Dr. Stone and Pastor Wolvin introduce the topic of memorial services. More memorial services

* A memorial service usually has more pictures and video remembrances than funerals do

* Often more family members and friends take part in a memorial service than in a funeral

* When conducting a memorial service in the church, the pastor will have more authority to decide what takes place in the service - such as songs or pictures. In a funeral home, the pastor normally has less of an input in what songs or pictures are used

* Be prepared to step in and help someone having a part in the service who may become overcome with grief

* Try to meet with family members and/or those speaking in the service and remind them that this is not an appropriate time to deal with hurt feelings or regrets with the deceased or other family members

* It seems that there is a trend toward memorial services rather than funeral services

* Memorial services are less costly than funeral services

* The pastor should set the schedule for the memorial or funeral service

* Get to know the family as well as you possibly can

* Learn the pronunciation of names, mispronouncing those names can be a great obstacle to the listeners and keep them from focusing on the message

While every death is a great loss for family, friends and churches - Pastors Stone & Wolvin discuss situations where the deaths were exceptionally tragic.

* Sometimes when you don't know what to say, the best thing is just being there

* Believers who have suffered the same loss can be a great blessing to those who are going through the same thing

* Make the effort to visit with the family at their home before the service to minister to them

* Give the truth in a firm, yet compassionate, manner whether attendees would be upset or not

* Funerals are a great place to impress the need of trusting the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Baptist brothers compare their experiences when conducting funerals for those who have professed faith in Christ.

* Funerals at a funeral home versus the service at church

* Funeral services combined with church services

* The average cost of a funeral is around $6-$8k

* Meet funeral directors in your community

* Stay with the body when the funeral director is closing the casket

* Get poems, eulogies, etc. before the service

* Make every attempt to be the final speaker in the service

Younger preachers have asked the two pastors for insights and tips to conducting funerals.

* Funerals are not for the dead but for the living

* Give an invitation at every funeral

* Tips on giving an invitation at a funeral

The two Baptist hosts examine where their inspiration often originates and how it becomes a message.

* Where the ideas for sermons come from: personal study, godly music, events in a congregation, when a passage jumps off the page

* Have you ever used someone else's sermon?

* How much prayer goes into a message?

* Pastoring is the most difficult job, preaching is relatively easier

* What about topical vs. expository preaching?

* Beware the pressure to conform - unless it is you conforming to the Spirit of God and the Word of God

Pastors Wolvin & Stone talk about the resources which they use in sermon preparation.

* A list of commentaries and authors

* A process for study

* Using internet resources

* Resources for used books and commentaries

* Experiences and personal illustrations

* Biographies and books not necessarily classified as "ministry"

Bro. Stone and Bro. Wolvin swap ideas about sermon preparation. While certainly not an exhaustive list, they answer questions like:

* Do you preach sermon series, and if so, how long are they?

* What are some of the best series do you believe you have been privileged to deliver?

* Is it easier or more difficult to prepare a message in a series?

* What are some advantages to preaching a series of messages?

Dr. Stone and Pastor Wolvin discuss how and when they knew God was moving them from the position of an assistant to the position of a pastor.

* One of the greatest changes was a change in the family dynamic.

* The change in a family's schedule from being in a large work to a much smaller work is another overwhelming factor.

* The time spent studying for sermons is one of the greatest dynamics for a new pastor to make adjustments.

* If you are already in the center of God's will, be absolutely certain that it is the will of God for you to move.

Pastor Pete Folger, co-pastor of the Cleveland Baptist Church, answers some questions aimed toward addressing the needs of this current generation of preachers.

* There is a need for transparency.

* Younger preachers are often concerned whether they are being 'successful' or not and need to learn to be faithful.

* Make an attempt to get to know younger preachers and cultivate friendships with them.

* Be a little more willing to embrace using technology, it can be an aide.

* We should recognize a weakness in our lives when it begins to bother us.

* Let us humble ourselves to learn from those who have capabilities which we believe we do not have.

Pastor Pete Folger is the co-pastor of the Cleveland Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH. Your hosts in this interview learns more about  him a proven method of transition from one pastor to the next.

* What is a co-pastor?

* How did this transition actually proceed?

* What are the most noticeable changes to the congregation?

* What are some of the obstacles to making this transition work?

* What are the keys to making a successful transition like this?

* What are some things which pastors who are "more senior" in the ministry can do?