Funeral Service (For A Christian Man Or Woman)

Our heavenly Father, we thank you that we can come into your presence anytime but especially when our hearts are weighed down with sorrow.

Father, you know the grief that’s experienced by the ____________family and_______________ friends and the need they have of your comforting presence and the strength that can only come from You and Your word. Grant that each of us might look to you as we wrestle with the loss of one who means so much to us and help all of us to realize afresh that there is more to life than what meets the eye.

And allow us in our time here today, to hear a message from your word with an open heart that we might respond in a way that’s pleasing to you.

For we do ask this, in Jesus name, Amen.

Song

My name is _____________, for those who do not know me I am the pastor of the ________________.

On behalf of the family, I would like to welcome you as we have gathered here together today in this memorial service to remember _________________.

Thank you for being here today. I am sure that the family recognizes that you don’t have to be here.

Jesus once said, “let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-19 ESV).

Your presence today shows your love in deed, but do not let it end here today. One week, one month, from now this family is still going to need you

Your presence today is an affirmation of your love and support for them.

Although they may not remember every word shared today, they will remember your presence here for the rest of their lives.

Many of us can remember a time in our life, when on a dark night we stood outside and looked up into the sky, and saw literally millions of stars.

They were beautiful; they looked like diamonds on black velvet.

But today, many of us live in the city, and because of the many bright lights we are not able to see the beautiful stars anymore. BUT LET ME ASSURE YOU, THE STARS ARE STILL THERE!

I want to assure this grieving family today, GOD IS STILL WHERE HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

He has promised us, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Perhaps the emotional glare of this moment has blinded our eyes temporarily, but God is still where He always has been.

As we gather here in this beautiful chapel to remember the life of this precious one I know that many of you are dealing with mixed emotions.

1) On the one hand, there are emotions of great sadness. Sadness not for _________ because he/she is in a far better place, but sadness because we have lost a dear loved one.

2) But on the other hand, there is great joy knowing that because of the relationship that ___________had with the Lord Jesus Christ that he has already been in His presence.

For the scriptures say in:

2 Cor. 5:6-8, “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

And for the Christian there is no greater joy than to be in the presence of the One that loves them like no one else can.

So today:

• It’s not a day of mourning but a day of celebration.

• It’s not a day of regret but truly a day of rejoicing.

• Today we come to remember the life of ______________and reminisce over all the special moments that we had with him/her.

I have personally talked to___________and know that he knew the Lord as His Savior.

I personally knew he had a relationship that carried some wonderful promises found in John chapter 14:1-6.

Let me read that portion of scripture to you.

As I read these verses slowly please allow these promises to penetrate your mind and heart.

John 14:1-6 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”