Grieving with Hope

Grieving with Hope by Dr Albin Masarik is a welcome addition to our churches and will provide much enrichment for pastors. Generations of pastors will return to it as they prepare their funeral sermons.

Professor Igor Kišš, ThDr
Former Dean, Evangelical Faculty of Theology,
Comenius University in Bratislava

At a time when many have lost confidence in the proclamation of Christian hope at the time of death, this book offers a corrective to such hesitancy. It does so by careful theological and pastoral consideration of the task, and it offers practical guidance and suggestions to those who stand before a congregation to declare God’s word in the face of death. Dr Masarik has done us an invaluable service.

Rev Paul Sheppy, PhD
Research Fellow, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford
Former Secretary, Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain

This book is an excellent contribution to the question of funeral sermons. It is very rich, written at a high level, but also comprehensible. Dr Masarik has succeeded in integrating several important facets, like counselling, as well. Focused on the main issues, it will surely be very helpful for ministry!

Birgit Weyel, PhD
Chair of Practical Theology, Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät,
Eberhard Karls Universität

This is a unique work of its kind. In both the Catholic and Protestant theological setting there are currently very few works like it. Thanks to the author having studied many foreign works, Dr Masarik has enriched Slovak theological literature with many insights.

Professor Anton Fabian, PhD
Professor, Catholic Theology, Ružomberok, Slovakia

This book will certainly serve the wide community of clergy of all churches, students of theology, lay speakers at funeral ceremonies, and others. I found this book very enriching and was personally deeply touched by it. My sincere thanks to Dr Masarik for this work.

Professor Jozef Jarab, PhD
Head of the Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia

Grieving with Hope is Dr Albín Masarik’s second work on the topic of funeral sermons. Like the first, it is rare in the publishing arena of Slovak theology and in my opinion, its research is highly relevant and needed for the area of theology.

Professor Pavel Procházka, PhD
Department of Theology and Christian Education,
Faculty of Education, Matej Bel University, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

1. Preface
2. Acknowledgements
3. Introduction
1. Defining the Topic
2. Explanation of the Topic Choice
3. Referenced Literature
4. Aims
5. Methods
4. 1 Definitions, Theological Justification, and Typological Specifics
1. The Definition of a Funeral Sermon
2. Theological Justification of Funeral Sermons
3. Typological Specifications of Funeral Sermons
5. 2 The Homiletical Situation of a Funeral
1. The Terms “Differentiation” and “the Homiletical Situation”
2. Questions and Stimuli for Determining the Homiletical Situation
3. Facets of the Homiletical Situation
6. 3 The Purpose of Funeral Sermons
1. Purpose of Funeral Sermons as a Part of a Church Service
2. The Purpose of Funeral Sermons as a Part of the Funeral
3. The Funeral Sermon as a Proclamation of the Word in a Specific Homiletical Situation
7. 4 The Homiletical Process
1. The Stages of Preparing a Funeral Sermon
2. Forms of Expression
3. Structure and Length of the Funeral Sermon
4. Non-Kerygmatic and Kerygmatic Components of Funeral Sermons
5. Details about the Deceased Person
8. Conclusion
9. Bibliography
10. Index