1. MEMORIAL STONES Memorial Day is a time to be reminded of the sacrifices others made for us to enjoy what we have today.

2. MEMORIAL DAY Background and history The old name was “Decoration Day” Now it is one of the “Monday holidays” I want to think about the: – Need for memorials – Use of memorials – Nature of memorials AND the Christian’s memorial stones

3. THE NEED FOR MEMORIALS Deuteronomy 6:12-15 12 then beware, lest you forget the L ORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear the L ORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you 15 (for the L ORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the L ORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.

4. THE NEED FOR MEMORIALS WE HAVE SHORT MEMORIES – Church attendance spike after 9/11 – 3 months later – attendance was back to pre 9/11 When in danger we turn to God When the danger is over – we soon forget the God who helped us

5. THE USE OF MEMORIALS TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF GOD’S POWER Joshua 4:6-7 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?‘ 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the L ORD ; 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."

6. THE USE OF MEMORIALS TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF GOD’S POWER Joshua 4:21-23 21 Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' 22 then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land'; 23 for the L ORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the L ORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over,

7. THE USE OF MEMORIALS TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF GOD’S POWER Memorial stones serve as a basis of sharing our faith with our children. Christianity is never more than one generation away from extinction.

8. THE USE OF MEMORIALS TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF GOD’S POWER REACH OTHERS WITH OUR MESSAGE Joshua 4:24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the L ORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the L ORD your God forever.

9. THE USE OF MEMORIALS TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF GOD’S POWER REACH OTHERS WITH OUR MESSAGE God wanted ALL people on earth to know that He alone is God. While we teach our children, we should also teach all men on earth.

10. THE USE OF MEMORIALS TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF GOD’S POWER REACH OTHERS WITH OUR MESSAGE Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

11. THE NATURE OF MEMORIALS ENDURING Joshua 4:7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the L ORD ; 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."

12. THE NATURE OF MEMORIALS ENDURING The memorial must be a perpetual declaration of the power of God. Proverbs 22:28 Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set. NOTE: Some are now seeking to remove the “ancient landmarks” from America.

13. THE NATURE OF MEMORIALS ENDURING UNMISTAKABLE Joshua 4:8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the L ORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

14. THE NATURE OF MEMORIALS ENDURING UNMISTAKABLE The 12 stones represented the 12 tribes The stones from the Jordan River bottom showed the power of God The pile of stones demonstrated the deliverance by God.

15. CHRISTIAN’S MEMORIALS BAPTISM Romans 6:3-4 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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.

16. CHRISTIAN’S MEMORIALS BAPTISM Romans 6:3-4 THE CHURCH 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

17. CHRISTIAN’S MEMORIALS BAPTISM Romans 6:3-4 THE CHURCH1 Peter 2:9 THE LORD’S SUPPER 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

18. CHRISTIAN’S MEMORIALS BAPTISM Romans 6:3-4 THE CHURCH1 Peter 2:9 THE LORD’S SUPPER 1 Corinthians 11:26 OUR LIVES 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:2

19. CHRISTIAN’S MEMORIALS BAPTISM Romans 6:3-4 THE CHURCH1 Peter 2:9 THE LORD’S SUPPER 1 Corinthians 11:26 OUR LIVES 1 Peter 2:5 2 Corinthians 3:2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.

20. REMEMBER Just as Israel was to remember the pile of stones, we must remember: 1.To have faith in God 2.To obey His commands in baptism 3.To remember Christ’s death in communion 4.To live faithful to God every day