Podcast

Surprised by Grief

Letting Grief Come to Church

Churches who welcome grief point hurting people to the wounded, risen Christ.

When a loved one dies, local churches often mobilize to provide meals and funeral services. But spiritually rich grief care is more than printing bulletins and delivering casseroles. Death invites each of us to acknowledge our finitude and recognize the depth of God’s kindness to us in Christ Jesus. How can these lessons we learn from loss shape our church culture? What can churches do to become more grief-aware?

In this episode, Daniel Harrell and author Clarissa Moll discuss how the diversity of the church’s gifts can provide vital support for grieving people after a loss. Daniel and Clarissa talk about the challenges of pastoring through personal grief, how Jesus meets us uniquely in suffering, and how congregations can grow in their empathetic care for hurting people in their midst.

A unique mixture of devotional conversation and nuts and bolts practicality, this episode offers listeners encouragement as they welcome grief into the pews each week. Special guest, John Witvliet of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship discusses the value and vitality of funeral worship and why the Psalms are a great place to start when designing a service in memory of a loved one.

Surprised by Grief is a production of Christianity Today Produced by Mike Cosper Written by Daniel Harrell and Clarissa Moll Edited and mixed by Mark Owens Music by The Porters Gate

Our Latest

Grassroots Efforts Bring Together Diverse Sects in Iraq

Interfaith group uses projects and dialogues to push for greater religious freedom.

Becoming Part of God’s Family

Weekly participation in ordinary church life isn’t flashy, but it is radical.

News

‘Every Adoptee’s Worst Nightmare’

The horrifying history of adoption fraud in South Korea has spurred Christians to finally care for orphans in their own country.

The Russell Moore Show

David French on Faith, Fear, and the Future of the Church

David French checks in on a potpourri of important subjects.

The Bulletin

NYC Mayoral Race, Trump Softens to Ukraine, and Can Horror Films Edify?

Mamdani leads NYC mayoral race, Trump-Putin relationship cools, and why horror movies might help you cope in a horrible world.

The Bigfoot and UFOs Podcast Introducing Listeners to Christ

“We want to make a space where people can scratch an itch about the weird stuff they’ve encountered, but our heart for this is for people to encounter God.”

News

What Would a Liberal Democracy in Lebanon Look Like?

An interfaith group created a Youth Mock Parliament to imagine a nonsectarian government.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube