In Sermon Illustrations: "Forgetting The Past"

Forgetting What Is Past And Straining Toward The Future

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 8, 2017

Commentator Gordon Fee recalls the famous “miracle mile,” the first time two milers ran under four minutes in the same race. Roger Bannister and John Landy competed in Vancouver, B.C. in 1954. Landy had led all the way, but coming off the final turn toward the finish line he looked over his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Forgetting The Past, Heavenward Calling, Future Oriented

Denomination: Baptist

[094]. A Message From A Poem – Forgetting The Past, Look Ahead

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 1, 2025

[094]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FORGETTING THE PAST, LOOK AHEAD Someone posted to a Christian forum I was on, a four line stanza once, that in effect said that you can not go back and fix the past, i.e. to go back and alter the beginning but you can start from here and make a brand new end. I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Regret, Hope, Past, End, Failure, Start, Look Ahead  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Author Wrote, "I Shall Never Forget Dr. R. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One author wrote, "I shall never forget Dr. R. A. Torrey saying to me as a young preacher, ’Young man, make up your mind on one thing and stick to it.’" Vance Havner comments: "The Christian life should be like a sword with one point, not like a broom ending in many straws. Such a single purpose ...read more

Tags: Faith

The Sea Of Forgetfulness  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 11, 2002

We must learn to quit fishing in the sea of forgetfulness. Bury ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Getting Past Your Past  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 23, 2002

GETTING PAST YOUR PAST Consider Charles Colson, the aide to Richard Nixon who was sent to jail for Watergate. As as a result of his experience as a convicted felon, Colson founded Prison Fellowship, now the world’s largest Christian outreach to prisoners and their families. Prison Fellowship has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16, Jeremiah 29:11

Tags: New Year's Day, God's Sovereign Will

Thankfulness Or Forgetfulness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

THANKFULNESS OR FORGETFULNESS "History knows no disasters," said the Literary Digest (Sept. 1923), "which parallels the earthquake and fire that visited Japan this month and laid waste the capital city and the chief seaport." The New York Tribune called this earthquake “undoubtedly the greatest ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Joy, God The Father

Never Forget

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 20, 2008

Listen to this great quote my Andrew Murray: “Never forget for a moment that it is sin that has led to the great transaction between you and Christ Jesus; and that each day in your fellowship with God, His one aim is to deliver and keep you fully from its power, and lift ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Forgiving And Forgetting

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 15, 2010

FORGIVING AND FORGETTING Mr. Peale tells a story about a man who suffered from many health problems: headaches, skin troubles, gastric disturbances, insomnia. It did not take Mr. Peale long to discover that one basic cause was the burning anger that he felt toward his brother. The brother, the ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stats On Forgetfulness

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 18, 2010

STATS ON FORGETFULNESS I was relieved recently to find out that I’m not the only one who forgets things. According to researcher Karen Bolla, everyone does at one time or another. These are the six things people most often forget: • (6). faces 42% • (5). what was said 49% • (4). words 53% • (3). ...read more

Tags: Memories

Denomination: Brethren

Are You Forgetful?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2011

ARE YOU FORGETFUL? I was relieved recently to find out that I'm not the only one who forgets things. According to researcher Karen Bolla, everyone does at one time or another. These are the six things people most often forget: • (6). faces 42% • (5). what was said 49% • (4). words 53% • (3). ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-24

Tags: Memories

Forgive And Forget

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 15, 2012

FORGIVE AND FORGET There's a wonderful story about the cardinal of the Philippines, named, oddly enough, Cardinal Sin. When Cardinal Sin was a bishop, a young woman in his parish claimed that she had visions of Jesus. Bishop Sin was given the task of determining if these visions were authentic. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Baptist

Forget The Gps!

Contributed by Robert Harmon on Oct 4, 2014

My brother Curtis had come home from Italy to visit us, and attended worship at the congregation where I served. Afterword, he wanted to go to Mammoth Cave and show his wife and son one of the natural wonders of the US. We tagged along, and I told him I knew the way. He said, “Naw, we’ll use the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:11-12

Tags: Direction, Apologetics, Bible Study, Bible Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forgiving And Forgetting

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 9, 2020

Once upon a time in their marriage, Saul Rosenberg did something really stupid. Ethel Rosenberg chewed him out for it. He apologized, they made up. However, from time to time, Ethel would mention what he had done. "Honey," Saul finally said one day, "why do you keep bringing that up? ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:34, Luke 17:3-4

Tags: Forgiveness, Marriage, Reconciliation, Forget, Forgive, Argument  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Forgetful But Faithful

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 6, 2025

An old couple is sitting on the porch. The wife says, "I’d love some ice cream." The husband says, "I’ll get it." She says, "Write it down so you don’t forget." He scoffs, "I won’t forget!" Twenty minutes later, he ...read more

Scripture: James 1:23, Luke 6:46

Tags: Faith, Discipleship, Obedience

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Leave Behind The Past, Reach For The Future

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 18, 2025

LEAVE BEHIND THE PAST, REACH FOR THE FUTURE Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving me the opportunity to enter a new year. May I love and serve You diligently, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Future, Past

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmases Past  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

CHRISTMASES PAST Christmas was not celebrated during the 1st 2 centuries after Christ’s life on earth. In AD 245, when a group of scholars attempted to pinpoint the exact date of Christ’s birth, a church council denounced the endeavor, declaring it wrong to celebrate the birthday of Christ "as ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus

First You Forget Names, Then You Forget Faces, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"First you forget names, then you forget faces, then you forget to pull your zipper up, then you ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

One Forgets Words As One Forgets Names. Ones ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

One forgets words as one forgets names. Ones vocabulary needs constant ...read more

Tags: Words

The Key To Life Is Forgetting The Right Things

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 27, 2024

The thing that has concerned me as I have aged was about forgetting things. How could I remember everything when I was crowding my brain with all kinds of new things? In this regard, there is no comparison between The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself. I have a problem remembering, and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-15

Tags: Remember, Forget

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Splish Splash, I Forgot To Take A Bath

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 8, 2022

If you had the opportunity to speak to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, she would probably tell you that one of my strengths is forgetting. I'm not sure how far into the subject she would get. When it comes to forgetting, I am outstanding on the back lawn, and my expertise in this area ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Memory, Forgetting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance