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Special Occasion Preaching
Preach with clarity and care when it matters most—at weddings, funerals, and beyond.
About this Course
Special Occasion Preaching equips you with the spiritual grounding, pastoral tools, and practical skills to faithfully lead others through life’s most emotional and meaningful events—from weddings and funerals to community milestones and moments of tragedy.
What You’ll Be Able to Do:
You’ve been asked to preach at a momentous occasion—a wedding, a funeral, or a community event. It’s a time of great joy or deep sorrow, and you’re feeling the pressure. How can you offer the wisdom, encouragement, or comfort your listeners need in this weighty moment?
Special Occasion Preaching is an on-demand course designed for lay leaders and preachers navigating life’s most emotional moments and events. With thoughtful instruction and practical tools, you’ll gain the confidence, clarity, and pastoral sensitivity to preach with grace—no matter the occasion.
You'll learn how to preach faithfully in emotionally charged spaces, develop your spiritual sensitivity, and grow in your dependence on God—all while crafting your own special-occasion sermon throughout the course.
Whether you’re new to preaching or equipping others to lead, this course helps you show up with spiritual grounding and practical skill.
Modules
Welcome
Get oriented to the course, meet your instructor, download the interactive handbook, and more.
The Sacred Work of Preaching
In this module you will:
- Learn what is--and is not!--included in the sacred call to preach.
- Gain confidence in your calling to preach at this moment.
- Consider what strategies and skills will be most helpful to you as you move through the course.
Preaching a Funeral
In this module you will:
- Learn strategies and skills for preparing and preaching a funeral sermon.
- Build your desire and ability to listen well.
- Practice deep listening and storytelling.
Preaching a Wedding
In this module you will:
- Learn strategies and skills for preparing and preaching a wedding sermon.
- Develop your ability to be an agent of God's grace.
- Practice editing your work to be meaningful and concise.
Responding to Tragic Events
In this module you will:
- Learn strategies and skills for preaching in response to tragic events.
- Develop empathy and compassion.
- Practice skills for delivering a sermon in emotionally charged settings.
Recognizing Church Milestones
In this module you will:
- Learn strategies and skills for preaching to recognize church milestones, like anniversaries, special visitors, and other such occasions.
- Develop your understanding of God's faithfulness.
- Practice integrating multiple streams of information into a cohesive whole.
Speaking at Civic or Secular Occasions
In this module you will:
- Learn strategies and skills for speaking at civic and secular occasions
- Develop a sensitivity to the needs of those around you.
- Practice integrating spiritual content in an inclusive way.
Putting It All Together
In this module you will:
- Apply what you have learned to create your own special occasion sermon.
- Develop humility and responsiveness to God's leading.
- Deliver your sermon in a formal or rehearsal setting.
Completing the Course
Find out your next steps as you complete the course. You'll also be encouraged to submit feedback about your course.
One-time purchase
$55
With Faith+Lead Membership
$0*
Get a free public display license to use for group study.
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
- Modules:
9 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Adam P. White
Rev. Adam P. White, D.Min., is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Waconia, MN. Previous roles include being the campus pastor for the Lutheran Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the associate pastor of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska.
White has also taught as a visiting professor at Luther Seminary and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Nebraska. His book, Telling the Truth: An Ethical Exploration of Verification and Falsification in Pulpit Storytelling was published by Lambert Academic Publishing in 2011.
White serves on the board of trustees for Augsburg Fortress. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Seminary in 2011 focusing on biblical preaching.
Ready to Enroll?
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One-time purchase
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access the leaders guide for group study
- Access the course workbook for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access to 40+ on-demand courses
- Access every live and recorded workshop
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Access this on-demand course
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*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.99 per month
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access to all 40+ on-demand courses
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access all leaders guides for group study
- Access all course workbooks for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this course teach me how to write a sermon?
Sort of, but not exactly! It will guide you through the process of crafting one specific sermon, with one specific event in mind. It is not a generalized sermon-writing course. (If you’re looking for something like that, though, please check out another of our on-demand courses: You’ve Been Asked to Preach: Now What?)
What are the different types of preaching?
There are many styles of preaching out there, from verse-by-verse to topical, but this course will not deeply explore those different categories. Instead it will focus on how to prepare sermons specifically designed for particular special occasions: funerals, weddings, tragic events, church milestones, and civic or secular occasions.
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at support@faithlead.org for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!