Memorial Day 2011 - Remembrance & Honor 05.29.11 Intro: Jesus said it himself best: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 NIV Part of our Christian faith is that we regularly remember Jesus ʼ sacrifice for us so that we might be free to enjoy a relationship with God. In a similar way once each year we remember the sacrifice of our soldiers who have laid down their lives for us. Since 1775 more than 1 million men and women have given their lives for this country, more than 600,000 in the last 100 years. From the shot heard round the world to the sands of Iwo Jima, from the fields of Gettysburg to the trenches of WWI, from the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of Iraq, men and women, their wives and children, their moms and dads have all paid the greatest sacrifice. So on this Memorial Day we remember and honor what they have done. History of Memorial Day: The first memorial day came in the long shadow of the civil war, then known as Decoration Day, because of the practice of decorating soldiers ʻ graves. The year was 1868 and the date chosen was May 30 - chosen because it was NOT the date of ANY battle. 100 years later, in 1968, the name was officially changed by Federal law to Memorial Day, AND the date was officially changed to the last Monday in May - so that we might create a 3-day weekend. Most of us now know Memorial Day as the 3-day holiday that begins summer. This evening, however, I ʼ d like to consider how we might honor the sacrifice of our soldiers - and their families - on this Memorial Day. 5 Ways We Honor the Sacrifice of Our Soldiers 1. We ___REMEMBER THEIR SACRIFICE___ . We never forget the price of our freedoms . The first way we honor their sacrifice is simply not to forget. We forget too easily. Too readily are we to enjoy the benefits of our freedom and our abundance. We must never forget that freedom itself is not free. It has cost some of us most dearly. Some of us today are missing a loved one because of this sacrifice. And to them we owe a debt of gratitude we could never repay. Video in Play Video: “The Sacrifice of One” by Igniter Video [2:52] ProPresenter Some things ARE worth fighting for - even dying for. Those of us who now can live on and enjoy our 3-day weekend should take a moment to thank those who have given so much. We remember their sacrifice. I’m sure though that if these fallen soldiers could talk to us they would tell us that we should also... 2. We ___CELEBRATE OUR LIVES___ . We appreciate each moment of life. For their sacrifice to have real meaning, we should genuinely enjoy the life they so bravely fought to give us. We should not endure the day or survive to make ends meet, but rather should make the most of each and every moment. Seize the day! Carpe diem!
3. We ___PRACTICE OUR FREEDOMS___ . We don’t take them for granted. It’s so easy to forget that our freedoms were fought for at the price of blood. The freedom to worship, to speak out, to disagree with those in power, to have our case heard by a jury of our peers, to not be searched without reasonable cause, the right to bear arms, the right to own property, the right to live or travel anywhere in our nation, the freedom to work at any job for which we can qualify, to marry and raise a family => these are precious and are relatively new on the human scene. Yet we as Americans know nothing else and so don’t hold them as dearly as we might if we knew what life would be like without these freedoms and rights. For this reason it’s important ... 4. We ___PASS ON OUR HERITAGE___ . We teach our children our unique story. As parents and grandparents we should not just trust the teachers in our schools to teach our children how precious our heritage really is. This is one reason why it might be so important to visit the cemetery with your children and tell them about the flags, about the tradition of the half-staff flags in the morning to remember the million soldiers who have died. Then the flag is raised for the rest of the day as our reminder that their sacrifice will never be in vain but like the flag we will also rise in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all. And lastly, we honor our soldiers when... 5. We ___DEFEND AGAINST ENEMIES___ . We don’t easily give up our citizenship. There are always enemies against the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. These enemies are not always the obvious ones. Sure, al-Qaeda and others war most publicly against the very idea of America. We also have enemies within. The enemy of ease, comfort, of convenience and even safety. We must be ever vigilant not to easily give up our rights and freedoms as citizens of the USA for these rights and freedoms were paid for by the horribly high price of our soldiers’ lives. We do not release these rights and freedoms cheaply. These reminders of how we honor our soldiers’ sacrifice should not be anything new for Christ-followers, for we always remember to honor Christ’s sacrifice! 5 Ways We Honor Christ’s Sacrifice 1. We remember His sacrifice: ___SHARE COMMUNION___. Jesus himself told us: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” Luke 22:19b GNT Every time we share the communion meal together, we remind ourselves of His sacrifice. And we use this communion to tell others about what Jesus has done for us. Paul put it this way: “Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are telling others Verse in about the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 NCV ProPresenter Our Christian faith is not just a mourning faith. It’s a celebration faith!
2. We celebrate our lives: ___ENJOY ETERNAL LIFE___. Jesus: “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” John 10:10 MSG This is what ABUNDANT life is - more and better than you ever dreamed of! Often we think of “eternal life” as something that begins after death. However, our Christian eternity begins the moment we become one with Christ. That ʼ s why Paul talks to us so much about joy - even in the midst of difficulty and trial. Death is defeated. The grave could not contain our Lord and it will not be able to contain us! This is worth celebrating each day! Verse in Paul: “If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrong doing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp ProPresenter both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?” Romans 5:17 MSG If you want to honor Christ’s death - and his resurrection - then don’t do it by being sad. Begin imagining! Can you describe your recovery as “breathtaking?” Do you understand grace as “this wildly extravagant life-gift?” In the midst of this evil world, do you look the wrong straight in the face because you know righteousness and the One Who will one day set-everything-right? Did you also know that practicing freedom is not just an American thing? That it’s also a “Christian” thing? 3. We practice our freedoms: ___STAND FIRM___. “Christ has set us free. He wants us to enjoy freedom. So stand firm. Don’t let the chains of slavery hold you again.” Galatians 5:1 NIrV We are to STAND FIRM. That means you don ʼ t just go with the tide, you don ʼ t just allow sin to knock you down and keep you down. Like the sailor who Stands Firm on the deck of the ship at sea - you have to work at it. It doesn ʼ t come easily. The Bible promises it does come: Verse in “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2 ESV ProPresenter This also shows it not just in our own strength that we stand firm in our freedom from sin and death. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Life and it is He Who sets us free. This is why Paul writes this: Verse in “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10 NIV ProPresenter Just like it’s important for us to pass on our American heritage to children, it’s also important to pass on our Christian heritage. 4. We pass on our heritage: ___PROCLAIM GOSPEL___. “Always remember that Jesus Christ... was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.” 2 Timothy 2:8 NLT Good news is the same word as “gospel” [ εὐαγγέλιον from eú , good, well, and aggéll ō , to proclaim, tell.] Just like we sometimes take our freedoms as Americans for granted, we also take the εὐαγγέλιον gospel good news that Jesus raised from dead as just ho
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