Christian Minister's Manual—Updated and Expanded Deluxe Edition

Guthrie Veech

• Publisher: David C Cook
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9780784733622
• eBook ISBN: 9781434711571
• 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!

Funerals

This is not a time to win the world to Christ. This is a time when life in the church stops to meet the needs of the deceased’s family. It is a time to offer hope, Scripture, prayer, and assurance. It is a time to collect stories about the deceased to be used in the funeral. The major characteristic in twenty-first-century funerals is story. This is a time to say something good about Jesus and perhaps share an evangelistic Scripture like John 3:16 with little or no immediate follow-up.

When a death occurs, go as soon as possible to be with the family. You may read some comforting Scriptures, and you should certainly offer to pray with the family. Don’t try to plan the funeral on this visit. The family needs time to absorb the impact of their loved one’s death. You are there to soften the blow, to weep with those who weep.

Make another visit to plan the funeral. If you cannot meet the family in their home, meet them the night before the funeral at the funeral home during visitation. If the deceased is a Christian, provide assurance of Heaven. If the deceased is not a Christian, find something good to say about the person. This is not a time to preach someone into Heaven or Hell. You are not the judge. You are there to provide comfort for families in need.

Remember, funerals are not for the dead but for the living. This is another opportunity to represent Christ in a very tough time.

Conducting a Funeral

by Tom Hensley

Traditionally funerals are held in funeral homes, churches, or at the graveside; however, today they may be held just about anywhere, including private homes, public parks, VFW halls, and other social club facilities.

Being flexible is a necessity when it comes to helping families through the days leading up to a death, the planning of the funeral service, and being involved in the funeral service. The first step is to identify the funeral home and have the family contact the staff, who will handle the specific details. When the service is established, usually the family or funeral home staff will contact the minister to verify your availability for the specific time and place.

Cremations with memorial services are often scheduled at the convenience of the family. There is no longer as much need for immediate burial as in the past. Sometimes the memorial service does not take place for several weeks.

The order of the service should always be written down and given to the funeral director. This eliminates potential mistakes and embarrassing moments, plus it puts all of the participants at ease as to how the service will flow.

A suggested order would be:

• opening words and prayer
• introduction of individual(s) who will share an obituary or personal stories about the deceased
• sharing words of comfort from Scripture and appropriate application of principles and precepts
• prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
• closing remarks and referencing funeral director coming to provide further instructions or dismiss

Music is generally blended into the service, with normally no more than three songs—one to begin, one as a transition from the obituary to talking points from Scripture, and one to close.

It is always good to provide the funeral director with an approximate length of your words and when you’ve finished, to be seated. The director will provide additional information concerning the dismissal or procession to the burial site. A short service of about twenty to thirty minutes is preferable to a longer service. When people are dismissed, it is good practice to stand by the door or at the head of the casket to greet the people as they exit. Once everyone has exited the chapel, the casket is closed, and the pallbearers are in place, the minister traditionally leads the procession from the chapel to the hearse and stands out of the way while the casket is loaded. You will also lead the procession from the back of the hearse to the gravesite at the cemetery, as the pallbearers carry the casket to its final resting spot.

Churches often provide a meal for the family immediately following the burial or memorial service. This is a time to interact further with the family members and express your sympathies to them. It is also a great time for the church to show the love of the Lord to family and friends, some of whom may not have a church connection.

Creating a Eulogy

Gathering the needed information requires a good listening ear and a quick writing instrument. The personal information should include:

• family information, such as name of spouse and number of years they have been married, names of children, grandchildren, siblings, or parents (as applies)
• career information, such as type of work, number of years, and date of retirement (if retired)
• if the person was a veteran of armed services, which branch and any special honors
• interests or hobbies involving non-work-related pastimes and memorable moments
• church affiliation, and specific offices held or ministries performed

Additionally, inquire if there is a favorite passage (or passages) of Scripture the family would like you to use in the funeral service.

The Committal

In the cemetery, the minister should lead the procession to the burial site, whether it is a grave, mausoleum, mock set-up (not at grave location but in proximity to final resting spot), or placing of urn in a headstone, bench, or columbarium. The graveside remarks should be brief. The reading of an appropriate passage of Scripture and a prayer are all that is needed.

Other Participants

When the deceased has been part of a fraternal organization, leaders of that fraternal organization may want to share in the service. Most of the time, fraternal memorial services take place first; this can last anywhere from a few minutes to twenty minutes. You should always treat them with dignity and honor. Some fraternal orders perform a service the night before the funeral.

When ...

Table of contents

• Preface
• How to Use the Christian Minister’s Manual
• Christian Ministry
• The Focus of Christian Ministry
• Evangelism
• The Importance of Evangelism in Ministry
• Weddings
• Introduction
• Comfort
• Visiting the Sick and Suffering
• Funerals
• Funerals
• Worship
• Introduction
• Dedications
• Baby Dedications
• Ordinations
• Ordination of a Minister