A Visionary View of Remembrance Sunday
Today we gather on this Remembrance Sunday to reflect upon the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives for our freedom. It is a day to remember and give thanks.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 105:1-8:
"Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exult in His holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him. Remember the wonders He has performed, His miracles, and the rulings He has given. He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. He always stands by His covenant—the commitment He made to a thousand generations."
Today we give thanks to God for our Freedom, especially the Freedom we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
A brief word of prayer.
Father God, we thank you for bring us here today.
Whatever week we have come from, and whatever we will enter into this week, today we want to praise you for who You are.
May our praise and worship be acceptable to you and bring you honour and praise.
In Jesus Name, Amen
The Red Poppy
The red poppy is a symbol of Remembrance Sunday, and it serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the hardships endured in the pursuit of peace and freedom.
Let’s pray
Dear Lord, We call out to you from a world that is torn apart by war. Our hearts break as we watch what is unfolding in countries like Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen and, most recently Israel and Gaza.
We pray for all those families in Israel who are suffering because their children, mothers, fathers, brothers or sisters were killed or kidnapped by Hamas.
We pray for all those families in Gaza who are suffering because their children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters were killed by bombs from Israel.
We pray for all those families in the other 29 war-torn countries of our world who are suffering.
Amen
Our World is broken because of sin. Wars, hunger, famine, and dangers of every kind. Yet, there is hope. Hope in Christ, forgiveness for our sins, and the promise of eternal life, when we repent and turn to Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
We are going to have a time of silence as a mark of respect to those who gave their lives for our freedom.
If you are able, please stand, two mins silence video.
Post silence prayer
Father God
We ask that you bring comfort to all who mourn,
Heal those who are sick and injured,
Ensure freedom for the hostages and prisoners of war,
Provide water and food for those who are besieged,
Shelter those who have lost their homes,
May your peace reign.
May your Kingdom come.
May the power, the honour and the glory be yours, in Jesus name, amen
My sermon today is entitled:
A Visionary View of Remembrance Sunday
Remember the Reality
Remembering Inspires Gratitude
We Are Set Free
Embrace the Responsibility
Remember with Reverence
Point 1: Remember the Reality
Our first point is to remember the reality of what actually happened. Those who fought and died in conflicts throughout history made great sacrifices to secure the freedom we enjoy today.
Their dedication and courage should never be forgotten.
As Psalm 105 reminds us, we should remember the wonders God has performed, just as we remember the bravery of those who fought for our freedom.
Psalm 105:1-8:
"Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exult in His holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him. Remember the wonders He has performed, His miracles, and the rulings He has given. He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. He always stands by His covenant —the commitment He made to a thousand generations."
Charles Spurgeon once said, "We have a great God with great purposes and great promises, and we should not be living small lives."
We must remember the great sacrifices made for our freedom and the great wonders God has performed.
Point 2: Remembering Inspires Gratitude
The second key point is that remembering should stir within us a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation.
Just as we are thankful for the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom, we must also be grateful for the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
His sacrificial love set us free from the burden of sin.
As Galatians 5:1 tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."
Our freedom in Christ is a reason to rejoice and be thankful.
The preacher John Wesley said, "I value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."
The sacrifice of Christ is of infinite value and should inspire our deepest gratitude.
Point 3: We Are Set Free
Our third point is that in Jesus, our future is secure.
Jesus, the promised Messiah, came to restore our relationship with God and to die on the cross for our sins.
His sacrifice washed away our transgressions, and when He rose from the grave, He conquered death, hell, and the grave.
In Christ, we are forgiven, free, and assured of a place in Heaven.
As Deuteronomy 31:6 reassures us, "For the Lord your God will neither fail you nor abandon you."
God is with us, always.
To quote Charles Spurgeon again: "The Lord’s mercy often rides to the door of our heart upon the black horse of affliction."
In Christ, we find ultimate freedom and security, even in the face of adversity.
Point 4: Embrace the Responsibility
Our fourth point today is to embrace the responsibility that comes with the freedoms we enjoy.
Just as those who fought for our freedom took on the responsibility to protect and preserve it, we too have a duty to safeguard and extend these freedoms.
Galatians 5:13, reminds us, "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.
But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love."
It was Martin Luther King Jr., who said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Let us not remain silent but actively serve and advocate for justice and freedom.
Point 5: Remember with Reverence
Our fifth point is to remember with reverence.
Our remembrance should not be mere routine, but a solemn act of reverence for the sacrifices made by those who went before us.
1 Peter 2:17, "Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king."
To remember with reverence is to honour the memory of those who gave their lives and to show respect for the values they stood for.
As the great preacher Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
In conclusion, let us remember the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedom, both in the world and through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Let us be thankful, inspired, and responsible, embracing the duty that comes with freedom and remembering with deep reverence.
As we commemorate Remembrance Sunday, may we remember and give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy and the hope we have in Christ.
Closing Prayer
