Throughout my time as a pastor, people often asked me, “why do you talk about death so often?” My response usually took them by surprise. “Some day I may have to bury you, or someone you know and love. I am doing my grief counseling now, before the death comes.”

Although many people expect their pastor to be a wise counselor, problem solver, motivator, dynamic leader, or even a skilled teacher (all good things), Scripture assigns to the pastor the role of a shepherd of souls–or more precisely, an under-shepherd of Christ’s flock (1 Peter 5:2-4; Acts 20:28-29). In this role, the pastor’s primary job is to prepare people for death. This entails making sure that those whom God has entrusted to our care regularly hear the promises of the gospel, so that they live joyfully and confidently in light of eternity to come. These promises need to understood well before a crisis comes, because it is difficult, if not impossible, to learn these promises (or even cling to them) when people are griped by fear or wracked with pain.

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