The Rev. Jim Daub, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havelock, NC, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe on a special “Free-Text First Friday” episode to study selected funeral texts.

Everything we do in the church is in preparation for our eternal lives in the new heavens and new earth. Although we rightfully pray for Christ’s return, it’s likely that our journey on earth will end in death. Death was not God’s desire for humans. It’s the wages of our sins, as the apostle writes. And yet, funerals provide so much comfort for those who’ve lost loved ones in faith because the focus is not on the deeds or merits of the person, but on the word and promises of Christ.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.