Memorials of Faith: God's Historical Interventions

 

Summary

In this gathering, we reflect on the profound significance of the stones set up by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River, as recounted in Joshua 4:21-24. These stones served as a memorial to God's miraculous intervention, reminding future generations of His mighty acts. Similarly, this new church building stands as a testament to God's enduring power and presence. It prompts us to consider the historical foundation of our faith, which is not merely a philosophy or set of teachings but a record of divine actions throughout history.

Christianity is unique because it is rooted in historical events orchestrated by God, not human endeavors. From the parting of the Red Sea to the resurrection of Christ, these acts demonstrate God's redemptive power. The stones at Gilgal and this church building both proclaim God's mighty hand in history, emphasizing that our faith is based on God's actions, not human achievements.

The message of this building is one of hope and redemption. It declares that God has intervened in history to deliver humanity from the bondage of sin, just as He delivered the Israelites from Egypt. This is not a message of human effort but of divine grace. The building stands as a beacon of God's power to save, offering hope to all who seek deliverance from the chains of sin.

Furthermore, the miraculous nature of God's acts is highlighted. Christianity is not a human invention but a divine revelation, a supernatural intervention in the natural world. This building, like the stones at Gilgal, points to the miraculous and supernatural character of God's work, reminding us that our faith is based on phenomena beyond human understanding.

Finally, this building proclaims the certainty of God's ultimate plan and purpose. Despite the challenges and opposition faced by the church, God's work will prevail. The building stands as a testament to the enduring power of God's hand, assuring us that His kingdom will come, and His will shall be done.

Key Takeaways:

- Christianity is rooted in historical events orchestrated by God, not human philosophy or teachings. This foundation sets it apart from other religions and philosophies, emphasizing the reality of God's actions in history. [09:49]

- The stones at Gilgal and this church building both serve as memorials to God's mighty acts, reminding us that our faith is based on divine intervention, not human achievement. This underscores the importance of recognizing God's hand in our lives. [12:44]

- The message of this building is one of hope and redemption, declaring that God has intervened in history to deliver humanity from the bondage of sin. It offers hope to all who seek deliverance, emphasizing the power of God's grace. [23:14]

- Christianity is a supernatural revelation, a miraculous intervention in the natural world. This building, like the stones at Gilgal, points to the miraculous and supernatural character of God's work, reminding us that our faith is based on phenomena beyond human understanding. [37:08]

- The building proclaims the certainty of God's ultimate plan and purpose, assuring us that His kingdom will come, and His will shall be done. Despite challenges and opposition, God's work will prevail, offering hope and assurance to believers. [49:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction and Greetings
- [01:12] - The Significance of the Stones
- [02:26] - Historical Context of Israel's Journey
- [04:10] - Crossing the Jordan River
- [05:22] - Purpose of the Memorial Stones
- [07:07] - The Message of the Building
- [08:17] - Christianity's Historical Foundation
- [10:07] - Differentiating Christianity from Philosophy
- [12:24] - God's Actions in History
- [15:31] - God's Redemptive Acts
- [18:35] - The Necessity of Redemption
- [23:14] - God's Deliverance and Salvation
- [30:32] - The Supreme Act of God
- [33:33] - The Day of Pentecost
- [36:37] - The Miraculous Nature of God's Acts
- [42:35] - The Message of Judgment and Salvation
- [49:03] - The Certainty of God's Plan

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Joshua 4:21-24

---

Observation Questions:

1. What was the purpose of the stones set up by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River, according to Joshua 4:21-24? How did these stones serve as a memorial? [01:32]

2. How does the sermon describe the significance of the new church building in relation to the stones at Gilgal? [06:51]

3. What historical events are highlighted in the sermon as examples of God's intervention in history? [09:49]

4. According to the sermon, what is the primary message that the new church building is meant to convey to those who see it? [07:42]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon differentiate Christianity from other religions and philosophies based on historical events? Why is this distinction important? [10:45]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's actions in history provide hope and redemption for humanity? [23:14]

3. How does the sermon emphasize the miraculous and supernatural nature of God's acts? Why is this aspect significant for understanding the Christian faith? [37:08]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the certainty of God's ultimate plan and purpose, despite challenges and opposition? [49:03]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "memorial stone" moment in your life, where you saw God's intervention. How can you use that experience to strengthen your faith today? [01:32]

2. The sermon emphasizes that Christianity is based on God's actions, not human achievements. How does this perspective change the way you view your own efforts in your spiritual journey? [14:22]

3. Consider the message of hope and redemption that the new church building represents. How can you be a beacon of hope and redemption in your community this week? [23:14]

4. The sermon highlights the miraculous nature of God's work. Have you ever witnessed or experienced something that you would consider a miracle? How did it impact your faith? [37:08]

5. The sermon assures us of the certainty of God's plan. In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in God's ultimate plan and purpose? How can you actively practice this trust? [49:03]

6. How can you share the message of God's power and grace with someone who might be struggling with the "chains of sin" this week? What practical steps can you take to offer them hope? [23:14]

7. Reflect on the idea that Christianity is a supernatural revelation. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of the supernatural aspects of your faith in your daily life? [37:08]

Devotional

Day 1: Christianity's Historical Foundation

Christianity is distinct from other religions and philosophies because it is deeply rooted in historical events orchestrated by God. Unlike human philosophies that are based on ideas and teachings, Christianity is grounded in the reality of God's actions throughout history. From the parting of the Red Sea to the resurrection of Christ, these events demonstrate God's redemptive power and His active involvement in the world. This historical foundation sets Christianity apart, emphasizing that our faith is not based on human achievements but on divine intervention. As believers, we are called to recognize and remember these mighty acts of God, which serve as the bedrock of our faith. [09:49]

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the reality of God's historical actions into your daily faith practice, reminding yourself that your faith is grounded in His mighty works?


Day 2: Memorials of Divine Intervention

The stones at Gilgal and the new church building both serve as memorials to God's mighty acts, reminding us that our faith is based on divine intervention, not human achievement. These physical reminders point to the reality of God's presence and power in our lives. Just as the Israelites set up stones to commemorate their crossing of the Jordan River, we too are encouraged to recognize and remember the ways God has intervened in our personal histories. These memorials help us to acknowledge God's hand in our lives and to pass on the stories of His faithfulness to future generations. [12:44]

"And Joshua said to them, 'Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, "What do those stones mean to you?" then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.'" (Joshua 4:5-7, ESV)

Reflection: What are some personal "stones" or memorials in your life that remind you of God's intervention? How can you share these stories with others to encourage their faith?


Day 3: Hope and Redemption Through Divine Grace

The message of the church building is one of hope and redemption, declaring that God has intervened in history to deliver humanity from the bondage of sin. This is not a message of human effort but of divine grace. The building stands as a beacon of God's power to save, offering hope to all who seek deliverance from the chains of sin. It reminds us that our salvation is not something we can earn or achieve on our own, but a gift from God, made possible through His grace and mercy. As we reflect on this truth, we are encouraged to embrace the hope and redemption that God offers to each of us. [23:14]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God's grace rather than your own efforts? How can you actively seek His redemption and hope today?


Day 4: The Supernatural Nature of God's Work

Christianity is a supernatural revelation, a miraculous intervention in the natural world. The church building, like the stones at Gilgal, points to the miraculous and supernatural character of God's work, reminding us that our faith is based on phenomena beyond human understanding. This aspect of Christianity challenges us to look beyond the natural and to recognize the divine hand at work in our lives and in the world around us. It calls us to trust in God's power and to be open to the miraculous ways He may choose to reveal Himself to us. [37:08]

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 1:25, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you struggle to see God's supernatural work? How can you cultivate a greater openness to the miraculous and divine interventions in your daily life?


Day 5: Assurance of God's Ultimate Plan

The church building proclaims the certainty of God's ultimate plan and purpose, assuring us that His kingdom will come, and His will shall be done. Despite the challenges and opposition faced by the church, God's work will prevail. This assurance offers hope and confidence to believers, reminding us that we are part of a larger story that God is unfolding. As we face difficulties and uncertainties, we can trust in God's sovereignty and His promise to bring His plans to fruition. This perspective encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and to actively participate in God's work in the world. [49:03]

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing that require you to trust in God's ultimate plan? How can you actively participate in His work, knowing that His kingdom will come and His will shall be done?

Quotes

"Christianity is not a philosophy. What's a philosophy? Well, a philosophy is ideas put forward by men in an attempt to try to understand life and our problems and how to deal with them and how to solve them. It's a matter of ideas, of thoughts, and of teachings. The find is that while there is obviously a teaching and a Doctrine which is a vital part of Christianity, that is not the first thing. What differentiates this is that it is first and foremost a record of historical events and historical facts." [00:09:06]

"Christianity is entirely different. It calls attention to facts, and that is why this building, in a sense, is going to do exactly the same as the bread and the wine do in a communion service. They again are calling attention to facts. So we must start with this all-important matter principle and realize that it is vital to our whole situation. The uniqueness of the Christian faith depends upon a series of historical facts and events and the teaching which results from that." [00:11:41]

"These facts, these events on which our whole position is based, are not the result of man's action but God's action. You see, the stones outside Gilgal are not to call attention to anything the children of Israel did. They had to call attention to what God did with the children of Israel. Their memorials pointing people, reminding people of actions, events, historical happenings which have been produced by Almighty God." [00:12:36]

"The message of this building is this: that God has done something about this bondage of ours exactly as he did with the physical bondage of the children of Israel of old. This is Christianity: God's acts of redemption, God's eruptions into time, God coming in and delivering us there amongst the flesh pots of Egypt and in the utter hopelessness of our spiritual despair." [00:23:08]

"God has come down. He didn't leave him there. He didn't say, 'Very well, carry on, let things go on as they are,' and they would have festered to putrefaction. God came down. Why did he come down? Well, he came down not only to tell them the punishment he was going to mete out upon their sin and their folly. He came down to tell them that he'd got a plan of redemption for the whole race." [00:24:49]

"God intervened. He took hold of a man whose name was Abram, who lived in Ur of the Chaldees and who was a pagan. He took hold of this man and he said, 'I'm going to turn you into a nation. I'm going to make my own people out of you, and you are going to represent me. You're going to bear a message, and ultimately through you and your seed, all the nations of the world are going to be blessed.'" [00:26:30]

"When the fullness of the times had come, God—it's always God—God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law. We are not here to say what man has arrived at in his thinking and theorizing as to how we can serve God and please him. It's the exact opposite. It's God seeking lost men. It's God bringing and putting into operation his plan of redemption and of salvation." [00:29:41]

"The Spirit came down upon the church, and these simple, ignorant men were enabled to preach with authority and power. Three thousand converted in one day on the day of Pentecost and added to the church. The joyful story of the early Christian church didn't stop at that. They got into difficulties. God came in, intervened them, the miracles that followed, the miraculous escapes from prisons and various other places." [00:33:33]

"The acts of God are supernatural, and they are miraculous acts. These were phenomena, and we are to tell people that our faith is based upon phenomena, and it's a phenomenon in and of itself. What does this mean? Well, we've got to tell people this quite plainly. Our position as Christians differs from that of everybody else." [00:37:08]

"The glory of this salvation is this: it depends upon the power of God, not on our power, not on our understanding, not on our goodness, not on anything in us. It's the power of God, so that if a poor fellow drunk stands outside this building and asks one of you members of this church, 'What's the meaning of this building? What's this Emmanuel Evangelical Church? What's it mean?' you can say to him, 'My friend, it means this: that there is a power that can deliver you from the slavery of drink.'" [00:46:30]

"All these actions and activities of God, of course, have been the carrying out of a great plan and purpose which he determined before he even created the world, and this is but the record of how he's been carrying it out in parts and portions throughout the centuries. But he's going to finish it. It's going to be complete." [00:49:03]

"God is Almighty. The hand of the Lord, it is mighty, and with the moment he arises, he'll blow upon communism, aristocracy, humanism, every 'ism,' and they'll just vanish out of sight. They'll pass away. There'll be nothing left with God, the God who's acted as the history tells us and has worked miracles and has done the impossible and has destroyed the Pharaohs and every other enemy. He will destroy every enemy." [00:50:00]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?