Memento Mori | Psalm 90

What does Memento Mori mean? Why are we doing this series? Why should we remember our death? Did Jesus focus on HIS death?

Date: March 12, 2023
Series: Memento Mori

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Sermon Extras

The Rest of the Sermon – Memento Mori | Week 1

It’s the fullest the podcast and laundry room has ever been with 5 of our staff sharing points of view! Take a listen as we discuss life, death & the afterlife! We talk about what it’s like to hear this sermon series for the first and second time and how 365 days can change a lot. We also had a great question submitted about the book of Revelation which we address! Plus, we had a lot of fun with the sound effects on this one!

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The Rest of the Sermon ➝
Sermon Notes➝

Pastor’s Comment

Thank you so much for listening in here at West Side. We often say that we love the word of God because it points us to the son of God. We hope these messages encourage you and equip you to love Jesus more. We also want you to be apart of a local church, we believe these messages are only supplemental, being apart of a local church is essential. Blessings.
Jason G Jordan

Lead Pastor, West Side Church

SERMON NOTES

Memento Mori (2023) Psalm 90 INTRO 

INTRO> Wow… here we are! I know that there are a lot of questions about where we are headed with this and even a since of, “Gosh… this isn’t going to be good!” lol Here is what I want to do, to dive right in. Today I am going to ask and answer a bunch of questions about the series, in order to introduce us and to see where we are going, then at the end.. lay a specific challenge at your feet. So here we go…. 

  • What does the phrase “Memento Mori” even mean? 
  • This is pretty rad. First, The phrase is  literally the Latin translation of Genesis 3:19… “ By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”and history records that when a Roman gladiator or general would enter into the city after a mighty victory, in the cart with them was a slave or assistant. And as this general or gladiator saw all the people cheering for them and praising them, it is said that the slave would say over and over again out loud in the gerbils ear the cart, “Memento Mori: Remember you will die” Why? Simple, humility. 

  1. B) Why do an entire sermon series about death? 
  • Church History– Lent (lent prepares us for Easter by focusing on the cross) We can’t celebrate the victory of Easter until we have understood the problem of death. 
  • Our History– preaching this last year with JT present (PIC) It realigned my priorities as a pastor. “we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” hebrews 12 PIC Church graveyards. 
  • Biblical History – this is the main thing! It’s overwhelming how much the bible talks about death. Average, every 9 chapters. Die, death, dying, sleep 2,000+ verses. 
  • Reality- Everyone dies. I mean, this is it isn’t it? We are the only creatures that know they are going to die, philosophers and everything have spilled ink on all this. “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…” Hebrews 9:27
  1. C) What is the goal of this series?
  • That brings us to our text, Psalm 90! Which tells us is written by Moses. Here is what is interesting, most scholars believe this is one of the first things Moses ever wrote, which makes it one of the oldest portions of our bible, next to Job. And what is one of the oldest themes in all of that Bible?…The theme of Psalm 90 is God’s greatness and mans weakness.  Do you see the compare and contrast? in V1-2 God is everlasting… and then look at v10 “The years of our life… 
  • v12 Then there is a change in the Psalm, it shifts to a prayer, “So…” then what does the great Moses ask? “teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” I love the way that the NLT puts it… “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”

Big Idea > The goal of this series is that by remembering our death we would renew our lives. 

“At least once daily, cast your mind ahead to the moment of death so that you can consider the events of each day in this light.” – Saint Josemaria Escriva 

APP> I had a question this year though.. I had a thought, “Did Jesus do this?” “Did Jesus meditate on his death?” and the resounding answer is YES! 

  • Multiple OT prophecies of the Messiahs death. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. “ Matthew 2:11
  • “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem..” Luke 9:51 (KJV) …When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. (TheMSG)
  • Turn to Mark 8:31-38 … Jesus says that he MUST die… Peter tried to stop him and what does Jesus call him? Satan! We are Peter when it comes to death! 

Our distorted view of death: 

  • Denial 
  • Despair 

What if there was a 3rd way? 

What if Death draws us closer to God? That’s what Psalm 90 is all about! Everything is temporary and futile!

Big Idea > The goal of this series is that by remembering our death we would renew our lives. 

 

Application: 

  • Write your own obituary
  • Review the obituary from last year. 

*Close with reading JT’s Obituary