Sermon - a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service.
Eulogy - a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially a set oration in honor of a deceased person.
My wife and I have discussed this, at least a few times, over the past few years. We feel that Sermon has too often been confused with Eulogy. In the instances we've witnessed, people who did not truly or personally know the deceased have performed "eulogies" that ended up being sermons or opportunities for a minister to perform his/her own agenda. It is my opinion and belief that one MUST know a person (REALLY know them), in order to eulogize them. It's disappointing when you show up to honor a great person, only to have folks honor themselves, and impose their personal beliefs upon the one whom is no longer physically with us. Such folks should be ashamed.
Caskets are NOT soap boxes or milk crates!!!
They did not honor him!
Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.......