Other Ministers Perspective

[Southernscotty]

I would like another ministers perspective on performing Dads funeral Saturday.
I found out that there are several going to be there, that have not even stepped foot in a church and they desperately need the Word of God spoken to them.
So that is why I decided to preach this myself because I feel that this is a golden opportunity for a salvation message that might reach these particular people.
I don't really feel strong enough to preach it, Yet I feel called to do it. [If that makes sense?]

Everything that I do, at every funeral and wedding and every event that I have ever done I have included a short "salvation message" at the end, But I actually feel called to preach this funeral with an emphasis on their salvation and yet I feel terribly guilty as I do not want to take the focus off of Dad and his honor.
Maybe it is just me with my crazy emotions lately but I am feeling guilty for turning the focus towards them so much and off of my Dad.
I don't know, I am craving weird foods and I can't make up my mind about anything and I am really cranky, Do you think I am turning into a pregnant woman? Lol
{joke ladies, sorry}

 

[Paidiske]

To be honest, Scotty, I think your dad's funeral isn't the time for you to preach. It's a time for you to grieve and be ministered to. It's not reasonable to expect yourself to be in the right head space to carry everyone else through the day.

Choose someone you trust to preside, and let yourself be just a son for the day. You can discuss with them what you think is important to include in the sermon, beforehand.

That's my take on it, anyway.

 

[Tree of Life]

I would like another ministers perspective on performing Dads funeral Saturday.
I found out that there are several going to be there, that have not even stepped foot in a church and they desperately need the Word of God spoken to them.
So that is why I decided to preach this myself because I feel that this is a golden opportunity for a salvation message that might reach these particular people.
I don't really feel strong enough to preach it, Yet I feel called to do it. [If that makes sense?]

Everything that I do, at every funeral and wedding and every event that I have ever done I have included a short "salvation message" at the end, But I actually feel called to preach this funeral with an emphasis on their salvation and yet I feel terribly guilty as I do not want to take the focus off of Dad and his honor.
Maybe it is just me with my crazy emotions lately but I am feeling guilty for turning the focus towards them so much and off of my Dad.
I don't know, I am craving weird foods and I can't make up my mind about anything and I am really cranky, Do you think I am turning into a pregnant woman? Lol
{joke ladies, sorry}

My philosophy on funerals has been to avoid the altar call. I think the purpose of a funeral is to give thanks to God for the person who has died and, if that person was a Christian, to remind everyone of the hope that we have in Christ.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I would like another ministers perspective on performing Dads funeral Saturday.
I found out that there are several going to be there, that have not even stepped foot in a church and they desperately need the Word of God spoken to them.
So that is why I decided to preach this myself because I feel that this is a golden opportunity for a salvation message that might reach these particular people.
I don't really feel strong enough to preach it, Yet I feel called to do it. [If that makes sense?]

Everything that I do, at every funeral and wedding and every event that I have ever done I have included a short "salvation message" at the end, But I actually feel called to preach this funeral with an emphasis on their salvation and yet I feel terribly guilty as I do not want to take the focus off of Dad and his honor.
Maybe it is just me with my crazy emotions lately but I am feeling guilty for turning the focus towards them so much and off of my Dad.
I don't know, I am craving weird foods and I can't make up my mind about anything and I am really cranky, Do you think I am turning into a pregnant woman? Lol
{joke ladies, sorry}

Thinking of you at this time.

Whether or not you yourself preach, you are right indeed that this is an important time for the Gospel to be preached, even if it is a simple message based on repeating John 3.16 and maybe re-reading some phrases from it.

 

[Chinchilla]

Yea OP you think right it's great time to preach the gospel , should be easy for your since you know your father went to heaven .

You can preach by quoting Job that even tho he got everything twice as much as he had he only got 10 more children because these 10 were in different place living , they were not dead just thier body was .
God said who believes is not dead but who believes not in Christ is dead alredy (John 3:18) and tell these people that they will need to be born again aswell if they want to meet with your Dad again and have relationship with God .

 

[Southernscotty]

To be honest, Scotty, I think your dad's funeral isn't the time for you to preach. It's a time for you to grieve and be ministered to. It's not reasonable to expect yourself to be in the right head space to carry everyone else through the day.

Choose someone you trust to preside, and let yourself be just a son for the day. You can discuss with them what you think is important to include in the sermon, beforehand.

That's my take on it, anyway.

I would agree normally, but I feel so called to do this, I really can't explain it.
I know for a fact that some people will be there that have always neglected God and I feel a great need to minister to them as I have prayed for years for them.
These people will never step foot in a church and I feel this maybe their only opportunity to hear the truth.
Their salvation is a priority and I believe if I really explain grace as the unmerited favor that it is, Perhaps they will understand that they too are loved and can be accepted.
I am just confused but I have till Saturday to decide so I am praying on it.

 

[drjean]

What did you decide on this Scotty?

My mom accepted Christ at age 80 (after my 45 years of praying and believing God would do so)... and at age 89 she had a message for those who attended her funeral. I had that message but was thwarted from giving it because of a family member who commandeered the whole "show". I later printed up the statement of faith and mailed it to family and had it inserted into mom's church's bulletin. They got the salvation message, just not at her funeral.