Sermons on Past Trauma:

Pursued By The Past With Nowhere To Go

Contributed by Chris Layton on Mar 16, 2026

Most of us remember the movie Jaws. What made that movie terrifying wasn’t just the shark — it was the feeling that no matter where they went, that thing kept coming back. Israel knew that feeling.

Introduction: JAWS: Most of us remember the movie Jaws. What made that movie terrifying wasn’t just the shark — it was the feeling that no matter where they went, that thing kept coming back. It was the fear of something beneath the surface… something behind them… something they couldn’t ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:10-16

Denomination: Baptist

Breaking The Chains Of Your Past

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Apr 17, 2025

Many believers struggle with the scars of their past, whether from past sins, hurts, or failures. These chains can prevent them from walking in the freedom and victory that Christ has purchased for them.

BREAKING THE CHAINS OF YOUR PAST By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Supporting Texts: Isaiah 43:18-19; Philippians 3:13-14; Romans 8:1-2; ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 43:18-19, Philippians 3:13-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Christmas: Past, Present, Future

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 27, 2025

Jesus came to save us, is transforming us today, and will return in glory to take us home forever. Trust Him now.

INTRODUCTION Christmas always pulls us into memory. We can’t help it. Every song, every smell, every blinking light seems to whisper something from yesterday. I have ornaments on my tree that are so old they have seen better decades. Some are handmade, held together by glue and nostalgia. Others ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:35, Luke 1:37, John 11:25-26, Matthew 24:30-31

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Third Sunday Of Easter - Year A

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Apr 6, 2020

The first stage of the Emmaus story is the broken dream.

One Sunday a parochial vicar was doing a children's talk, using a telephone to illustrate the idea of prayer. "You talk to people on the telephone but you don't see them on the other end of the line, do you?” he began. The children shook their heads in agreement. "Well, talking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Catholic

When Bad Things Happen?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 31, 2018

The Body of Christ needs to learn how to administer “Good Grief” in loss, in crisis and in trauma situations of life.

Video from BluefishTv: “Faith Tested” When Bad Things Happen? Is God really in control? Opening thought: My sermon today is in response to a questions that was asked me a while back. Thesis: The Body of Christ needs to learn how to administer “Good Grief” in loss, in crisis and in trauma ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-5, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 Peter 4:12-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It’s Time To Move On Series

Contributed by Dr. Lewis W. Gregory on Dec 31, 2021

Past mistakes, failures and heartaches can be debilitating. We tend to either deny our past or try to compensate for our past. But neither resolve the damaging effects of our past. We need to move on. But how?

“Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18 LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND - If you hope to make progress in this new year, then you must leave last year behind. The past is over and done with. Don’t dwell on what could have been or should have been. It is what ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18, Philippians 3:13, James 4:7, Romans 12:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baccalaureate Service 2024

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Jun 2, 2024

Encouraging words for those who have graduated high school.

Note: I reviewed many messages on Baccalaureate in this site. So may overlap some ideas. Let me first begin by saying congratulations. I know you have heard that a lot. But this is a big accomplishment. To me this will mean a lot to you especially as you look back. It may surprise you, but I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14, Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Church Of God

Oh, For The Good Old Days!

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 20, 2014

A sermon on how to view our past (Material adapted from Dan Blazer in his book, Life Is Worth Living, chapter 9)

Introduction: Solomon reminds us that there are 4 dimensions of time that should be important to us: past, present, future and eternity. The time dimensions that should be most important to Christians are the present and eternity. Nevertheless, there is a message here for us about the past. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dreams, Drama And Providence Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Oct 14, 2025

As we continue to look at the life of Joseph we will see the incredible intricacies of God’s providential plan despite all the injustices, the anger and abuse he suffered, the word says that the Lord was with him.

In recent years, months, and weeks, we have witnessed the escalation of hatred, bitterness, and violence around the world. This escalating anger and unrest points to deeper struggles going on in people’s hearts. The question is where is God? What is he doing, what good could possibly come out of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgetting And Focusing Series

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 8, 2017

Release your past to Christ, both successes and failures. Reach toward your glorious future, living with one foot in eternity as you remember where you’re heading. And daily seek to grow closer to Christ. Make it your daily ambition to know Christ better.

Philippians 3:10-14 Forgetting and Focusing I noticed an odd phenomenon in the military. When people were drawing close to retirement or their discharge date, their whole demeanor changed. They started dragging to formation. Their PT efforts became weakened. Their work grew subpar, or average at ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Letter To Me

Contributed by James White on Mar 31, 2011

HOW you were born the 1st time makes no difference… OH but WHAT a difference being Born Again makes. It doesn’t change your past, but it releases you from it. It will change your present and make you brand spanking NEW.

Brad Paisley wrote and sings a song which I am borrowing the title from today. “Letter to me” speaks of a desire to send a message to his own past self. It’s a note of encouragement…words to the wise and hope for the future. From the moment of our birth, we begin a lifelong ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Locked Up In Your Memory

Contributed by Gregory Thomas on Apr 17, 2009

A message that will show how we lock up the memories of our past and allow them to prohibit us from moving foreward.

Locked Up In Your Memory Genesis 16: 1-3 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[change] Smelly Socks The Sermon Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Aug 3, 2012

In a time of rapid change, some explanation, our city is being demolished after a series of devistating earthquakes, fifty percent of the CBD is going. So in this change what can we hold onto what can we be sure of. This is a youth service sermon. Use of

[Change] Smelly Socks the sermon! James 1:16-17. I was born in ward three of Nelson Hospital on the 10th of October 1963. In the same year the tape cassette, something that is pretty much redundant was invented, the Beatles released a single “I want to hold your hand” and on my birthday they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:16-17

Denomination: Salvation Army

Do Not Forget Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

To build well in this life we must remember the past instructions and warnings. Memory is a must to men of maturity, for he who forgets is as bad off as he who never knew.

Virgil, the ancient poet, describes the river Lethe as flowing through a tranquil landscape, and on its banks wandered a countless multitude who drank of its waters which washed away all memory of the past. This would seem to be an ideal situation for sinful creatures like we are, for we are ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-2

Blessed With The Ability To Forget

Contributed by Dr. William D. Poovey on Apr 29, 2017

Blessed with the Ability to Forget

Blessed with the Ability to Forget Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Denomination: Foursquare