Sermon Tone Analysis

*Memorial Day* – nv 2004

*OS:* *A* *Teen says 'thank you' to veterans of war*  By Laura Bly, USA TODAY

Wrinkles and uniforms may dominate at Saturday's long-awaited dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, but honored participant and financial contributor Zane Fayos won't be sporting either.

What started five years ago with Zayos' $195 donation — a lifetime's worth of allowance savings — has taken the 15-year-old high school sophomore from Fayetteville, N.Y., on an emotional journey through history.

The veterans of World War II "pretty much saved the world," and the memorial is "a giant thank-you note," says Fayos, whose own 1999 contribution and note to project fundraiser Tom Hanks were singled out by President Clinton at an honorary breakfast a year later.

Though his own grandfathers didn't serve in the conflict, Fayos fueled an early interest by building model airplanes and reading such war-era classics as /Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo/ and /Silent Ship, Silent Sea/.

He has received letters, e-mail and memorabilia from more than a dozen World War II veterans and has traveled from Dallas — where he joined a monthly luncheon of survivors from the "Bloody 100th" bomber group that flew B-17s over Germany — to the beaches of Normandy and wartime airfields of England.

And now there's this weekend's pilgrimage to the National Mall.

"They were just kids," Fayos says of the men and women the memorial honors.

"They were thrown into war, but they grew up fast."

*I.      **Memorial Day is a time to remember the dead, and to celebrate life.*

A.     Cookouts, and vacations are fitting in celebrating the life.

B.     But, there should be a time to remember, to honor, and to appreciate the sacrifices of those who gave their lives protecting our freedom.

C.     "Your silent tents of green \\ We deck with fragrant flowers; \\ Yours has the suffering been, \\ The memory shall be ours."

~~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

*II.

**The value and the importance of this Memorial, I’m afraid, has been lost for many.*

A.     The greatest price that can ever be paid is the price of one’s life.

B.     What that life paid for must be cherished, appreciated, protected and honored to ensure that the life that was given was not given in vain.

C.     Because lives have been given, and continue to be given for our country it is our duty to be good citizens.

1.

It is our duty to vote, and do so well informed.

2.

It is our duty to be supportive as we can of our country, and do our best to make America better.

D.     No doubt our country is going in some directions that does not honor the lives given, and that is due to our complacency as Christians.

1.

We have avoided the political arena, and I believe wrongly.

2.

It is never wrong to do what is right.

3.

As Christians we should be willing to stand up for moral truth for God as well as for the honor of those who laid their lives down for this great Nation.

*III.

**Point: Live well out of respect for the lives given for you to do so.*

A.     We find the same principles in Scripture for the death of Jesus given for our life.

B.     Our text: Colossians 2:6-15 *(B-C-D-E-F)*

C.     This Memorial Day weekend, we will celebrate both being alive and the dead.

While many people see this simply a three-day weekend, we must never forget that for those who have lost someone because of war or military action, it means much more than time off.

\\ We are alive today.

Because people 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 in our communities.

We have to right to assemble and to 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 also 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 in some way.

Every Sunday is a memorial day as we come to celebrate our life in Christ.

\\ Isn’t that the message of Paul to the Colossians?

*I.      **:**The Message is “Be Alive”*

A.     Notice the Text…

                       1.       *G* Live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened…overflowing with thankfulness (words of life – lively words)

                       2.       *H* you have been given fullness in Christ – raised with Him through your faith in the power of God – God made you alive with Christ.

3.

Live worthy of the price paid for you.

B.     We find this message throughout the Bible:

                       1.       *I* Ephesians 2 4 /But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved./

2.       *:*Romans 6 8 /Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him./

3.       *J* Galatians 2 20 /I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me./

C.     The message – *K* God has made us alive!

                       1.

When our plans fall apart and we’re left with seemingly hopeless situations…are we alive…we are alive.

2.

When it rains when it’s supposed to be dry, and its dry when it’s supposed to rain…are we alive….we

are alive.

3.

When we’re facing with challenges beyond our imagination ….are we alive…we are alive.

4.

When we disappoint, discourage, and disobey, and we search for God’s forgiveness…are we alive…we are alive.

5.

When the economy falters and our investments begin to fall…are we alive…we are alive.

6.

When we’ve lost loved ones, feeling the pain of grief…are we alive…we are alive.

7.

When the checkbook balance does not equal the bill balance…are we alive…we are live.

D.     Message – *:*Alive Regardless

                       1.

Key = “In Christ”

                       2.

We are alive because of our new birth in Christ.

\\ We are alive because of our new life in Christ.

\\ We are alive because we have a friend in Christ.

\\ We are alive because we a new home, a new family in Christ.

*II.

**L** God, “Live well, because My Son died to give you the life you live”*

A.     Do you see a church that’s alive when you look at Northview?

B.     What about the future?

What do you see?

C.     What do you call living?

(sitting by the river fishing?

~/ watching the waves roll in on the beach?)

D.     Living for God’s church (Northview) Living is becoming

                       1.       *:*A place to encounter Jesus in an environment where everyone is encouraged to walk with Him.

                       2.       *:*A place where you can find comfort, meaning, and healing within a loving family.

3.       *M *A place where everyone is accepted just as they are yet challenged to become more like Christ.

4.       *:*A place where Jesus Christ is being shared with the thousands of residents in our region.

5.       *N *A place where 1000 people come together to love, learn and laugh as a family to worship God.

                       6.       *:*A place that facilitates spiritual maturity through Bible Studies, small groups, seminars, retreats, and support groups.

7.       *O *A place where every member serves others and dares to accomplish God’s purposes for their lives.

8.

That’s what I call living!

E.      *P* Jesus said, I will build My church - That is what God wants for this church

                       1.

He wants us to be a force in this world.

2.

He wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of truth.

3.

He wants us to be in the people business.

4.

He wants us to be the hands and feet of Jesus ministering to this community and one another.

*III.

**Jesus died that we might live – The question – Q Are we alive?*

A.     We have a choice…

                       1.

Live in such a way as to honor His death.

2.

Or, live is such a way as to dishonor His death.

B.     Are you alive this morning?

1.

He offers you life this day

                       2.

*R* Ephesians 4:1 /As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to *live a life worthy* of the calling you have received./

3.       *:*Romans 4:17, /the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were./