Sermons on Grieving:

"The Grave Isn't The Final Word"

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 11, 2002

Death is the final healing and homecoming, but it’s still tough for us who remain and grieve.

Funeral meditation: "The grave isn’t the final word" Someone in our family is in the hospital, dieing, and we whisper at the bedside, “I’d do anything to make you well.” I heard a relative say, “If I could take your sickness and have you well, I would.” That is exactly what God the Father did. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Congregational

Death, Judgment Day, And Hope

Contributed by Don Schultz on Oct 24, 2014

This past August (Robin Williams) we saw how NOT to grieve. So how shall we?

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Not Worth Comparing -Funeral Service- (For A Person Who Got Saved Before They Died)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 21, 2022

Today we come to this memorial service with sad hearts, grieving over the death of this loved one.

We do not like to see our friends and loved ones suffer as he had to suffer in the last few years of his life. But sometimes this suffering is a blessing in disguise. It gives: • A person a chance to reflect on the way they live their life • A person a chance to repent of their sins and make ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Just Do It!

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Jun 12, 2023

Based on James 1:22 - Challenges hearers to be careful not to quench & grieve the Holy Spirit

“JUST DO IT!” James 1:22 INTRO – Bible tells us many things that we need to do. - Witness - Make disciples - Honor & glorify God in all we do - Many more things We don’t “DO” these things in order to be saved. - Ephesians 2:8-9 – We are saved by GRACE alone through FAITH alone in CHRIST ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Ephesians 4:30, Revelation 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Chaos Is Not From The Spirit

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 14, 2025

If your service makes people think you are crazy the Holy Spirit is not moving. He is grieving.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. e????a´te?a egkrateia eng-krat'-i-ah From G1468; self control (especially continence): - temperance. Strong's Concordance If ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 14:29-33

Denomination: Baptist

Looking To God

Contributed by Robert Travis on Aug 24, 2001

These three passages are very powerful and you may be able to use them to bring comfort to a grieving family.

LIFT UP YOUR EYES I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Series

Contributed by Art Campbell on Jun 22, 2007

Those who mourn and grieve over the spiritual state of a people will receive the blessing of God’s comfort.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." ILL: mourning when my father died (loss, shock, tears, funeral, regret, healing) What was Jesus thinking? No fun in mourning! Promise of comfort for the bereaved - resurrection for all who are in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Denomination: Baptist

How To Make The Holy Spirit Happy Series

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Dec 30, 2005

Based on the scripture "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit by the way you live" from Ephesians 4.

HOW TO MAKE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAPPY Ephesians, Part 8 Eph 4:17-30 We’re in a series on the book of Ephesians. If you have your bibles turn to Eph chapter 4. I titled this message HOW TO MAKE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAPPY, The reason is verse 30, it says, And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Chris Edmondson on May 26, 2007

In this sermon, the following doctrine is discussed: the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the filling of the Holy Spirit, and the grieving of the Holy Spirit.

The Power of the Spirit Life in the Spirit, Part 3 There was a mental hospital that devised a very unusual test to determine whether their patients were ready to go back into the real world. They took the mental patients who looked like they were making progress into a room where they had a water ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Broken And A Contrite Heart, O God Thou Wilt Not Despise Series

Contributed by Zaquan Cox on Nov 23, 2019

God desires for us to grieve and mourn over our sin, which separates us from him.

What Repentance Is and Does Repentance is defined as “a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of and endeavor after new obedience.” Repentance is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Go! And Trust The God Who Provides Life! - 1 Kings 17:7–24, Luke 4:25–26 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 16, 2025

God sends His prophet, Elijah, not to a wealthy household, not to a powerful leader, but to a poor, grieving Gentile widow.

Go! And Trust the God Who Provides Life! - 1 Kings 17:7–24, Luke 4:25–26 Opening Prayer Lord God Almighty, You are the Giver of life, the Sustainer of hope, and the One who speaks and it is done. Thank You for Your Word—living, active, and powerful. Today, as we study the story of Elijah and the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-24, Luke 4:25-26, Deuteronomy 8:3, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 11:1, John 11:25-26, Romans 10:9, John 1:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

From Despair To Hope

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 8, 2025

Funerals today are often called celebrations of life. While we grieve, we also celebrate the hope that is ours through Christ. As Paul reminds us, we do not “grieve as others who have no hope,” for Jesus’ death and resurrection assures us of eternal life.

Funerals are some of the hardest moments of our lives. We come with tears, with memories, with aching hearts. Death feels final. We feel the empty chair at the table. We hear the silence where laughter once rang. We even catch the scent of a shirt still hanging in the closet, and it all reminds us ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Moved By Compassion Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jun 3, 2010

Jesus reacted to the needs of a grieving widow with love and compassion. His words and actions transformed lives and honored God.

Luke 7:11-17 “Moved by Compassion” INTRODUCTION When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Psalm 137 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Mar 11, 2020

A lament for fallen Jerusalem - either prophetic or written in captivity. The psalmist grieves deeply for Zion and pledges to never forget.

For Sermon Central researchers: I have posted a series of 15 sermons on the Psalms. In recent personal studies I have found the psalms to be richer and more thought-provoking than I had fully appreciated. I had too often swept swiftly through psalms without slowing down to inquire as thoroughly as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-9, Jeremiah 9:11, Jeremiah 9:17-19, Isaiah 34:11-13, Psalm 84:1-2, Psalm 84:10, Isaiah 1:1, Isaiah 1:7-20, 2 Kings 19:31-32, Romans 8:2-5, Psalm 106:9-10, Psalm 145:3-5, Psalm 147:1-2, Deuteronomy 12:10-14, 2 Chronicles 7:16, 2 Kings 4:18-37, Romans 9:2-3, John 11:20-24, John 19:38-42, Philippians 1:21-24, Isaiah 25:8, 1 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 30:5, Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Good Grief: Expressing Grief, Finding Grace Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 10, 2020

Grief, suffering and loss are a part of the human experience. Although we don't grieve like those who have no hope, we do grieve. God gives us the biblical song of lament to help us express ourselves to God and receive His help.

A. One day a homeowner cut down a large shade tree in their own yard, but the tree was so big it also provided a lot of shade in a neighboring yard owned by Joe and Marylou. 1. Joe’s wife, Marylou, was lamenting that the landscaping they had put in that area of their yard was designed for shade and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 13:1-6, Lamentations 3:1-3, Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ