Living Forward, Looking Back
Take the Promise
August 19, 2018
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
Using Joshua 4 and modern memorials as a backdrop, the sermon argues that God's memorial stones are meant to transform our fear from terror into reverent awe that leads to obedience, reminding us of God's power, covenant purposes, and the Christian call to serve.
Summary
Drawing from Joshua 4 and contemporary memorials (like pieces of the Berlin Wall), the sermon focuses on the twelve stones set up after the Israelites crossed the Jordan as God-designated memorials meant to put God's power and covenant faithfulness in the foreground of communal memory. The preacher contrasts the two biblical senses of fear—terror and reverent awe—and insists that God's memorials are intended to reorient our fear toward worshipful obedience so that we refuse to disobey God. The stones personalize the crossing for each tribe and connect people to God's long-standing purposes; similarly, practices like the Lord's Supper call believers to live in the fear of God's displeasure by pursuing obedient service rather than seeking to be served.
Key Points
- Text: Joshua 4 (the second part of the Jordan crossing story) and its focus on memorial stones
- Illustration: Berlin Wall fragments as modern memorials to remember and learn from the past
- Purpose of the stones: to foreground God's power (God dried up the Jordan) and to make the event personal for each tribe (12 stones/men)
- Key question: What will you fear? (the sermon reframes fear as courage rooted in reverent awe rather than terror)
- Dual meaning of fear in Scripture: terror/panic vs. awe/worship/respect — context determines which
- Memorials’ aim: to reorient our fears so our primary obedience is to God
- Application from Luke 22:19 and Lord’s Supper: believers should live in a reverent fear of God's displeasure that motivates obedience
- Christian identity and mission: Christians are called to serve (as Christ served), not to be served
- Practical challenge: remember God’s acts, align your fears with reverent obedience, and live out covenant purposes through humble service
The audio description and summary text on this page was generated using AI, please report any errors to office@christouhopechurch.com