Q: My pastor wants us to pre-plan our funeral service. Really? I don’t want to think about that. Isn’t that his job?
A: It sounds to me like your pastor wants to ensure that when the time comes for you to say goodbye to this world and enter the joys of heaven, he wants to communicate to those you leave behind the legacy and message you want them to hear. Remember, a funeral is not for the dead but for the living.
That makes it a perfect opportunity to share Christ as people are already thinking about the afterlife. You don’t need to dwell on death to share with your pastor something you want to make sure he communicates with those who attend your final service.
Q: Now that I have grandchildren, I want to go to my daughter’s church to be near them. But my friends of 40 years at my own church don’t understand. Can you tell a grandma what to do?
A: If your daughter’s church is a Bible-believing church, and it helps her and your grandchildren to be more active, go! Real friends can still meet at other times and continue to enjoy each other’s company. You only have so many years to enjoy your grandchildren; don’t miss out on that wonderful opportunity.
Q: Our church started a Bible study, but we didn’t finish it. Same with an outreach project and a sermon series. I think our church has ADD. Any advice?
A: That’s a good question that I think you can graciously take to the pastor. By your asking, he might be reminded that people are interested in finishing something before moving on. He might also be able to give you an answer as to why something was abandoned. However, if you don’t ask, you’ll simply wonder what happened. Please let him know about your concern and observation.
Pat Pajak is IBSA’s associate executive director for evangelism. Send questions for Pat to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.