God's Word For Every Day

This sermon was preached on 11th November 2018 - the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The Bible reading was 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5. --- On 11th November, David Lloyd George announced the Armistice - the ending of hostilities, the truce which, it was hoped, would lead to a better and brighter future. He looked back, and he looked forward. Looking back, he described the First World War as "the cruellest and most terrible War that has ever scourged mankind." Looking forward, he expressed his hope for the future: "I hope we may say that thus, this fateful morning, came to an end all wars." Where are we now, 100 years on from the end of the first World War? There have been quite a number of ward during these 100 years. From 1939 to 1945, there was the Second World War. Since that time, there has been the development of weapons of mass destruction. There are still wars, and many fear that our world may yet spiral out of control. ...

On Remembrance Sunday, we remember many millions who suffered violent deaths. We consider the meaning of their deaths. We think about the purpose of their deaths. "We will remember them." We remember not only the fact of their deaths. We remember also the meaning and purpose of their deaths. They died so that we might live a better life, that we might enjoy freedom, that we may not be forced to live under a regime of tyranny, a dictatorship. As we remember them, we dare not forget another young man who also died a violent death.  * They died in the twentieth and twenty- first centuries. He died many centuries ago.  * They died on a battlefield. he died on a cross.  * They died with many others. He died with only two others.  * Their death has a meaning and a purpose - for us.     His death has a meaning and a purpose - for us. As we remember them, let us also say, "We will remember him." The death of Christ - What does it mean? Why ...

In our remembering, let us not forget the Lord our God, the God of our salvation, the God whose “steadfast love endures for ever” (2 Chronicles 20:21). -- Before we can understand what it means to be a peacemaker, we must understand what peace is and what it is not. There is a ‘peace’ that is ‘no peace. We speak of keeping the peace and not disturbing the peace. There is, however, a ‘peace’ which needs to be disturbed if we are to find true peace. -- “What do these stones mean?” (Joshua 4:21). The people of Israel were called to remember what God had done for them. They were called to give glory to God. The stones were to serve as a reminder to future generations. There are many things that we might wish to forget. There are some things that we must make sure that we keep on remembering. -- The Book of Deuteronomy teaches us much about remembering. “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they wil...