Lesson #1 - Memorial Days
(these were originally passed out as handouts in class)
Ex 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Memorial days were instituted by God in the old testament to help families (the building blocks of nations) remember to pass on important historical events.
Founder's days
Weekly days -
The founding of everything: Sabbath (seventh day, Saturday) - The memorial day to Creation. Genesis 2:2-3 - Exodus 20:8-11 (Note: the origin of the seven day week is only found in the bible. Month is the moon's cycle around the earth; day is the earth's rotation; and a year is the earth's cycle around the sun. But there is no natural reason for a 7 day week.)
The founding of salvation: Resurrection Day (first day, Sunday) - The memorial day to Redemption.
A weekly day of rest and relationship with God and family (ours and His). A gift, not a burden. A real human need.
Annual days -
The founding of Israel as a nation:
Passover: The day God brought Israel out of Egypt, for the first time as a separate nation (Exodus chapters 12-13). The first month of Israel's calendar. (Exodus 12:2)
The crossing of the Red Sea and the complete destruction of Israel's enemy--a complete and perfect victory of God over the Prince of this world, Pharoah.
The fiftieth day (pentecost): The day God gave Israel (thru Moses) the Ten Commandments. Referred to as Shavuot or feast of the harvest (includes wave offering of firstfruits of the harvest).
Read more about God's memorial days for Israel in Leviticus 23.
The founding of the church:
Passover: The day Christ gave himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin, and by his death finished the work of redemption from sin. (Luke 2:41 - His parents went every year, Luke 22:1,7)
We celebrate Communion as a memorial to this.
Resurrection (Easter): The day Christ rose again, and overcame death (sin's penalty) and the Prince of this world, Satan. The firstfruits of resurrection of all the dead (the final harvest).
Pentecost: The day God gave the church (thru Jesus) the Holy Spirit.
The founding of our country: July 4th, 1776 The signing of our Declaration of Independence (where?).
The founding of our church (CharlestownIndependent.org) (July 2, 1990, where?): first Sunday in July
Activity break: everybody tell each other your favorite holiday, and, briefly, why!
The founding of families: The Marriage Feast. The Marriage Supper. The Wedding Anniversary.
The founding of the human race: the Bible starts with a wedding. God gave Eve to Adam (Genesis 2:22-24).
The old testament ends with a sad wedding/divorce (Malachi 2:11-15). God's purpose for marriage: Malachi 2:15
There's a wedding in the middle of the Bible, and an entire book of the Bible is dedicated to it: see Song of Solomon.
The founding of Jesus' family: the new testament starts with a wedding (Matthew 1:18-24).
The founding of Jesus' ministry: Jesus first miracle was at a wedding (John 2:1-2).
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a wedding (Mt 22:2)
The Bible ends with a wedding (Revelations 19:7-9)
The Bible is God’s Family Album.
The founding of each human life is celebrated on his/her birthday!
The passing of each human life is mourned in the hearts of those closest to them each year on that date.
Activity break: Do we recount our wedding stories to our children? Why not? Any volunteers?
Homework challenge: get a calendar, and schedule some memorial days for your family.
Next lesson:
"Ex 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book…"
Bring your wedding album or other family scrapbook, and we'll look at God's Family Album.
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TOPIC: Memorials
Key Verse: Exodus 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial
What are some other holidays and/or family traditions that give us the opportunity to pass our faith to our kids and grandkids?
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What was your family’s favorite holiday and why?
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Is there a specific story about one of these family events that influenced your faith (positive or negative)?
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Has today’s lesson provoked your thoughts toward any ideas that you’d like to start doing with your family?
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Show and tell homework assignment: If you’d like, please bring a picture or wedding album to class next week that would help illustrate this event?
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