Remember!

Remember!

May 29, 2016

- Estimates of those who’ve died in service for our country vary widely

> Maybe as many as 1 ½ million have lost their lives over the years

> About 87% off all who have given their lives did so in the Civil War,

WWI, or WWII

> The Civil War, alone, accounted for 1/3 – 1/2 of all who have died

- Freedom is costly – and that cost is SACRIFICE

- Do we take time to remember this truth?

- Tomorrow is Memorial Day, but it is easy to forget what it means and

treat it as merely a “holiday” to celebrate

- As we remember those who sacrificed for our national freedom, let us

also remember Christ who sacrificed for our spiritual freedom

1. Remember the Cost

Read I Cor. 11:23-25

- This passage reminds us of the cost for our spiritual freedom

> Jesus sacrificed everything that we might live free as Christians

> Observing the Lord’s Table is a way to remember this sacrifice

> Christ’s body was “broken” for our spiritual freedom

> Christ’s blood was shed for our spiritual freedom

- This passage can also remind us of the cost of our national freedom

> Many sacrificed everything that we might live free as Americans

> Observing Memorial Day is a way to remember this sacrifice

> Many bodies have been “broken” for our national freedom

> Much blood has been shed for our national freedom

2. Remember the Command

Reread I Cor. 11:24b & 25b

- Jesus commanded His followers to remember His sacrifice

> His sacrifice still has the same value whether we remember it or not

> Just as it still has the same value if people refuse to recognize it

> To forget it does not diminish its value, but it does diminish its value in our own mines

> We run the risk of becoming ungrateful, assuming, complacent, and vulnerable (Give examples)

> Remembering His sacrifice is actually to OUR benefit

- We are NOT commanded to remember the sacrifice of those who have given their lives for our national freedom, but why wouldn’t we?

> Their sacrifice still has the same value whether we remember it or not

> To forget it does not diminish its value, but it does diminish its value in our own minds

> We run the risk of becoming ungrateful, assuming, complacent, and vulnerable (Give examples)

> Remembering their sacrifice is actually to OUR benefit

3. Remember the Communication

Read I Cor. 11:26

- When we remember Christ’s sacrifice, we communicate the value of His death

> It is not just communication; it is “proclamation” (announce, declare)

> This is a proclamation of the availability of spiritual freedom for all

- When we remember the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers, we communicate the value of their death

> It is not just communication; it is “proclamation” (announce, declare)

> This is a proclamation of the availability of individual freedom for all

4. Remember the Condition

Read I Cor. 11:27-32

- When partaking of the Lord’s Supper we must recognize His sacrifice

> If we don’t, we are partaking in an “unworthy manner”

> If we don’t, we are guilty of sinning against Christ’s body and blood

> To partake correctly requires self-examination

> Not to do so will result in judgment

>> Notice the clear examples of the judgment we can expect

>> Have you ever been a recipient of this judgment?

- When celebrating Memorial Day we should recognize the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers

> If we don’t, we are celebrating in an “unworthy manner”

> If we don’t, we are guilty of wronging their memory

>> Remember how the fallen and the returning Vietnam warriors were treated by so many in our country

> To celebrate appropriately requires self-examination

> Not to do so might result in judgment

>> It may result in negative consequences for us individually

>> It may result in negative consequences for our nation