Today I went to the hospital to meet with a member of our church, that at this time, looks like his time on earth is coming to an end. Since the Lord moved my family here to minister, I have preached more funerals than I want to claim. Funerals are by far the hardest messages to preach, at least for me. What do you say to the loved ones that sit there grieving? What words can adequately express their pain, loss, fears and grief?
If you want to make your pastor's message at your funeral easier, I have two suggestions:
1. Know Christ as your Savior and live like He is Lord.
As hard as preaching the funeral of friend or family member is, it is immeasurably harder to preach the funeral of a lost person. I take the opportunity to preach Christ, but as I am preaching to the living I can't help think of the eternal condition of the deceased. If you know Christ, boldly live like it, stand firm, be quick to obey the Word and encourage others to obey it. So when the Pastor stands to preach your funeral, he can rest in confidence that the Word of God had taken root in your life and that your eternal state was settled.
2. Get to know your pastor and allow him to be apart of your life.
Another thing that is hard at funerals is speak of the details of a life you don't know. Make it a point to get to know your Pastor! Share stories about your life with him, tell him your history, introduce your family, share your success and your failures with him. Let him into your personal life so when he stands to do your funeral, he speaks as more than just your pastor, he speaks as your friend.
Funerals are hard, preaching funerals is hard, but preaching the funeral of a member of the body of Christ who was my friend, makes preaching the hardest message a lot easier!
