Sermon Tone Analysis

What do you think is greatest cause of Christian giving up in Christian walk, either ceasing to grow or falling away?

Number of things might thought of.

But I wonder if one of greatest dangers is thing our passage address today - forgetfulness

“The greatest enemy of faith is forgetfulness”

We forget God’s goodness, promises, our power.

We are forgetful aren’t we - some more than others.

Laura had to tell me 4? times the other night where one bit of paper was!

All around nation what do we see, but monuments - to do what but serve as remidners of those who have gone before.

Its why we have diaries and calendars.

Forgetful in our Christian life.

Last week writer urges us to press on in God’s power, in wonder at his might and walking in expectancy.

As i read that passaghe it gave me a buzz, right lets go.

But week later, when the buzz has gone, am I still standing in awe, still living expectantly, or has the business returned and the apthaty.

So much of God’s work in our lives in in the background.

He doesn’t part thr water every day.

Sometimes feels like prayers go unanswered.

And how easily we begin to forget his goodness.

The life he offers.

The danger of sin.

How easily we fall into disbelief because in our hearts, if not our heads, we forget who God is - and turn from awe and dependence to self reliance.

Simple call this morning.

Keep remembering God’s goodness.

How can we know God is with us and before us when we don’t feel it.

How can we avoid such forgetfulness,

illustration about elastic band or knott.

Associate with something to help you remember.

Last week was all about looking forward - but this week see that starts by looking back.

first spiritual elastic band -

Remember the past

Hopefully picked up central theme running through story, last week 12 men to be picked one from each tribe, now we find out why

- to lift these stones from the Jordan to place at the other side.

Hannah sent this brilliant picture which she said is what she thought of when she thought of these men lifting the stones.

Atlas stones

Don’t think needed worlds strongest men, but these aren’t pebbles - but large stones frim the river bed of the jordan.

v5 put on shoulders.

take them to camp at Gilgal, where they are to be set as permenant visible memorial.

A reminder for them and generations to come.

How well God know knows his people - and their tendency to forget.

Duetermony which really provides the backdrop for Joshua chapter 8, God urges Moses and people not to forget, lest they be destoyed.

Think of the stars who have cabinets full of trophies they’ve won - a memorial of their glory days.

Victories and achievements - that people might recognise and remember their greatness.

Here now a new generation, under a new leader.

How will they remember who God is, remember his majesty and power, when faced with battles, In the ups and downs, in the busy and the quiet.

By looking back to Jordan.

By remembering God’s presnece and power to make a path through the water to life.

Detail to love - The date!: Joshua 4:19

Why the date.

Exodus 12 anyone want to Hazzard a guess.

Same day First Passover begun.

When God struck down first born of Egypt while passing over the houses wirh frames marked in blood, marking end of slavery under Pharoah, and jouney they now finishing.

Thus passover date in exodus marks Israels departure from the land of death and darkness, and now in Joshua it marks their entrance into the land of promise and life.

As people look at these stones in time to come, they will be able to recall not just journey through the Jordan, but the Exodus, and reflect on all inbetween, and see God working out his promises, for the purpose that they might remember God’s power and presence.

Notice stones are to be taken from - at the feet of where preists are stnading holding the Ark!

Not simply the event they are to remember but the one who orchestrated it.

What about us, where are we to look back to that we might not forget God’s presence and power, That the hand of the Lord is powerful, that we might reverently fear him all our days.

We have all of this.

Creation, Exodus, Jordan, all OT, but we have something even greater to remember.

A permenant memorial.

Displayed and worn and seen all around the world today.

Cross image

It’s at the Cross that we see the culmination of God’s mighty hand.

At the cross we see the fulfilment of all his promises.

Because its in death and ressurection of Jesus that we see God in flesh showing his power for all to see, and applying the His promises to all who will believe.

It’s at the cross where we are confronted with our sin as we see his pierced hands and feet, that we might be brought from our complacencny and self reliance.

It’s at the cross where we see our sin dealt with once and for all, as he cries it is finished, that we might be free from condemnation

It’s at the cross where we see darkness fall, and judgement that hsould fall on us, fall on him

It’s at Cross as Jesus dies, that across city temple curtain torn in two, that way to God is now open.

It’s at empty tomb that we see that death is defeated and we are safe in his hands

It’s at the empty tomb we realise that there is no other who can offer us the life we were made for - in right relationship forever with God.

It’s at the empty tomb that we see Jesus is who he says he is - King of King, to be revereantly feared and to whom we owe our trust.

Look back at history - our faith stands on historical Jesus, his death and ressurection.

But we also to look back at our lives - as by Spirit, Jesus applies these beautfiful truths.

When we first become a Christian, there is a buzz.

excitement.

Spirit enters our hearts and opens our eyes for first time.

But over time how easily that excitment fades.

So it’s important to look back.

Remember who you were and what life was like before Jesus.

Remember that day you put your trust in Jesus.

Remember your baptism when you professed it ti the world and were welcome into God’s family.

Look back at all those times in your life when God has intervened in the every day, from the smallest asnwer prayer to the bringing together of big things.

Remember God’s goodness in the past - revealed in the scripture and experienced in the Spirit.

Like reminising times with friends, or favourite holiday.

Where do you need to reflect on God’s goodness today.

Are there moments you need to reminise on?

When you tasted that the LORD is good.

Spend some time this week reflecting on key moments.

Write them down.

Record of baptism 26 baptisms in last 10 years.

What a thing to rejoice in! 26 people that the Lord has brought from death to life at Crossway!

How do we keep doing that - maybe our history is foggy.

Remember the person

Another thing seen - raising up of Joshua, gorwing confidence of his leadership as Moses successor.

People recognise in chapter 1 that it’s Joshua who is Moses successor, but its only at Jordan, where is is exalted.

Joshua is confirmed as leader through Jordan experience.

This is how God operates through all of OT, raising up leaders.

Why is important that God gives people a leader?

Joshua is tangeble experession of God’s leadership.

It’s he that will keep the people going back to gilgal, where to stones are.

It’s he that will lead people in obedience, and they trust him, becuase God has used Jordan as a stamp of authority.