Preaching Funeral Sermons | Austin McCormick
Introduction
I am convinced few things can more quickly enrage a believer to righteous indignation than a poorly preached funeral sermon. You’ve likely experienced the frustration of attending a funeral service only to hear a message that teaches “salvation by death from this life.” Alternatively, you’ve heard talks devoid of important doctrinal instruction, such as the wages of sin and what Christ has accomplished in the gospel. These presentations provoke Christians to righteous anger because we know that only the biblical gospel can bring hope to the people who desperately need it at the funeral service! Our goal in this blog, then, is to focus on what we need to know in case we are called upon to minister on such an occasion.
I. What to know before preaching a funeral sermon
A. What will your responsibilities be in the service?
If you’re asked to preach at a funeral, don’t assume that is all you will be doing in the service. If you’re the pastor and the family doesn’t have much experience with planning the funeral event, they may ask you to plan the service. If they choose to have the funeral service at the church building instead of at a funeral home, it is likely that you will be the one selecting the order of worship instead of the funeral home director (or staff). If your responsibilities extend beyond the sermon, you may help the family craft an obituary to be read in the service, select God-honoring songs, and more
You should also confirm how many funeral sermons you will be delivering. It is common for there to be multiple sermons on the funeral date. Sometimes a service will have multiple sermons with different speakers. More commonly, there is a single sermon delivered with an additional sermon delivered later during a shorter grave-side service. This grave-side service typically takes place outdoors with the immediate family closest to the casket. Confirm whether you will be preaching in just the funeral service or at the graveside service. If you are called upon to minister in the latter, keep your comments brief and gospel-centered.
B. What were the life and death circumstances of the deceased?
Next, you need to consider the life and death circumstances of the deceased. Was this person a visible saint, or did their fruits display that they were an unbeliever? Was their passing unexpected, or did they have a long life on the earth? What about their family members who will attend this funeral? Are they believers or unbelievers?
Knowing these circumstances will influence what type of funeral sermon to preach. Preaching the funeral sermon of an older pastor who finished well would be much different than preaching a funeral for an unbelieving teenager who died in a car accident. For the former, the selection of your text could be Hebrews 13:7: Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. For the latter, your text could be James 5:14: yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Knowing these circumstances should also influence the length of the sermon. If you will be preaching to mostly mature Christians, you may preach longer. If you’re preaching to people who have never attended church, you might aim for brevity.
C. Know that unbelievers can respond strangely to death.
Lastly, you need to know that unbelievers can respond strangely to death. Some of them will pretend nothing has happened. Others will be without hope and angry. Some might make comments about their loved ones becoming angels and receiving wings. Unbelievers respond strangely to death.
This is helpful to know, especially if you’re the one who chooses the order of worship for the service. Some choose to include a part in the service where anyone in attendance can speak about the person who has passed. If you are ordering the service, I strongly advise against this practice. In the first funeral service I participated in, I had the responsibility of reading the obituary. I did not select the order of worship, but near the end of the service, the service was opened for anyone to speak. Soon, a man came forward to express his regret that he did not pursue the recently deceased woman during his life, since they were both in love with each other. This was especially awkward because the widower of the deceased woman was sitting in the front row while this man spoke! Strangely, though, the two men hugged each other while weeping over the casket instead of fighting with each other.
Since unbelievers respond strangely to death, eliminate any possibility for distractions that will take attention away from Christ in the preached Word. If the family wants to have someone speak in the service, encourage them to have all comments prepared beforehand.
II. Goals for the funeral sermon
A. Give proper honor to the life of the person who has died.
If the deceased was a believer, highlight some godly characteristics from their life so believers in attendance can imitate their faith. (Heb. 13:7). Give honor to whom honor is due. Trace the good in their lives back to the Giver of good gifts. (Jam. 1:17). If the deceased was an unbeliever, we can still honor the image of God in them by recognizing the value of the life they lived.
B. Comfort the family while they’re grieving death.
Next, comfort the family. Don’t minimize their grief or suggest they shouldn’t have any. Although it is better for believers to die and be with the Lord (Phil. 1:23), the New Testament recognizes lawful grief in the face of their death. (1 Thess. 4:13). At the same time, remind believing family members that they have reason to grieve with hope. (1 Thes. 4:13). Death will not have the final word over them in Christ. There will be a resurrection unto life. Christ will soon return. He will openly acknowledge and acquit all His people. And soon, all of God’s people will unendingly dwell in the heavenly presence of God. Words like these are meant to bring encouragement. (1 Thess. 4:18). If the remaining family of the departed is unbelieving, then point them to Christ as the only source of comfort in life and death.
C. Evangelize the lost while they’re thinking about death.
Thirdly, evangelize the lost while they’re thinking about death. Don’t waste this opportunity to remind unbelievers that it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Heb. 9:27). Explain to them how Adam’s disobedience brought death into the world. (Rom. 5:12). Explain to them that our own evil actions merit the punishment of death. (Rom. 3:23). Warn them that they are soon heading for this death, and the only way to escape it is through the one who called himself the Life. (Jn. 14:6).
D. Glorify the God who has life in Himself.
Lastly, remember that you’re preaching this funeral sermon to honor God. Resist then all irreverent thoughts during this solemn occasion. Don’t make the service primarily about trifling stories or platitudes. Point your hearers to the living and true God. He deserved to be worshipped when he gives and when he takes away. (Job. 1:21).
III. Examples of funeral sermons
Now, I want to share three examples of funeral sermons I’ve preached. The first was during the COVID-19 pandemic for a dear Christian man. I was his pastor for nearly three years, and he was very supportive of my ministry. He was in his early 80s when he passed after a battle with Parkinson’s near the end of his life. This man had a simple faith in Christ and many good works to evidence it.
Sadly, the early Covid restrictions didn’t allow for an indoor funeral. So, his funeral service was held outside as a lengthy graveside service. I preached from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 using this text to evangelize the lost who have no reason to hope outside of Christ. Then I tried to comfort and encourage his dear widow with Christ’s return as we both wept near the casket.
The second example comes from another church member. I was uncertain if he was a believer, so I visited him multiple times before his death to evangelize him. This man would frequently tell me how much he appreciated that I wore a coat and a tie to church to minister. He always wanted to talk about how we need to be clothed properly when we come into the presence of God. So, my text for his funeral was Isaiah 61:10, which points to the active obedience of Christ. I shared a little about these interactions I had with him in the message, then preached about how we need to be clothed in Christ’s righteousness if we would be accepted to come into the presence of God.
C. John 10:1-9
Our last example comes from John 10:1-9. In the rural community I was in, I was often asked to preach funeral sermons for people I had never met. I lost count due to poor record-keeping, but I likely preached between 10 and 15 funerals within my first two years of my first pastorate. Often, I was asked to preach in these services unexpectedly. So, I had an evangelistic sermon ready from John 10:1-9, exhorting people to receive Christ’s salvation through the door of Christ.
Concluding Thoughts
As we finish, I want to leave you with three brief concluding thoughts. First, dress respectfully for the occasion. Ordinarily, that means wearing a coat and tie. The family will appreciate this.
Second, if you have formal responsibilities toward the family that has lost a loved one, be intentional to minister to widows or widowers in the days to come. Give them time to grieve while they have their family with them. But follow up with them when their family leaves. Write down the date of the passing, so you’re prepared to comfort them in a year. Pray for them and visit them. Be prepared to sit and listen when you go to check in with them.
Lastly, make the gospel as central as possible in your funeral messages. I once attended a funeral service by a Pentecostal minister who bashed other denominations throughout the message for not believing in the continuation of the apostolic gifts. This is not the time or the place for that. Deliver doctrines that are of primary importance so sinners can be reconciled to God and so that saints can grieve with hope.
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Austin has been one of the pastors of Covenant Baptist Church since February 2024. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Spurgeon College and an M.Div from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.
By God’s free and sovereign grace, Austin was saved early in his adulthood. He is married to Rachel, and together they have three children: Geneva, Benjamin, and Bristol.
