Memorial day 1

Sermon

Title: "Greater Love Hath No One"

Scripture: John 15:13 ““Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

1. Introduction (2 min): I you would, please take your Bible and turn to John chapter 15 and we will begin with verse 13 in just a moment.

Acknowledge: Memorial Day as a time of remembrance for those who gave their lives in military service.

Mention: That today is not about glorifying war but honoring sacrifice.

Quote: “Freedom is never free.” There is always sacrifice.

You may be saying, “Hold up preacher, Jesus freely gave up His life to cover our debt, and set us free from the bondage of sin” and to an extent you are correct. However, even so, there is sacrifice. Not just on Jesus part but ours as well if we truly understand the gospel. We must in return sacrifice our lives for Him. The old self must die and be done away with. Through salvation, we are made new. Recreated for the purpose of God and His glory through Jesus.

This is what has become a problem in the modern day church, no one wants to die. People want salvation without the sacrifice. The moment of salvation is only available to those who in return for the sacrifice of Jesus, offer themselves as a sacrifice to Him. The old is dead. Dead means that it doesn’t exist anymore. We have sacrificed our dead sinful selves in complete surrender to His will and way. We are made new in righteousness, which again is a big word for doing things God’s way as laid out in His Holy Word. We understand through His Word that at the moment of true salvation, we no longer are of the physical world, instead, we now belong to the Spiritual world where we have now been made alive in Christ.

2. Memorial Day’s Significance (3 min)

Brief history: Originated after the Civil War as "Decoration Day."

In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi, after decorating graves of her two sons who died representing their beloved south-land, an elderly woman walked to two mounds of dirt at the corner of the cemetery to place memorial flowers there also. “What are you doing?” friends shouted, “Those are the graves of two union soldiers.”

Softly that compassionate mother said, “I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours.”

That loving deed set in motion our celebration which has become known as Decoration Day and then later, Memorial Day. We honor the war dead once a year, but their sacrifice is evident every single day of the year! Today, we want to honor the memory of all those who have sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom. Those thousands of sacrificed lives were not given in vain!

It is because of their sacrifice, we are free today and have the right to assemble ourselves together and worship God. Think of the numbers of those who died to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today: • Revolutionary War 25,324 • Civil War 498,332 • World War I 116,710 • World War II 407,316 • Korean War 54,546 • Vietnam War 58, 098 • First Gulf War 293 • Iraq War 819

* Afghanistan 3609

Encourage the congregation to remember not just barbecues, but the deeper meaning.

Let’s pray.

3. The Weight of Sacrifice (4 min)

Imagine the sacrifice and emotional weight of the families who watch as their husbands, wives, parents, sons, or daughters went off to serve in the military for their country and never returned. It isn’t only a sacrifice for the soldier, it is also a sacrifice for the families. It was however the soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Remember again, we are not here to glorify war, we are here to honor the sacrifice.

Let’s look at our scripture.

John 15:13 ““Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

Now of course Jesus was referring to Himself when He made this statement, however, the same principle applies. Jesus died because of His love for us. Jesus died for the ultimate victory in the spiritual battle that is taking place for the souls of man. The soldier died for the freedoms of love of country over self.

The willingness to humble oneself to the point of death for others is the ultimate sacrifice and the ultimate measure of love.

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

4. Biblical View of Sacrifice (5 min)

Jesus is the ultimate example — laid down His life not just for friends, but for enemies Jesus was not exclusive, He was inclusive. He died for everyone. Unfortunately there are some who don’t want His sacrifice, and refuse to accept it. Just like their are those who reject the freedoms and protections given our country by the sacrifice of its warriors.

A perfect example is the way the American soldier coming home from Vietnam was treated. Spit upon and mistreated. treated as criminals instead of heroes.

Jesus was spat upon and mistreated and treated as a criminal as well.

Now don’t you leave her saying Pastor Mark elevated the American soldiers to the status of Christ , but understand that there are definite parallels between soldier’s sacrifice and that of Christ — both involve giving everything for others’ freedom.

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

5. Living a Life Worthy of Their Sacrifice (5 min)

Philippians 1:27 “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

Similarly, in the same respect we ought to live a life worthy of those who died for our freedom.

How do we honor them? Through gratitude, citizenship, and faithfulness.

6. Hope Beyond the Grave (3 min)

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

For true believers, death is not the end. It is just nothing more than a blip or vapor compared to eternity.

Speak comfort to families who’ve lost loved ones. Scripture tells us to be absent from the body is to be in the presence of Jesus Christ. This is the hope we have in Christ Jesus.

7. Call to Action (2 min)

Remember. Reflect. Live with purpose.

Pray for peace and for those still serving.

Invite listeners to trust in Christ — the One who died for our eternal freedom.

8. Closing Prayer

Give thanks for those who gave their lives.

Pray for their families.

Pray for peace in our world and courage in our hearts.