A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings and Funerals and Other Occasions
Overview
Few occasions offer pastors the opportunities to minister to and with a family as do weddings and funerals. Often on such occasions, people open their hearts to God and to others in new ways, and the pastor can be there to give direction and encouragement. In writing this book, the authors take the approach of the "co-laborer" or "pastor to pastor" and intentionally sought materials which have been used in fruitful ministry, the hope being that others might use or adapt them for yet more fruitful ministry in similar situations but different contexts. As a result, this volume contains very little sense of "Well, you might consider doing this." Rather, the resources in this book are shared on the premise that "We found this to minister effectively."
Top Highlights
“Wedding sermons should have some definite characteristics, including (1) brevity; (2) a theology that clearly represents God’s design for marriage; (3) suitability for the occasion, formal or informal; and (4) an appropriate target, on the couple or on the congregation.” (Page 27)
“In Psalm 116:15 (nasb), the psalmist says, ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.’” (Page 168)
“He is a wise pastor who takes advantage of the providence to counsel the couple in Christian home-making and to encouraging the parties to make Christ and his church the center of their lives.’” (Page 27)
“Before the great adventure of his new voyage, Paul looked back over his ministry of thirty years and said” (Page 170)
“‘find the good’ in the life of the deceased without ‘deifying’ him or her” (Page 149)
An excellent resource to make your weddings and funerals more creative and relevant.
—Calvin Miller, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Rich counsel and effective models on how to [weep and laugh with the flock] with both sensitivity and skill.
—Haddon Robinson, Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
- Title: A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings and Funerals and Other Occasions
- Authors: Aubrey Malphurs and Keith Willhite
- Publisher: Kregel Publications
- Publication Date: 2003
- Pages: 384
Aubrey Malphurs earned his Ph.D. and Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, where he is also the chairman of the Field Education Department. He is president of the Vision Ministries International and has a passion for equipping a new generation of leaders for significant ministry in the twentieth-first century church. Dr. Malphurs is the author of numerous books in the areas of leadership, vision, and church ministry, including Ministry Nuts and Bolts: What They Don't Teach Pastors in Seminary; Doing Church; A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings and Funerals; as well as Strategy 2000: Making Disciples for the Next Millennium; and Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
Keith Willhite received his Ph.D. from Purdue University and a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary where he taught preaching and serves as professor of pastoral ministries. Dr. Willhite was also a former pastor and the founder and president of the popular ministry-consulting firm, Strategenuity. Dr. Willhite passed away in 2003.
