​1.  Illustrations of biblical Memorials!

• Joshua 4:1-7 Twelve Stones at the Crossing of the Jordan
• Genesis 28:18-22 Jacob’s Pillar at Bethel!
• Exodus 12:42 Passover
• Exodus 16:32-34 Manna kept as a memorial
• Exodus 28:12 the shoulder stones of the priestly ephod
• Esther 9:28 Purim as a festival of memorial
• Luke 22:19 The Lord’s Supper

2.  Memorials require intentionality and preparation! Verse 1

• All the tribes
• All the leaders
• Presented themselves 
• Before God

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
3.  Intentional remembrance of what God did “Long Ago”. verse 2

• You worshiped other gods
• But God worked. Jos 24:3-14 
• They opposed God without success
• You received God’s gracious gift

​4.  Intentional Consideration about what God requires today!

• Desire!
• Faithfulness in Love and Service!
• Repentance! Verse 19

        a.  You are not able
        b.  God is holy, jealous.
        c.  You are in rebellion and sin.
5.  Introspective reflection and accountability to one another in light of our past commitments!

• You are witnesses
• "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and 
• yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
• This Stone is a witness! This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. 
• Possess your inheritance!!!

SO WHAT?

• How is your commitment to God today?
• Have you memorialized your salvation through Baptism!!!
• Have you forgotten what God has done for you

Sermon Scripture:  Colossians 3:12-15  (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

1.  Desire God's will

• What is it that you desire?  Psalm 37:3-5
  
• Why is it undesirable?  2 Tim. 2:22; Isa. 5:20; Job 17:11-12
• Ask God to reveal your true heart to you!  1 Chron. 28:9 

2.  Design Your Life Accordingly Prov. 20:4

• What you desire, you will design!  Design your life according to the design of God.  Prov. 19:21;16:3 
• Fear the Lord!  Prov. 1:7
• Serve Him with all faithfulness!
• Throw out your idols!  James 4:8 

3.  Develop Your Family!

• It is the power of God at work!  Ps. 127:1
• It is a process and will take time!  Gal. 6:9 
• It is a process and will require nurture!  2 Tim. 1:5
• It is a process that will include detours and delays!  1 Sam. 2:26

4.  Determine to stay the course!
 

1.  Don’t be Lazy: verses 1-5
     A.  Restore the wayward: verse1
          1)  Rely on the Holy Spirit: Gal 5:25 NIV - Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
          2)  Remain Gentle
          3)  Remember your own frailty and sin
     B.  Bear the burdens of life: verses 2-5
          1)  Carry the burdens of another: their heaviness, weight
               a). Law of Christ:
                     i.  Royal Law, love you neighbor as yourself in James 2:8, Leviticus 18:19, Matt 19:19, 22:39, Galatians 5:14.
                    ii.  Law that gives freedom James 2:12
                   iii.  Romans 13:7-8 Let no Debt remain except the continuing debt to love one another.
                   iv.  Romans 13:10 Love is the fulfillment of the law.
               b.  Someone may need to help you carry yours someday.
           2)  Carry your own burden: portion, not omni-competent
               a.  Test your own actions
                  i.  Be who you are before God. Rom 12:3 
                 ii.  Luke 18:11 
               b.  Do your work! 2 Timothy 4:5 
           3)  Share with your teacher in all good things!!!!!
2.  Don’t be deceived! Verses 7-8
     A.  You can’t sneer at God and go unnoticed!
     B.  God’s Irrefutable Law of the Harvest!
     C.  Sow to the flesh you will reap from the flesh: Galatians 5:17-21
     D.  Sow in the Spirit you will reap the fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23
     E.  This is not about eternal security but about sanctification, earthly and eternal reward!
​3.  Don’t Quit! Verses 9-10, Charles Stanley
     A.  You reap what you sow: Sow good/valuable seed!
     B.  You reap more than you sow: Sow much seed!
     C.  You reap later than you sow: Start sowing again now and sow continually!
     D.  Your reward is the harvest!

A.  Experiences are opportunities to begin your daily worship: verses 13-16a

• Start wherever you really are!
• If you suffer under evil/hardship – Pray: verse 13 
• If you are in good spirits – Sing Psalms: verse 13
• If you are sick – Call for the elders: verses 14-16a
  1. They pray over him
  2. Anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord: emphasis on the name of the Lord, not anointing!
• Prayer of faith: Pray for one another
  1. Shall raise up the sick
  2. If sin sick? Then forgiveness is promised to those of faith
• If you are in sin- Confess faults to one another

B.  Every Christians should worship privately and corporately!

• Two dealing with individual worship
• Two dealing with worship in community

C.  Encouragement to pray for one another in righteousness. verses 16b

• Much
• Effectiveness
• Prayer: Admission of need! 
• Righteous people
• Powerful    

D.  Example of effective prayer. Verses 17-18

• Elijah was just like you!
• Real men can pray!
• Real men of faith can pray with power!

E.  Encouragement for disciplinary intervention alongside prayer: Erring from the truth – convert him: verses 19-20

• Confront the sinner: one walking away from the truth
• Convert from the error of his way: bring back to the truth
• Convert to save from death:
• Cover sin: 

So What????

• Seek righteousness
• Pray often
• Pray Big Prayers
• Worship every day
• Restore someone