MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE
SERMON TITLE: “What Are These Stones?”
SERMON TEXT: Joshua 4:19-24
OPENING JOKE: “Somebody stole the tent.” A Platoon Sergeant and his Platoon Leader are bunking down in the field for the night. The Platoon Sergeant looks up and says, "When you see all the stars in the sky, what do you think, sir?" The LT replies, "Well, I think of how insignificant we really are in the universe; how small a piece of such a grand design. I can’t help but wonder if what we do truly means anything or makes any difference. Why? What do you think of, Sergeant?" "I think somebody stole the tent."
INTRODUCTION: On May 5, 1866, the residents of Waterloo, NY held the first complete, community-wide observance of Memorial Day. And in 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress.
Memorial Day occurs every year on the last Monday in May as a day dedicated to remembering those who gave their lives in the armed forces.
We recognize their courage, their character and their conviction to bring freedom and democracy to oppressed peoples.
We decorate grave sites, host parades and sing songs in remembrance of those who died that we all might be free.
Quote: And if you are here today, and you have fought for the freedom I have to stand here and preach God’s Word freely – I humbly thank you
***Today, we are going to study the importance of Memorials
BACKGROUND: The text we read shows the Israelites having just finished their wilderness wanderings
- God parted the Jordan river in similar fashion as He had parted the Red Sea for Moses
The Bible says that the people of Israel walked through on ‘dry land’ (Joshua 3:17)
This is even more incredible when we consider that Scripture tells us that the waters of the Jordan were at flood height during that time of year (Joshua 3:15)
- The Israelites were now ready to enter into their inheritance – The land of Canaan
They were about to go into battle against the Canaanites at Jericho
They were preparing to take back the land God promised to Abraham
- But before they enter they were given a task by God:
They were to take 12 stones (one for each tribe) out of the dry river bed which God opened for them to walk through and set them up as Memorial Stones
The number 12 represented the 12 tribes of Israel
These would service the coming generations to cause them to remember the great works God performed for His people, Israel
As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day, I want us to study this passage of Scripture to see how it relates to us…
I. The Reason for Memorials
a. People have very short memories
i. Joke: I’m only 25 and I already have to write down everything that I want to remember
1. Now instead of trying to remember what I wrote down
2. I just have to remember where I put the paper!
ii. Often during times of disaster we put up signs that say, ‘We will never forget’
1. These signs soon get painted over or exchanged for others
2. Names and faces of those who have lost much are forgotten
iii. Illustration: “9/11” Think back to 9/11, the worst tragedy ever on American soil
1. Everyone carried and brandished American flags… for about two weeks
2. Then they started becoming less and less frequent
3. Now there are communities that outlaw the flying of the American flag because they say it might offend someone
4. People really do have short memories
b. God knows we have a problem with memory – and the nation of Israel was no different
i. He knew that all of the miracles that He performed would soon be forgotten if His people did not have some kind of constant reminder
ii. So He made sure they would have these 12 large stones to remind them of His miracles
1. This goes along with the command given to Moses in Deuteronomy:
2. Deuteronomy 6:12 “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage”
c. Memorials give us something present to bring to remembrance something past
II. The Reach of Memorials
a. Memorials are not just for those who experience the event, but also for those who are to come
b. Illustration: “I was not alive”
i. “Pearl Harbor” I was not alive during the time of pearl harbor – but I can go to Hawaii and see the memorial stones and plaques and can produce a mental image of what it must have been like
ii. “JFK” I also was not alive when John Kennedy was killed, but I can imagine the chaos and sadness when I see a memorial
iii. “My Children and 9/11” Likewise when I have children, they will not have been alive for 9/11 – But the memorials that are left will be a reminder to them of the terrible events
c. The Bible said that the memorial stones had a powerful potential to reach out
i. Not only could they remind those who were there, but they could…
ii. (1) Be used to instruct the next generation
1. Joshua 4:6 “that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ’What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
2. Did you know that Christianity is never more than one generation from extinction?
3. All it would take is one generation of people not teaching their kids about Christ and Biblical Christianity would be lost
a. Illustration: ‘Nineveh’ This actually is illustrated in Scripture
b. Do you remember the story of Jonah and the Whale?
c. Jonah went to Nineveh to tell them to repent and they did and God withheld his judgment
d. But if you read the book of Nahum you will find that less than 100 years later God did bring judgment on Nineveh
e. Why? Because the Ninevite people did not teach their children to repent as they did
4. TRANSITION: So God wanted these memorials in place for the instruction of future generations, but also they were to…
iii. (2) Be used to reach others with God’s message
1. Joshua 4:24 “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever."”
2. God had wrought miracles worthy of the attention of the world
3. These stones would serve as reminders to those nations who might forget
4. They showed forth that THE LORD (Yahweh) alone was God of this world
d. These stones had tremendous potential as tools of instruction, inspiration and remembrance
III. Some Christian Memorial Stones
a. The nation of Israel had these 12 stones as reminders of God’s faithfulness to them
b. What do we have as Christians to remind us of His faithfulness to us?
c. (1) The Commandments
i. The commandments reminds of God’s Holiness and Justice
ii. When we see the commandments posted we are reminded of God’s Holy Law
iii. And we can’t help but also remember the verse that says, “All have fallen short”
d. (2)The Cross
i. The cross is the ultimate reminder of God’s forgiveness
ii. We are reminded that the Scripture also says that “while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us”
iii. Its beauty and majesty encourages us to move ahead because we know that God sent His Son not to condemn, but to forgive
e. (3) Our Baptism
i. This is the ultimate reminder of Christ’s defeat of death
ii. Our going down into the water and coming up symbolizes Christ going into the tomb and miraculously rising again
iii. Romans 6:4 “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
f. (4) The Lord’s Supper
i. This is the ultimate reminder of Christ’s sacrifice
ii. We celebrate it weekly here at our church because we find it so very important to have this memorial feast so that we never forget the life that was given so that we may live
iii. Luke 22:19 “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
iv. POINT TO THE TABLE – This feast is a memorial stone of the Christian church
g. (5) Our Lives
i. II Corinthians 3:2 “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men”
1. Paul says here in Corinthians that we are an ‘epistle’, that means a ‘letter for people to read’
2. When we live in the Spirit as Christ commanded we are living memorials of His ministry
ii. Question: When people read the ‘letter of your life’ are they going to recognize Christ in you?
1. Our lives are the greatest memorial stones people will ever see
2. Think about it: If people see a cross on your neck but not in your heart they will not remember the good of Christianity, but the reason they refuse it
3. We should live our lives knowing that someone may always be looking for an example of Christ in us
h. God knows we need these powerful reminders of what He has done, so He provided them for us
i. These now serve as some of the “Memorial Stones” of our faith
ii. They are not icons to be worshipped, but symbols to remember Christ – who is worthy of worship, gratitude and adoration
CONCLUSION: Let me begin to wrap up by saying Christian memorials are being destroyed everywhere we go today – and this has been going on for quite a while
1962 – Prayer in schools became illegal
1963 – Bible reading in schools became illegal
1980 – Posting of the Ten Commandments in schools became illegal
Today we watch as little by little Christ is taken out of every part of American life
You cannot even say ‘Merry Christmas’ anymore in most occupations
It must be ‘Happy Holidays’
Illustration “The Church of Meteorology” To avoid offending anybody, one school dropped religious singing at Christmas altogether and started singing about the weather. At the school they now hold the winter program in February and sing increasingly non-memorable songs such as "Winter Wonderland," "Frosty the Snowman" and--this is a real song--"Suzy Snowflake," all of which is pretty funny because the school is in Miami. A visitor from another country might assume that the children belonged to the Church of Meteorology.
Illustration “Thank Goodness, I Thought You Were Praying” In the fifties the major discipline problems in our public schools were cigarette smoking, skipping class, running in the halls, spit balls, chewing gum, and whispering in class. Today - the major problems are deadly weapons - kids carrying guns, knifes, and even assault weapons. This is followed by arson, drugs, vandalism, and drunkenness.
Recently in Florida a high school teacher observed a number of boys in the corner of the gymnasium on their hands and knees. Rushing up to the boys, the teacher demanded, " What are you doing?"
One of the boys looked up and answered, " We’re shooting dice!"
The teacher responded with, " Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were praying."
QUOTE: “We have a responsibility to hold up the Memorial Stones of our Faith as banners of truth and wave them high for the whole world to see”
And we must pass these memorials on to our next generation so that they will know the truth, and in that truth they will be set free
In America we claim ‘FREEDOM’ and ‘LIBERTY’ as our most wonderful blessings
But somehow ‘TRUTH’ has been allowed to fall at the wayside
Jesus told us that true freedom comes from knowing the truth
John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
As we go into the world today, let’s remember our freedom in Christ
Our freedom from the penalty and the power of sin
And let’s be Memorial Stones to all we meet, that they may see Christ in us
(Let us pray)
Are you free in Christ today?
He is called the Way, the Truth and the Life – and it is by the truth of the Gospel that you can be set free from sin
Some of you here may still be under the bondage of sin – if that is the case, I encourage you to trust in God’s forgiveness given at the cross
And receive Christ as your Lord today
But maybe you are a Christian, but you need to rededicate your life – you know that you aren’t being that Memorial Stone Christ wants you to be and you want to profess that Christ is calling you to make a change
Of maybe you would like to join our fellowship and become part of the banner of Forest Christian Church
Whatever is your need, please come after we pray…
