Video in Play Video: The Sacrifice of One by Igniter Video [2:52] - - PDF document

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 Jesusʼ 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 soldiersʻ 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, Iʼd 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. Play Video: “The Sacrifice of One” by Igniter Video [2:52] 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!

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• 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

• ur 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,
• f 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

• ur 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

• urselves 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 about the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 NCV Our Christian faith is not just a mourning faith. It’s a celebration faith!

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• 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. Thatʼs 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! 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 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 donʼt just go with the tide, you donʼt 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 doesnʼt come easily. The Bible promises it does come: “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 This also shows it not just in our own strength that we stand firm in

• ur 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: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10 NIV 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 aggéllō, 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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hum, everyday, of course, nothing special kind of news. But no. Itʼs fantastic news! Itʼs GREAT news. And itʼs POWERFUL news! “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16 NIV So we see that we donʼt just appreciate it. We donʼt just pass it on. We PROCLAIM it. We tell it to one and all. It defines us. We are not the same once we know it. We canʼt help ourselves, we teach others. “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable

• witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people

who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Tim. 2:2 NLT We know this is our good news. But it is not everyoneʼs good news. Just like we as citizens of this great country have enemies, we also have enemies as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven...

• 5. We defend against enemies: ___EXPECT OPPOSITION___.

Jesus was preparing his disciples [and us] in the last day before His

• death. He told them that if people would be opposed to Him, then it

stands to reason that they will also be opposed to us. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18 NIV This opposition comes both outside the church and, sadly sometimes, within the church. There are some who would mislead you, who would teach you things that sound good, sound Christian, but they are not orthodox - not within the mainstream of our faith. This is why it is so important that you know what you believe, why you believe, that you study your faith. That your Christianity be a faith of your mind and not just a faith of your heart. We must defend our faith: “I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.” Jude 3 NLT Conclusion: When it comes to Memorial Day, it is so much easier just to think of it in terms of a 3-day weekend. Remembering our deceased heroes takes an emotional toll. Weʼd rather just have fun. Taking the time to remember and honor on Memorial Day will not take away your

• fun. Rather it will help you to appreciate your fun. If anything it will

enrich each moment so that you enjoy it even more. It will take the dullness away, remove the boredom. You are alive and free because of the sacrifice of a million men and women! In the same way, when it comes to remembering the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus, it would be so much “easier” if we didnʼt have to be constantly reminded of what He did for us. But then weʼd not have a full appreciation for just how free we are, just how much we should really live, because you and I are citizens of the greatest country - the Kingdom

• f God!

Pray Congregations sings: “Came to My Rescue” by Hillsong United Benediction

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