Sermon Notes - Remember Them Stones

Sermon Notes: Remember Them Stones

Text: Joshua 4:1-7

Introduction: The Power of Remembrance

•God commanded Joshua to take twelve stones from Jordan as a memorial of His deliverance.

•These stones served as a sign for future generations to ask, “What do these stones mean to you?”

•Similarly, Black history is filled with “stones” of remembrance—stories, landmarks, and traditions that testify to resilience, faith, and God’s guidance.

1. Crossing the Jordan & The Middle Passage

•The Israelites crossing the Jordan symbolized transition into the Promised Land.

•The Middle Passage was a painful transition for African ancestors, leading to suffering but also shaping history.

•Just as the Jordan was an obstacle before the promise, the Middle Passage was an obstacle before progress and survival.

•Yet, through suffering, God preserved His people.

2. Stones of Remembrance & Black History Memorials

•Joshua’s twelve stones were meant to teach future generations about God’s faithfulness.

•In Black history, we have memorials and cultural symbols that serve the same purpose:

•Songs, stories, and testimonies of endurance.

•Historical landmarks: The Edmund Pettus Bridge, Lorraine Motel, and the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

•Faith and music: Negro spirituals carried hidden messages of hope and freedom.

3. Teaching the Next Generation to Remember

•Joshua 4:6—“That this may be a sign among you when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’”

•Parents must pass down faith and history to their children.

•Just as God delivered Israel, He has been faithful through generations of struggle and triumph.

4. Faith, Songs, & Deliverance

•Spirituals like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, “Wade in the Water” and This Little Light of Mine held coded messages of escape and hope.

•These songs connected the suffering of enslaved people with biblical deliverance stories:

•Moses & the Red Sea

•Joshua & the Jordan

•Jesus & Salvation

•Just as Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire, Jesus is our chariot of salvation, carrying us from bondage to freedom.

5. Remember, Testify, Move Forward

1.Remember where God has brought us from—personally, culturally, and spiritually.

2.Testify to His faithfulness—so your children and future generations won’t forget.

3.Move forward with faith—knowing God continues to guide His people.

Conclusion

•Teach your children to “Remember Them Stones.”