STEM and sex differences in occupational preference: some differences are universal

Under “Do Preach the Gospel”: Be pointed. Be sure to say something like, “Despite common belief, not everyone goes to heaven when they die.” Many people at funerals believe that and need to have it dispelled. Bring up hell, tell them that Jesus, Who loved us and died for sin, spoke about hell more than anyone whose words are recorded in Scripture and that He said it is a place people go who died having failed to repent of sin and believe in Him.

Interesting story. A family in the community needed a pastor for a funeral, and I said that I would do it. The day before the funeral, a son of the deceased came by the church, put a check on my desk, talked a bit about his mother, and then said that his brother insisted on one thing: that the pastor does not preach a “hellfire and brimstone sermon.” I slid the man’s check back to him and told him that while I didn’t think my message would be categorized as “hellfire and brimstone,” I would bring up heaven and hell. I told him they could get someone else to do the service if they wanted to. He got kind of flustered since the funeral was the next day, knowing they’d have a hard time getting another pastor on short notice, and he just dropped his brother’s concern. The funeral went on. I have no idea what his brother thought. But it does ruffle feathers, especially when the deceased and the family are nearly all lost, to hear of the reality of heaven in hell in the context of the gospel. However, many times at such a funeral, there has been one saved person in the group of family and friends who thanked me for giving a salvation message.