Gospel preaching at a funeral

The most helpful advice I ever received about preaching at the funeral of someone I didn't know was, "Don't walk them to heaven. Don't walk them to hell. Just preach the Gospel to those who are present.".

This principle defines our purpose, no matter what kind of funeral we hold. Ironically, although we focus on remembering and honoring the life of the deceased, the funeral service is ultimately intended for those who are present.

The sermon is the place where the gospel should be proclaimed clearly. Only when we personally have the assurance of a person’s salvation can we speak confidently of the heavenly reward he has received. If you have any uncertainty about this matter, which is almost inevitable when you are preaching at the funeral of someone you have never met, it is best to focus on the gospel for your hearers. It is better to resist the temptation to give false comfort for which you have little or no basis.

Three Key Elements of a Sermon

The funeral sermon should not exceed 20 minutes and should cover these three categories, preferably revealed from a text or texts of Scripture:

1. Acknowledge the need to grieve.

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11) is especially helpful in this context. If Jesus wept over the loss of a friend, so should we. I often think of the time my father sat my wife and I down when we learned that our second child had been miscarried; he encouraged us to take time to mourn that child, teaching us how to do so.

It should never be assumed that people understand that grieving is appropriate or that they know how to cope with their grief simply by talking about their deceased loved ones. In fact, many are reluctant to talk about them because of the pain they feel as a result of the loss. Many pastors know that it is often only years later that people realize the value of this process, eventually working through their grief with some pastoral guidance.

2. Clearly express the hope of the Gospel.

True hope in grief cannot exist without the hope we have in the Gospel. That is why the second and third parts of the funeral sermon focus on the person and work of Christ. Whatever text you choose for your sermon, make sure you can focus on the clear elements of the Gospel:

• the holiness of God;
• the sinfulness of man and the punishment for sin;
• the perfect nature of Christ and His atoning sacrifice for our salvation;
• and also our important response is to repent and believe in Christ.

3. Encourage listeners to respond to the Gospel.

To do this properly and effectively, you need to prepare yourself by learning as much as possible about your audience and the deceased. You should assume that the funeral will be attended by Christians and non-Christians. All of them will likely come with preconceived ideas about how we obtain eternal life. For example, I have conducted funerals where ninety percent of the attendees were devout Catholics, others where the majority of the attendees were Mormons, and still others where no one attended church.

In each case, I clearly explained the Gospel, calling my listeners to repent of their sins, believe in Christ, and trust in Him. However, in each of these different situations, I approached the call to respond to the Gospel differently, depending on their prior understanding of the «good news.».

Call them to sorrow. Preach the Gospel clearly and simply. Help them realize their need for Christ, for death is before them. Call them to repentance and faith.