The Importance Of Memorials

Why We Need ThemWhy We Need Them We are likely…maybe “prone” to We are likely…maybe “prone” to

forgetforget The passage of time makes our The passage of time makes our

ability to remember more difficultability to remember more difficult Future generations are Future generations are

disadvantageddisadvantaged Through no fault of their own, they Through no fault of their own, they

were not present to witness that were not present to witness that event which is memorializedevent which is memorialized



Why We Need ThemWhy We Need Them Future generations are Future generations are

disadvantageddisadvantaged Yet, they are expected to know and Yet, they are expected to know and

appreciate that event’s significanceappreciate that event’s significance Until and unless man finally learns Until and unless man finally learns

to travel time (unlikely), the to travel time (unlikely), the onlyonly way for this appreciation to occur is way for this appreciation to occur is by means of a memorialby means of a memorial



Why We Need ThemWhy We Need Them All we are in large part is due All we are in large part is due

to those who preceded usto those who preceded us We always stand on the We always stand on the

shoulders of past generationsshoulders of past generations



They Help Preserve The PastThey Help Preserve The Past Israel at the Jordan Israel at the Jordan Josh 4:1-7, Josh 4:1-7,

19-2419-24 Accomplished through teachingAccomplished through teaching The Hebrews who saw the parting The Hebrews who saw the parting

of the Jordan River that day when of the Jordan River that day when they at long last entered into the they at long last entered into the land promised by God…how likely land promised by God…how likely were they to forget it?were they to forget it?



They Help Preserve The PastThey Help Preserve The Past Israel at the Jordan Israel at the Jordan Josh 4:1-7, Josh 4:1-7,

19-2419-24 As small children, they either saw As small children, they either saw

or were directly told about the or were directly told about the deliverance from Egyptian bondagedeliverance from Egyptian bondage

A “memorial” for future A “memorial” for future generations… a teachable generations… a teachable moment for childrenmoment for children



They Help Preserve The PastThey Help Preserve The Past Israel at the Jordan Israel at the Jordan Josh 4:1-7, 19-Josh 4:1-7, 19-

2424 Future generations needed to know Future generations needed to know

the mighty power of God for His the mighty power of God for His people…how He brought them into a people…how He brought them into a promised landpromised land

Commemorated by a simple Commemorated by a simple collection of 12 stones from a muddy collection of 12 stones from a muddy river bedriver bed



They Help Shape The FutureThey Help Shape The Future Corinth & the Supper Corinth & the Supper 1 Cor 11:24-291 Cor 11:24-29 Accomplished through proper Accomplished through proper

observanceobservance The apostles & very 1st disciples who The apostles & very 1st disciples who

were present that ominous night Jesus were present that ominous night Jesus was betrayed & crucified the next day, was betrayed & crucified the next day, & gloriously appearing from the dead… & gloriously appearing from the dead… how likely were they to forget it?how likely were they to forget it?



They Help Shape The FutureThey Help Shape The Future Corinth & the Supper Corinth & the Supper 1 Cor 1 Cor

11:24-2911:24-29 They would be the ones who They would be the ones who

would help shape the future would help shape the future through their eyewitness through their eyewitness testimony testimony Jn 20:19-20, 24-25Jn 20:19-20, 24-25

1 Jn 1:1-3 1 Cor 1 Jn 1:1-3 1 Cor 15:5-815:5-8



They Help Shape The FutureThey Help Shape The Future Corinth & the Supper Corinth & the Supper 1 Cor 11:24-1 Cor 11:24-

2929 Future generations need to know the Future generations need to know the

mighty power of a redemptive Godmighty power of a redemptive God How a Savior came to earth and gave How a Savior came to earth and gave

His sinless life for guilty sinnersHis sinless life for guilty sinners Commemorated by common elements Commemorated by common elements

of a simple spiritual mealof a simple spiritual meal



They Help Shape The FutureThey Help Shape The Future Corinth & the Supper Corinth & the Supper 1 Cor 11:24-1 Cor 11:24-

2929 As long as He tarries in returning, a As long as He tarries in returning, a

world dying in sin needs to see this world dying in sin needs to see this memorial at workmemorial at work

The very event being memorialized The very event being memorialized can be skewed when the memorial is can be skewed when the memorial is perverted by carnal means or perverted by carnal means or individual negligenceindividual negligence



ConclusionConclusion Far too often, many of us are Far too often, many of us are

like childrenlike children Example:Example: We have the We have the

opportunity to opportunity to choose between:choose between:



WashingtWashington,on,D.C.D.C.

OrlandoOrlando,,

FlaFla

ConclusionConclusion Disney World’s glitter & excitement Disney World’s glitter & excitement

overwhelms all the marble in overwhelms all the marble in WashingtonWashington

We have to learn the value of We have to learn the value of memorialsmemorials

Don’t discount their importanceDon’t discount their importance They can tell you where you’ve beenThey can tell you where you’ve been More importantly, they can help lead More importantly, they can help lead

you where you need to goyou where you need to go



The Importance Of Memorials

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