Funeral
Service Template
(...substitute Brother for Sister; Husband for Wife; (name) with their name,
etc)
Greetings:
We have gathered here this evening in God's presence as family
and friends to remember the life of Brother/Sister (name) and to commend his soul into
the gracious care of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We come together in
grief, acknowledging our human loss.
May God grant us
grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.
We dare to celebrate the home going of our brother, friend and loved one because
Jesus has promised and we believe his word to be true, "Because I live ye shall
live also". In this wonderful passage of scripture we find these words of
assurance and hope.
Scripture
Verses:
The Word of God tells us that:
Dying, Christ destroyed our death.
Rising, Christ restored our life.
What we shall be has not yet been revealed;
But we know that when Christ appears, we will be like him for we shall see
Christ as he is.
This is our Christian hope.
Listen to the
Word of grace:
Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me,
even though they die, yet they shall live,
and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the beginning and the end the first and the last. I died and behold I am
alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death because I live, you
shall live also.
I would like to
share one short scripture verse from I Samuel 20:18, "and thou shalt be
missed, because thy seat will be empty." These flowers, the cards, and your
presence are a testimony that Brother/Sister (name) will be missed.
When we lose a loved one, it leaves an emptiness that's hard and often
impossible to fill. Brother/Sister (name) occupied a number of seats in his/her life, seats
that will be difficult and impossible to fill.
We are gathered
here today to pay our respects to Brother/Sister (name). Today for comfort and hope, lets
turn our thoughts to God's word. He cares for us even when we don't deserve it.
We need to trust in God. He is a God of sympathy and understanding. He knows our
hurts and loneliness. He knows how we feel. The Bible tells us that He knows our
sorrow and records our tears. If He takes the time to see our tears then He
knows why they fall from our eyes.
Now Brother
(name)
cannot come back to us, nor would we call her back if we could. David said of
the baby he lost, "He can't come to me but I can go to him."
So Brother (name) is
receiving the welcome of eternity. Did you know that there are folks on the
other side who have been waiting for this moment and their happiness now is as
great as our sorrow.
--------------------------
Brother (name)
occupied the seat of a Christian. His testimony was great. He was loving,
faithful, considerate, understanding, caring, attentive, and compassionate.
Brother …. was greatly loved and respected and he will be missed by his church
family. We weep over …., because of the fond memories and our love. But Mark
loved Jesus with all his heart. He wasn't afraid to speak about his Savior.
Because he knew the Lord as his Savior, it gave him purpose for life. He enjoyed
life. Jesus does give meaning to life. And the Christian life is a happy,
enjoyable life. (name) enjoyed (a long) life. It wasn't always easy, but knowing
Jesus gives purpose and meaning. (name) was faithful.
Brother (name)
occupied the seat of a faithful father and grandfather. Proverbs 31:10-31.
This seat is now empty. You have the memories, they are wonderful memories of a
father that loved you and cared about you. There will a great void in you life
that only God can fill. He kept the faith with his children. When parents bring
children into this world, that is an adventure of faith. They do not know
whether the children will bring honor or shame to the family, they proceed with
faith. On the other hand, the children cannot know whether the parents will keep
faith with them. They may disappoint them or forsake them. One of God's greatest
blessings is Godly parents. Children who have such parent need to thank God
daily. His children, enjoyed the privilege of a Christian father and his faith
will remain a part of both of you. This love will remain with you for the rest
of your lives. No one can take the memories, they are precious to you.
Brother (name)
occupied the seat of a faithful husband. A wife that Brother …. honored and
respected. His seat is empty, Sister ……… will need her children more than ever.
…. kept the faith with his wife. When two people enter the marriage bond, they
do so in faith. Neither one knows whether the other will always be true. But
they accept each other on faith, taking their vows, for better, for worse, for
richer, for poorer. Faith is a lovely thing at the marriage altar, but it is far
more lovely after many, many wedding anniversaries have been celebrated at which
one can say, Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three for the greatest of
these is love.
Brother (name) occupied the seat of a faithful friend.
All the flowers and
people speak of his friendliness …. kept the faith with his friends. All the
cards, flowers, and people speak to that fact. Never did I hear him say a bad
word about anyone.
----------------------------
Always happy and glad to see you. Never complaining, what a
great character he set as an example for us all. And all of us found it easy to
love (name). It is a shame we can't all be like that.
I would like to think for a few minutes that (name) came back for a few moments and
was filling his seat in this chapel
I would like to
ask him a few questions. Maybe give answers I think he would give.
1. Tell me of
Heaven? Cannot, it is too wonderful.
2. Tell me what was the greatest site you saw? Jesus!
3. What words would you tell your wife, children and grandchildren? Serve
Jesus!
4. What would tell you friends, enemies if you had them and strangers?
Jesus.
5. What would tell the ministers to do? Evangelize and teach their people to
evangelize.
6. (name), I am your friend, I am preaching your funeral, what do you want me
to do at your funeral? We have been together in Europe, Russia, Ukraine,
Canada, Mexico and America. You’re worked with me with a worldwide radio
ministry for years. What one thing would you like me to do? Invite people to
Christ!
7. Would there be one more message from you if you were here? Yes, do not
miss heaven, I will be waiting for you.
Consider death
just for a moment. For it is death, that has caused us this loss and grief. But
death is an over rated event for the Christian. It is not an enemy but a friend.
You see, death delivers the key that lets the Christian out of the sufferings of
this life into the presence of the living Savior and into a land where there is
no sorrow, no more separation, no sighing. To that place not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens. Where eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man the things which God had prepared for those that
love Him.
When a person like (name), has a personal relationship with God through Jesus, then
death is an event that we wait for. It is the fulfilling of our hopes and
dreams. It is the beginning.
The void is great
and (name) will be missed. No human being can quite fill that emptiness. But there
is one who can, who is touched by the feelings of your sorrow.
He is the God of
all comfort and He can bind the broken heart with His love God loves you and
sees your needs, let Him meet those needs today and every day. Lean on Him today
and every day.
Jesus said
that He was going to prepare a place for us.
The Creator of the universe has been spending 2,000 years preparing a home
for us. God only spent six days creating the world, and look at its beauty!
Imagine, what the home He has been preparing for you must look like. And when we
come to the end of this life, it will be waiting for us.
Jesus said in My
Father's house is many mansions, rooms, or dwelling places. But this isn't just
any house. This is our Father's house. This is where our Father lives. This is a
place with many rooms. An ample place for (name) and for all who will believe is
welcome.
The most
important thing that you and I can do is to make sure that we are
prepared to go when death calls us. The question is not; When will death come to
me? for none of us knows that, yet we know it will come. So the question must
be, Am I ready to meet Jesus when death does come?
We need to look
at this today as a graduation service. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but
then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am
known (I Corinthians 13:12). And the question we must ask is, Do you have that
eternal life? (John 11:25 KJV) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and
the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:(John
11:26 KJV) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest
thou this?
God loves you, He
sees your needs, let Him meet your need. Lean on Him, today and everyday. Trust
in God and let Him turn your fears into faith, your sorrows into joy, your
doubts into certainty, your loneliness into Divine companionship. Jesus said,
"peace I give you, not as the world giveth, let not your heart be troubled,
neither be afraid, trust in God"
Here are a few
closing thoughts on a Funeral Sermon:
I. Resurrection
A. Incorruptible body (It will not decay)(1 Cor.15:52)
B. Immortal body (It will not die)
C. Invincible body (It will not be diseased)
(Rev.21:4-"Former things are passed away")
II. Rejoicing
A. Without shame (Some ashamed in this life to shout--not
so in heaven)
B. Without suffering (Some rejoice in suffering now but no
suffering in glory.)
C. Without sickness- (When you are bad sick, it will tend to
urge you to complain instead of thank God for His goodness to you).
III. Reunion (departed friends and loved ones) "I will go to him"(2 Sam.
12:23)
A. Lasting reunion- continual (forever with the Lord)(1
Thess.4:17)
B. Loving reunion- compassionate--much love manifested
C. Lord centered reunion- centered on Jesus (Rev.5:6)
IV. Responsibility
A. For the live we live--- "after this the judgment"
(Heb.9:27)
B. For the service we will give--- "shall serve Him"
(Rev.22:3).
V. Revelation "door opened" (show thee things)(Rev.4:1)
A. A beautiful place- Rev. Ch. 21-22
B. A bountiful provision- "a mansion" (Jn.14:2)
C. A blessed Person - (We shall see Him as He is-- 1 Jn.
3:2).
