Here is my sermon for Pentecost (and Memorial Day) based on Romans 8:26-39:

It is interesting to me that Pentecost should fall on Memorial Day weekend. Both of these days are set aside to remember great events in our history. For Memorial Day, we remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can worship here in this place without fear for our safety. For Pentecost, we remember those who took unknown steps in a new faith and laid a path for us to follow them. In both cases, we are called to remember who came before us and to respond to their example with our own lives and our own living.

• Memorial Day allows us to remember and reminds us of where we have been
  • Arlington National Cemetery
  • We are not left to our own resources
    • Memorials are about the impact others have had on our lives.
    • They have given so we might enjoy freedom, peace, and safety
  • The Bible
    • A memorial of those who lived for God and in God’s calling
    • Unusual memorial
    • Contains the history (lows and highs) of our faith
  • Some memorials can become meaningless if we are not careful
    • Do not teach future generations about their meaning
      • Christianity is one generation from extinction
    • Forget their meaning in our own lives
    • George Santyana wrote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (*he also wrote: “Only the dead have seen the end of war” but that is another sermon!)

When we see a memorial in stone, wood, paint, or even writing, words are not always necessary to express how we feel. Many memorials bring out deep emotions in us that we could not even find words to express. The Spirit is the believer’s memorial as it brings out feelings deep inside of us that we could not even begin to express.

• Memorial Day allows us glimpses of the future (Romans 8:28-30)
  • The greatest generation
    • WWII Veteran at Chili’s
    • Fought for a greater good
  • The things we go through may not be good themselves, but God harmonizes them for good.
    • Good is God’s Ultimate good
    • God’s goal is perfection
    • Out of the horror of WWII…
  • God is working towards our ultimate good
    • God is in constant activity for us
    • God is always at work in those who love Him
    • God nudges us when we need nudged
  • Our future is related to God’s calling
    • I can be conformed voluntarily
    • I can be conformed involuntarily

When God establishes a relationship with us, He does so with a GOAL in mind. Memorial Day allows us to see our future – secure due to the sacrifices of others both in the military and in the church. For the believer in Christ, we also have a future – a GOAL, not our own, but God’s – a divine goal for each and every one of us.

• Memorial Day reminds us to cherish the freedom – (Romans 8:31-39)
  • Freedom is not free
    • Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen have given all for us
    • Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice
  • What our response should be – Hallelujah and thank you
  • The extent of our freedom – “who can prevail?” (none can prevail)
    • God did not spare (withhold) His own son from us – same word used for Abraham when he offered up Isaac (absolute devotion)
    • Some did not spare their own lives in fighting for freedom
    • God will give us all things – as we accept and love Jesus as our Lord and Savior
  • The Attacks against our freedom
    • The attack of the accuser (Satan)
      • Satan’s accusations are valid because they are based on our sinfulness.
      • God is the one who declares us not guilty of each accusation
    • The attack of circumstances may be difficult but we can overcome them with the help of the Spirit
      • Trouble & hardship
      • Persecution
      • Danger
      • Sword
      • Death and Life
      • Present and Future

Memorial Day allows us to see a future free and strong without fear or injustice. A future that is full of peace.

• We are part of that future
  • Dog tags
    • Physical reminder of something bigger than me.
    • Reminds me that I represent millions of others in the past, present, and future
  • Christian dog tags
    • Baptism
    • Actions
    • Words
    • Our actions, words, deeds represent billions of others
  • How do we respond?
    • The Rev. Peter Muhlenberg was a Lutheran minister who served an Anglican congregation in Woodstock, VA. In his last sermon, he preached the familiar text of Ecclesiastes 3 emphasizing that there is a time to do everything. As he disrobed (imagine disrobing in church!), he said, “There is a time to pray and a time to fight, and that time is now come.”

That message could be the same for us today. There is a time to pray and then there is a time to do something – maybe it is to fight or maybe it is to serve. As we remember and celebrate Pentecost and as we remember and celebrate the sacrifice of many on Memorial Day, let’s pray and let’s do something. If we cherish our freedom and we love our faith, we will be moved by the Spirit to go and do. Amen.

Here is today’s worship bulletin.