is the greatest of earth’s gifts. I’m thankful that he was my friend, and that he knew a friend we call Jesus, who “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). He was your friend, too. (Tell stories of the deceased’s friendships.)
4. Faith in his final days. In his last days he was not afraid. Only a minister, a chaplain, or some other person who has been often in the presence of death would know just how unique and unusual that is. (Name of deceased ) was always faithful to the Lord’s house and the church. (Tell stories of the deceased’s involvement in the church.)
5. Future. On every tombstone in the cemetery there is a little dash—
   a horizontal line illustrating time. (Give the birth date and date of death for the deceased.) If that dash could speak, it would say “Life is too short and death is too sure to fill our lives with trifles that have no eternal significance.” Isaiah said it best: “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?” (Isaiah 55:2, KJV ). Your opportunity is now, not later. The dash would say your contribution, though small to you, is unique.
   Four things come not back: the spoken word, the spent arrow, time, and neglected opportunity. The important thing on your tombstone is not your name, but the dash—what you did between birth and death. It’s your personal investment. “He being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4, KJV ). (Name of deceased )’s influence and dash will live on.

Moved to a Better Home: 2 Timothy 4:7

by Robert Lawrence

We gather today out of respect for (name of deceased ) and the love we have for her family. We are here today in this place of mourning to provide support for family and friends.

(Name of deceased ) needs very little eulogy—that sermon has already been preached during the time she spent on this earth leaving a godly legacy for her family.

As we look at her age, she lived well past the three scores and ten years spoken of by the psalmist in Psalm 90. She spent many years of labor in the vineyard of our Lord. But just the other day she moved to a better home. Whatever her state of being was a few days ago, she does not have to worry about that anymore, she is at rest. She has a new address.

Though she was not a preacher, she preached many sermons by her dedication and simple life of service to others. I want to pause just for a few moments and look at old death.

We cannot deny death. Every kingdom-minded saint knows that someday the transition must take place. That is why the psalmist said, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants” (Psalm 116:15). A faithful servant is not someone who has inherent goodness or moral perfection—but is someone who has been separated by the Word of God and cleansed in the precious blood of the Lamb of God. When a faithful child of God steps out of time into eternity, that saint is released from the pain of uncertainty and inequities of this life.

We can accept death. I know that this is hard for some to do. But listen to how Paul views death, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Paul cherished this sentiment because he viewed death as a doorway to gaining eternity with Christ (Philippians 3:10). As he went through suffering, John wrote, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . . they will rest from their labor” (Revelation 14:13). At the end of Paul’s life he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7).

My remarks today are directed to the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren of our beloved saint. If we are to speak of influence, our beloved sister lived her influence in the presence of her family. We cannot improve upon what she has already done. So that is why I say, though death is certain for each of us, we can triumph over it if we are in Christ. We have the victory in Christ. I want to remind each of you today that living for Christ makes both life and death meaningful. To the righteous, death...

Table of contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• Conducting a Funeral
• After Everybody Went Home
• Suggested Order of Funeral Service
• Designing a Funeral Sermon
• Funeral Sermon Outlines
• Prayer When Someone Has Died
• Scriptures of Comfort at the Time of Death
• Scriptures for the Death of a Believer
• Scriptures for the Death of an Unbeliever