Now that this is a more intuitive process for me, I share these three practical guidelines for preaching a funeral.
All tagged preaching
Preaching Ephesians in 2020
There may be no better text for preaching in divisive cultural moments than the book of Ephesians. Here, the church sees a picture of all-encompassing unity.
“Do I Make Myself Clear?” by Harold Evans
Your congregation will rise up and call you blessed if you read this book. (Nonfiction)
“The Lifespan of a Fact” by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal
If you ever wonder whether one can change the facts in order to more clearly present the truth, do I have a book for you! (Nonfiction)
“Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely
I know it’s hard to believe, but here’s a book on basic economic behavior that is amazingly entertaining. (Nonfiction)
“Lunch at the Piccadilly” by Clyde Edgerton
This novel is deeply relational, and I assure you the residents of this nursing home are hilarious. Don't be surprised if there's a breakout in a stolen car. (Fiction)
“Waiting for Eden” by Elliot Ackerman
Efficiency is one of the most underrated characteristics of truly great preaching. How much can I say in very few words? (Fiction)
Welcome to “Reading with Randy”
Come along with me, and let's discover 100 excellent reads from the 21st century.
Grief and Hope: Advice for Speaking at Funerals
Humble suggestions after 25 years of conducting funerals while begging for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and simply trying to say what seems most appropriate.
Preaching in the “After Easter”
At the core of our preaching is actually an empty tomb. An absence. Something we cannot see.
Preachers, It’s Not about You (But It Kind of Is…)
We must be careful about moving from “anyone can preach” to “it doesn’t matter who is in the pulpit.”
Atonement: A Call to Action for the Church
Our neglect of understanding the atonement or reducing it to a legal or financial transaction has weakened us.
Resource Highlight: Journey: From Text to Congregation
The demands associated with preparing to teach and preach every seven days parallel the demands of moving irrigation pipe in the summer on our farm.
Preaching and Spiritual Vitality
Preaching that emerges from prayer and from the context of the congregation’s own particular journey matters.
Messy Mangers
Waiting for a baby strengthens the hope, peace, joy, and love, crafting the manger that holds the baby. This is what Advent offers the church.
You Have to Be Better
There’s an ugliness I face every time I write a sermon: competition. I compete with myself, and I compete with the guys.
Women Know Things: An Untapped Epistemic Advantage
An epistemic advantage is “a critical, perspectival edge created by experiencing oppression personally or empathically.”
Attack the Hill!
Fred Craddock suggests that, rather than respond to the world’s bad news, we proclaim the good news.
Technicolor Prophecies for Troubled Times
An open pulpit is a means of grace God has always used to reach a diverse group of people.
Preachers and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Comedians and preachers both stand in front of a skeptical audience, demand attention, and attempt to perform in such a way that the people leave in a different frame of mind than when they came.