Every family has its own Remembrance Sunday stories. I have been always been moved by measuring the losses in the family tree, two brothers on this branch, two more brothers lost in another branch. Two of my grandparents each lost two brothers.

There were suffering women and children in every family, shattered men who returned home never to be the same again, alongside more recent losses in other wars, still scarring the lives and the memories of those who were involved.

Every village, every town, and every ancient church building has some kind monument or memorial board. What does it mean to remember them? What passage will you choose?

How will you preach on Remembrance Sunday?

Over the years I have appreciated the opportunity to link Remembrance Sunday to whatever passage lands on that particular day within an existing expository sermon series. It is often helpful to move from the particular focus of an individual passage to a big story biblical framework, where hope and the prospect of justice is found, and an end to tears and reasons for tears will finally arrive. The specifics of an individual passage shed fresh light on the multiple complexities that Remembrance Sunday always involves.

Four examples of Remembrance Sunday passages from an occasional series in Genesis over several years, twelve weeks at a time from time to time:

Genesis 11 Babel - God’s intervention to frustrate human rebellion against him
Genesis 19 the smoking ruins of the twin cities, matched by the smoking ruins of the city at the end of the Bible. Jesus drawing attention to the ruined cities at the start, Abraham’s silence, contrast the celebration of God’s holiness at the smoking ruins at the end
Genesis 25 three deaths side by side - the death of an old man (Abraham) - the death of a young man (Jesus) - the death of a bitter enemy (Death)
Genesis 34 the grim reality of conflict

Seven examples from across the Scriptures

Proverbs 6 - Major Underwriter, Rifleman Sluggard and Corporal Stirrer
Jonah 2 - a focus on the navy above and below the water - in that part of the world during WWII - interview with a UK naval gunner, diary of a German U-boat commander
Matthew 7 - the storm to surpass all storms on Remembrance Sunday
Matthew 10 - twelve apostles - lists of names - what we know and don’t know about the names that are listed on the boards around us, in the passage before us
Mark 13 - wars and rumours of wars on Remembrance Sunday
John 3.16 - a global focus on Remembrance Sunday
Acts 17 - the appointment of God’s judge on Remembrance Sunday

It’s worth thinking again about the verbs that describe what is happening on Remembrance Sunday, as we lament, and remember, and seek God in prayer, and listen to God, and hear the good news of the gospel, look back and look around and look ahead, and more.

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