Sermon Tone Analysis

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time of war.

We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain.

By your grace enable us this day to dedicate ourselves anew to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world, for the honour and glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us stand:

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning.

We will remember them.

Silence

Prayer

Gracious God, we pray for peace in your world: for all national leaders, that they may have wisdom to know and courage to do what is right; for all men and women, that their hearts may be turned to yourself in the search for righteousness and truth; for those who are working to improve international relationships, that they may find the true way of reconciliation; for those who suffer as a result of war: the injured and disabled, the mentally distressed, the homeless and hungry, those who mourn their dead, and especially for those who are without hope or friend to sustain them in their grief.

God of grace, hear our prayer, through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and the Saviour of the World.

HYMN: O God, our help in ages past

Prayer

O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know.

Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm.

As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and for ever.

Amen.

All join together in the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father…

Reading and Sermon

Do you ever have trouble remembering things?

If you’re not sure, the answer is probably “yes.”

Do you ever forget where you put your keys?

Your wallet?

Your debit card?

Your glasses?

Your mind?!

November is one of those months that we are to remember things:

Just this last week we had the fireworks, much to the disconcertion of our pets.

It is supposed to be a day of celebration: ‘Remember, remember, the 5th of November’ - But what of the rest of the rhyme?

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder treason and plot.

We see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent

To blow up king and parliament.

Three score barrels were laid below

To prove old England's overthrow.

By god's mercy he was catch'd

With a darkened lantern and burning match.

So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.

Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?

Burn him!

The infamous plot by Guido Fawkes to blow up parliament in 1605 and his discovery when the guards were informed that one of the MPs had been told to stay away on that day.

If they had been successful they would have installed a Catholic King on the throne, overthrown parliament, the protestant reformation would have gone no further and we would not get the King’s best achievement which happened with his permission: The King James Bible.

Today, of course, is Remembrance Sunday which along with the 11th November are national Days of Remembrance for those who have lost their lives in service for our country.

These men and women have given the ultimate gift, their lives, that we might have freedom.

Even the freedom to gather together today in worship is a freedom that many Christians around the world do not enjoy.

As citizens of Britain, along with our allies, it is good to have days like Remembrance Day to remind us to be thankful and to express gratitude to those who have served and are serving our country, and to their family: parents, children, and spouses who are left behind.

Now as Christians we are called to remember certain things as well:

Indeed, if we remember, pun intended, last Sunday’s sermon was about remembering Mary for anointing Jesus for burial with that very expensive perfume in the house of Simon the Leper.

Indeed Jesus’ words were again fulfilled to the letter 2399 miles away from Jerusalem when we read the Gospels here last week when He said that wherever the gospel is preached what Mary did would be told and remembered.

However, it is one thing to forget what Mary did it is another to forget it was in response to her Saviour Jesus Christ.

We are told above all not to forget Him and what He has done.

And we are told throughout Scripture, especially in the Psalms, not to forget God:

And the Psalms criticism of those who do forget:

It seems that we are all terrible at remembering for we are all told to remember.

We are told to remember because we easily forget but we are not left with the excuse of our bad memories.

It is not good to forget God.

The lack of a long memory means that the lessons of history are not learned and the mistakes made are destined to be repeated again.

One of the lessons that we have is that no matter how long there is peace war comes again and we should never rest on our laurels.

As Scripture says:

The good thing is that, as Christians, we do not have to worry for God is in control and whether we live or die it is for Christ.

But it is also good that God doesn’t remember everything either, which is just as well.

How can it be that God forgets?

…well, He is God and He deliberately forgets.

What does He forget?

Now we turn to the passage that was read: In 2 Timothy 2:8–9, the apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to ‘remember’.

As we reflect on this passage from God’s Word this morning, we see that we are called to remember five very important things.

1.

To remember Jesus Christ: “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the Seed of David, Was Raised from the Dead” (v.

8).

The word “remember” is imperative; it’s a command, not a suggestion.

The verb suggests continual action: “keep on continually, moment by moment, remembering.”

Keep this in mind.

We must never lose sight of the Person of Christ.

The additional phrases heighten this emphasis for Jesus Christ was ‘raised from the dead’.

Christ’s death was a death for sin.

His death was a sacrifice.

The greatest sacrifice in history.

And His resurrection means that the penalty for sin is satisfied.

This is why He can forget the evils we have done for the price has been paid in full.

The phrase ‘the seed of David’ also speaks of Jesus’ humanity.

Not long now before we will be remembering why we celebrate Christmas for He was born into this world as a baby, in the lineage of David.

We are called to remember Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Son of Man, as One who is fully God, and yet fully human.

2. The Power of the Resurrection: “Raised from the Dead” (v.

8).

We are called to remember the power of the Resurrection.

We know that some or all of life is not under our control and is unmanageable.

Life is not always easy.

We cannot possibly manage everything that life is going to throw at us.

But we know One who can: God.

And that is good news!

We cannot control everything in life but God can!

And that is good news!

There is a new openness in people for many are admitting, “My life is in trouble.”

I feel powerless to overcome a bad habit; I feel powerless in my relationships; I feel powerless to deal with my circumstances, unable to cope with stress!

Life can get on top of us.

What we need is a power greater than ourselves.

We were never meant to live our lives just on our power and in our own strength; God wants to have a relationship with us!