In a changing world, Remember			Joshua 3-4

Intro:	Set my cement brick on the pulpit (pause)
•	this AM a simple sermon with homework that everyone should do before sunset.  All of you can if you meet one basic requirement.

t/s – I have been thinking about “remembering” the past few weeks.
	OKC Bombing Memorial… 20 years
	OKC Marathon…. Run to Remember.. 20,000 runners

	Remembering is an important act of worship and faith in Bible.
	Active “Remembering”….Public Remembering…Head & Lips
	Remembering What the LORD has done for you.

Tell the Story of Joshua 3-4

Setting		The people of God were literally on the shore of a
		New Life in a New Land, the promised Land.  After an 		entire generation of wilderness living  (Hard, but Holy)

Tension	Joshua selected twelve men, one from each tribe, as he
		Gave us instructions for the crossing.  Be ready, 			be prayerful, when you see the Ark of the Covenant 			move; follow it.  Stay close enough to see it, but not too 		close, ½ mile… Holy One!
•	We wondered, Why did he set apart those twelve men?

Search		The Jordan river was overflowing its banks in Harvest.
		As soon as the priests feet touched water, the river 			stood in a heap and the priest walked to middle; 
		we followed, walking on dry ground into the 			promised land….

Solution	Then Joshua called those twelve men.  He sent them
		Back into the middle of the river where the Ark was 		and told them, each one, to shoulder the biggest rock 		they could carry; and bring to the Camp.

Setting		Joshua commanded the priests to bring the Ark up.  As 		soon as the stepped on shore, the river returned to its 		floodstage flow.  We were all in the New land, starting 		our new life…With a big pile of River Rocks!

t/s – Do you know what Joshua did with those Rocks?

Read 4: 19-24

The World Changes
Exp – Joshua was leading the people of God into a whole new world.
a)	A change of geography (west of the Jordan..promised land)
b)	A change of culture (new languages, religions, morality…)
c)	A change of generations (vs. 23 --- you and us)

	The people of God were literally stepping into a New Era!
	They were exposing themselves to Dramatic Change!

ILL – George Friedman book, “The Next 100 years”
•	Printing Press accelerated cultural change during Reformation and Renaissance.
•	Technologies that push instant and constant communication
•	…things that appear to be permanent and dominant at any given moment in history can change with stunning rapidity.  Eras come and go.

App – This rapid and widespread change impact people in two ways.

1.	Older people respond with Fear of the Future 
	(Anger)

2.	Younger people respond by Forsaking the Past 
	(Arrogance)

t/s – a second truth from Joshua moves against both…

The LORD Does Not Change
Exp – Vs. 19 – Grounds this story in the history of Israel..
		The Date of Passover…  Vs. 23
•	We exist as a people because the LORD is present, powerful and Faithful!

	Note:  Joshua 3:11 – Lord of All the Earth  (not leaving Him)

	Ark of Covenant is mentioned 20 times in chapters 3 & 4
	A small box (4 ft long, 2 feet tall and wide) covered in gold
	Angels with wings spread over the cover; poles to carry.
•	Symbolized God’s presence with His people; his unchanging character…Holy, Eternal, Merciful.

	Our World is changing; Our LORD is Not!
	Hebrews 13: 7-8

App – The LORD God Almighty was not born in Nashville in 1950.
	He is the Eternal One… Be Still and Know …
•	Leaves no Room for Anger and Fear.
•	Leaves no Room for Arrogance… Forsaking
	If our culture continues to Forsake the LORD;
	This nation will fall… the LORD will Abide!

t/s – This brings me to your homework…
Your Testimony is Relevant
Exp – Tell the story of the LORD work in your life.
	Vs. 21-24 
	Notice how testimony promotes future Faithfulness

Assignment:  Share your Testimony with the next Generations.
•	Memorialize it --- An object that will make them Ask.
•	Write it Down
•	Testify that the LORD is present, powerful, faithful.

	Note:  This is not a story about YOU (you are not the hero)
		It is not about the Good Old Days…
My Testimony…

This Block sets on my book shelve to help me remember how my life is a Testimony to the LORD --- His patience, His people, His Purpose.

I was saved at my mother’s bedside when I was a child….  Had to stand on a cement, cinder block in the old tin Baptistery to publicly profess my faith in Jesus.

Did you know what you were doing?  No… But God did.
•	I knew about the Creator and the Cross.
•	I had come to know about MY sin against God and Need.
	I knew I needed Jesus to change me, …

            I did not know all that my commitment to Christ would      	involve…. I still don’t

My life is not about what I have done for Him… He has done for me.
•	His Patience – Faithless, Faithful
•	His People – Instruction; Admonition; Direction
•	His Purpose – Eph. 2:8-10

I am so glad that I trusted my life to Jesus as a child.  He has been working on me with patience for His purpose ever since that day!

Conclusion

Homework that everyone should do before sunset.  

All of you can if you meet one basic requirement….

You must have a Testimony… 

Your Story of His Work in your life… His Presence, His Power, His Faithfulness…