KJV Sermon Outlines

Every Sunday is a Memorial Day

1 Corinthians 11:24 - 29

“Memorial Day is an official holiday in most states of the United States. It was observed on May 30 until 1971, when for federal employees,, the date was changed to the last Monday in May. With the exception of Louisiana, all states observing Memorial Day adopted the change. It is also known as Decoration Day.

The custom of placing flowers on the graves of the war began on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, NY, and Waterloo has been recognized by Congress as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, then president of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared that May 30 would be a day to decorate with “flowers the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.”

After World War I the day was set aside to honor all of the American wars, and the custom was extended to pay homage to deceased relatives and friends, both military and civilian. The most solemn ceremony conducted on Memorial Day is the placing of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns located in Arlington national Cemetery.

Tomorrow we will celebrate this day. Many people see it as just a day off; a 3 day weekend. But for those who have lost someone because of war or military action, it means much more than a day off.

In fact, every American ought to recognize this day out of his patriotic duty to his country and in honor of those who spilled their blood to make America what she is today--free, strong, and a nation worth fighting for.

Because men have died for this country, we have the right to preach God’s word freely. We have the right to live at peace in our own homes. We have the right to pursue peace, prosperity and happiness. Thank God for those who died to make us free.

As we prepare to enter into a day to remember those who died for liberty, it is fitting to remember the one who died to set us free from spiritual tyranny. Jesus fought the armies of Hell that we might have liberty in his holy name.

We celebrate Memorial day once a year to remember those who died for freedom, but every week is a celebration of the Memorial of Christ. Let’s parallel our nations Memorial Day with the memorial day of Christ. For the Christian, every Sunday is a memorial day.

On Memorial Day we: 1-Mourn the Loss

We remember the loved ones who died, wish they were here and not gone; here to share with us, to hold, to talk to and to see. But because of death, we can not.

When people die, we naturally think of the “If Only’s”

“If only I had told him I loved him”;

“If only I had kissed her one last time”;

“If only I hadn’t spoken so harshly”.

We replay those doubts over and over in our minds. But we ultimately know those “If Only’s” would not change a thing.

The Christian must recognize that he is very responsible for His death. “If only we had not sinned he would not have had to die.”

But we are to blame. We must examine ourselves as we meet around his memorial as if we would stand before a mirror and realize the truth in ...

Rom 3:23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,”

I am the one to blame. I caused all his shame. He was publicly humiliated, beaten, spit upon, treated as a sinner because I am a sinner.

As we mourn the loss of Christ, realize that we are the guilty ones. And know that if you were the only sinner who was lost, Jesus still would have died. His love is that great.

Matt 18:12-14 "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
We are that lost sheep and Jesus found us.

Mourning the loss is the first thing we must do as we celebrate the memorial of our Lord. This is why Jesus gave us the bread. At communion the first thing you do with the bread as you partake of this memorial is break it. Whether you physically break it with your hands or you chew it, you break the body of Christ. Our sin broke the physical body of Christ.

On Memorial Day we: 1-Mourn the Loss and 2-Remember the Lives

Part of our emotional healing in the process of grief is to remember the lives of the loved one who has passed.

The headstones we put on the graves are a testimony of who those people were. If you take a walk in a cemetery there are some memorials of those who died. Let me share with you some epitaphs found.

Gone So Soon - Beloved Sons - Dear Parents, Though we will miss you much, we know you rest with God - Safe in the Arms of Jesus - Faithful Unto Death - Gone But Not Forgotten - A Tender Mother and a Faithful Friend - At Rest - Asleep in Jesus - The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want.

All of these messages tell us a little about the one who is buried under that headstone. Likewise the epitaph that Jesus left tells us something about him. Inscribed on just about every communion table I have ever saw are the words found in 1 Cor. 11:24 “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

What must we remember about Jesus?

1. We are a part of the body of Christ.

If we approach this memorial in the proper attitude we will experience spiritual growth. Just as our physical body grows when fed properly.

On Memorial Day we 1-Mourn the Loss 2-Remember the Lives 3-Are Thankful for the Sacrifice

The old hymn says it best:

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Do you rest each moment in the Crucified? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean, O be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Are you washed in the blood , in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

If you listen to Phil Goodwin’s prayer around the table just about every time he prays for the cup he refers to this next verse.

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