Sermons on funerals:

Distant Country, Better Country

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 1, 2001

Funeral message for Michael Keys, age 36, whose parents requested a message from the parable of the Prodigal Son

In my study there hangs a reproduction of a sixteenth century map. My son gave it to me several years ago. He knows that I have always liked maps. I like to look at maps, study maps, even sketch maps myself. There is something fulfilling about seeing how things are laid out, how streets and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24, Hebrews 11:16

Denomination: Baptist

Entering The Joy: A Five Talent Man

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 7, 2002

Funeral service for Robert Cecil White, poet, jazz musician, self-professed prodigal.

It’s hard to believe that it was only a few months ago when onto the scene, here at this church, there burst like a blaze of light a small intense man, dressed in a loose-flowing shirt, speaking up frequently. People took to him immediately; he was so open and so outgoing, and we at Takoma ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Eulogy George Frank Fields

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Sep 17, 2002

The funeral service of a man who came to know Christ in the final four years of his life.

George Frank Fields Sr. On July 6th, 1928, something funny happened in heaven. Even God laughed at it and God laughed so hard that in that split second in which God was forming a baby in the womb of Melaina Fields, some of God’s laughter got ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Influence Of A Servant Of God

Contributed by Lauro C Hernandez on Sep 26, 2002

Understanding the influence you can leave behind when you die.

THE INFLUENCE OF A SERVANT EVEN AFTER DEATH 2 Kings 13:21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet INTRO: When we talk ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 13:21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Blessings Greater Than The Bounties

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 27, 2001

Funeral for Robert Hamilton, Jr., a Georgia farmer and retired cook/chef for National Naval Medical Center, who left four accomplished sons and whose spiritual legacy focused on each one’s unique needs.

A man reaches maturity when he recognizes that he is not the center of the universe. In our younger years, we tend to think that it’s all about what we want, all about our wishes and our whims. But you are growing up when you recognize that the world is a great deal larger than what you want; ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:26-28

Denomination: Baptist

Created To Praise God!

Contributed by Alan Stokes on Mar 4, 2001

This is a funeral sermon for Bessie McCloud (died 1991), a Christian who was bed-ridden for several years before her death.

Today, we seek to draw some eternal meaning from the life that Bessie McCloud has lived, in hopes that it will help us find God’s will for our own human life. Bessie’s life spanned almost the entire 20th century, but for the Christian who has died, we can see a faith history that stretches back ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28

Denomination: Holiness

Finishing Touches

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mrs. Betty Parker, a member of our church who had known for some time that she would die, and who had carefully thought through her relationships, her responsibilities, and her faith.

FINISHING TOUCHES (Philippians 1:3-11) I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Some tasks are never finished. No matter how much effort you put in, they are never finished. There is always more that could be ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Touching The Cloak

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mrs. Thora Mohler, a long-time member of our mostly African-American Baptist church, but proud of her Swedish Lutheran heritage, and devoted to certain tasks in the life of our church.

Anyone who ever counted money with Thora Mohler will tell you that she was a woman with a determination to get things right. She would not let go until she had the right answer. On Mondays, Mrs. Mohler, until recent months, was one of those faithful behind-the-scenes workers our church has, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

God's Unbroken Family

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mrs. Annie McNeile, the mother and aunt of members of our church.

Everyone who lives in a family knows what it is to be responsible for another family member. If you are a mother, you feel responsibility for those whom you brought into the world; in fact, some mothers spend their whole lives and much of their energy feeling utterly responsible for everything ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

The Song Of Triumph Has Begun

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral for Mr. Arthur Capehart, a pioneering jazz musician and public school music teacher

Exodus 14:10-15:3 passim Message: THE SONG OF TRIUMPH HAS BEGUN But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Wings Of Refuge

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mr. Ekerete Akpaete, a Nigerian immigrant who died very suddenly, in the arms of his infant daughter.

To experience great loss is difficult enough. To experience that loss in a far country, with few who understand, few who are close, is even more difficult. And when that loss means that those who depend on you will need you even more, yet the resources to help them will be scarce – that is truly ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:11-12, Psalm 57:1

Denomination: Baptist

I Can't Hear You

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mr. William Powell Garrett, our Minister of Music and an official of Montgomery County Government

Scripture: Philippians 4:1, 3-9 Message: I CAN’T HEAR YOU I want to ask our children’s choir to help me with the message today. I want to ask all of you a question. Whenever you would come up here to sing, and you would start out, what did Mr. Garrett always say to you? What did he shout out ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Beginning And An End

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Jan 11, 2001

Sermon for a 50 yr old Christian who died of a brain tumor

Invocation texts Psalm 100 A psalm. For giving thanks. 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his [1]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:16-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Promises From Jesus During Times Of Loss Series

Contributed by Doug Warren on Jan 14, 2001

Jesus doesn’t abandon us during grief experiences. In fact, He promises to be with us. We consider three important promises He makes to us during such times.

Intro: In times of loss and deep grief, our Lord may seem "far away"...but today we can trust in His presence. He also gives us three precious promises to consider today as we mourn the loss of our departed loved one: I. He promises to HEAR us 1. Many well meaning statements have been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Denomination: Baptist

What Cancer Cannot Do

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on May 24, 2004

There are things that cancer cannot do to the one who follows Christ.

What Cancer Cannot Do TCF Sermon March 28, 2004 On Saturday March 13, when our dear sister Nancy Reed was first hospitalized, I was driving to the hospital to visit, and I considered that, if this was, indeed, nearing Nancy’s appointed time to go to be with the Lord, we could not, on the Sunday ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35-39, John 14:27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational