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What’s Up:
Memorial Day’s become a weekend of sales, hot dogs, and pool openings … and that says more about the church than you might think.
So What:
While our culture dusts off terms like “honor” and “sacrifice” once a year, the church has all but packed them away like outdated Christmas ornaments. It’s time we reclaimed them, not for nostalgia’s sake, but because these are biblical bedrock values we’ve nearly abandoned.
The Point Is:
Biblical Values, Not Nationalistic Vices
Honor, duty, sacrifice, and responsibility aren’t just military virtues … they’re Christian ones. Jesus didn’t suggest laying down your life for others was noble. He said it was the highest form of love.
We’ve Softened the Gospel Too Much
We traded the call to take up our cross for spiritual self-care tips and personality inventories. Meanwhile, people are dying for something that demands something of them.
Masculinity Isn’t the Enemy
Young men are exploring Christianity in part because they’re tired of being told they’re the problem. What if we preached messages that called men, women, and kids to mission, sacrifice, and courage?
These Values Are for Everyone
Honor isn’t a masculine trait. Sacrifice and duty aren’t soldier’s-only only virtues. These are human, Christian, gospel-grounded values … and they belong in your next sermon series.
And … ?
If the church won’t preach about duty, discipline, devotion, and responsibility, we shouldn’t be surprised when people turn to secular voices for structure and meaning. Jordan Peterson, Jocko Willink, and a host of online influencers have built empires around values the church used to champion. That’s not a critique of them … it’s a critique of us. We abandoned the high ground.
But there’s good news: it’s not too late. We have the Book. We have the values. We have the stories of Jesus and Paul and Ruth and Mary. We have the model of the early church, a people so devoted they risked their lives and livelihoods to serve. If you’re planning your next sermon series, consider reviving the values that make the gospel more than a pep talk. This generation is hungry for meaning … and they don’t need another motivational speech. They need a call to arms.
Action!
Preach a summer sermon series on biblical sacrifice, devotion, and courage … and invite your congregation to live lives worthy of the gospel.
