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Leading Today's Funerals: A Pastoral Guide for Improving Bereavement Ministry
This concise guide to bereavement ministry helps pastors lead people through funerals that honor the deceased and comfort those left behind.
126 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 3, 2018
I read the kindle version of this book in preparation for my first funeral that I will be doing as a pastor. I had to read this pretty quick given the situation. I am glad I did as it was helpful. I read this work and took lots of notes from it. This was a book that I wished I read in seminary.
After the foreword and introduction the book consists of eight chapters, an epilogue and three appendixes. The first chapter covered understanding the purposes of a funeral, the second was on preparation for the service with the family while the third was on orchestrating a meaningful service. The fourth chapter was on working with the funeral home, the fifth on handling funeral of a Non-Christian, the sixth was on presenting the Gospel with the seventh on difficult funeral services and finally the last chapter was on caring for those mourning after the funeral. A funeral interview form, funeral checklist and sample funerals also followed in the appendixes.
I found the chapter on difficult funeral services very helpful. It got me thinking about difficult deaths that I might have to officiate over in the future. The chapter discuss suicide, death of infants and murder. The author’s discussion about those who try to use 1 Corinthians 3:17 as proof text that those who commit suicide are certainly lost for eternity was extremely helpful and I think he conclusively demonstrate that the passage does not teach that. In addition the chapter on funerals for non-Christians was also helpful. It reminded readers that while we don’t want to deceive people that the person is a Christian still we must preach the Gospel about the hope we have right now for those who are living to trust in Jesus Christ. Yet the book also talked about doing this as compassionately as possible. I found it helpful the book’s suggestion to read both Revelation 21:1-5 and Revelation 22:1-5 of what does the Bible has to say about what heaven looks like.
While the book doesn’t answer everything it at least got me thinking about doing funerals. I also appreciated the author’s emphasis on preachers preaching the Gospel during funerals. I think other readers will appreciate it immensely as well.
After the foreword and introduction the book consists of eight chapters, an epilogue and three appendixes. The first chapter covered understanding the purposes of a funeral, the second was on preparation for the service with the family while the third was on orchestrating a meaningful service. The fourth chapter was on working with the funeral home, the fifth on handling funeral of a Non-Christian, the sixth was on presenting the Gospel with the seventh on difficult funeral services and finally the last chapter was on caring for those mourning after the funeral. A funeral interview form, funeral checklist and sample funerals also followed in the appendixes.
I found the chapter on difficult funeral services very helpful. It got me thinking about difficult deaths that I might have to officiate over in the future. The chapter discuss suicide, death of infants and murder. The author’s discussion about those who try to use 1 Corinthians 3:17 as proof text that those who commit suicide are certainly lost for eternity was extremely helpful and I think he conclusively demonstrate that the passage does not teach that. In addition the chapter on funerals for non-Christians was also helpful. It reminded readers that while we don’t want to deceive people that the person is a Christian still we must preach the Gospel about the hope we have right now for those who are living to trust in Jesus Christ. Yet the book also talked about doing this as compassionately as possible. I found it helpful the book’s suggestion to read both Revelation 21:1-5 and Revelation 22:1-5 of what does the Bible has to say about what heaven looks like.
While the book doesn’t answer everything it at least got me thinking about doing funerals. I also appreciated the author’s emphasis on preachers preaching the Gospel during funerals. I think other readers will appreciate it immensely as well.
June 3, 2017
An easy to read book by someone who has taken many funerals and so gives a broad aspect to funeral ministry, both for Christians and non Christians. Packed with ideas shaped and formed from the bible
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews