Series Details
Do you need to hit the pause button in your life?
In this two-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll encourages you take a moment to stop what you’re doing and practice two spiritual disciplines essential for the journey of faith: remembering and preparing.
The first sermon, on Deuteronomy 8:1–5, helps you look back to remember what Christ has taught you. The second, on Hebrews 12:1–3, helps you look ahead to prepare for the course God has in store for you.
In the fast-paced rhythm of life, it is vital to occasionally “hit the pause button” and evaluate our spiritual progress. This two-part series explores two spiritual disciplines essential for a healthy journey of faith: remembering and preparing. By looking back to see God’s fingerprints on our history and looking ahead to prepare for the race set before us, we find the perspective and endurance needed to persevere. Whether you are closing one chapter of life or standing at the threshold of a new year, these messages provide a biblical framework for pressing on with confidence.
Looking Back, Let’s Remember the Journey
Sermon Summary Your past is not just a collection of random events; it is a journey marked by the presence of God. This message focuses on the discipline of remembering, as seen in Moses’ instructions to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8. Chuck discusses the importance of identifying the lessons God has taught us in the wilderness seasons of life. We learn that recognizing God’s hand in our past—His provision, His discipline, and His guidance—is the key to trusting Him with our future.
Key Facts & Themes
- The Discipline of Remembering: Intentionally identifying God’s faithfulness in your history.
- Lessons from the Wilderness: Understanding why God allows seasons of testing and want.
- God’s Fingerprints: Learning to see divine intervention in everyday experiences.
Primary Scripture Reference
- Deuteronomy 8:1–5
Looking Ahead, Let’s Prepare for the Race
Sermon Summary Once we have remembered the journey, we must prepare for the race that lies ahead. This message focuses on the exhortation in Hebrews 12 to run with endurance. Chuck addresses the necessity of “laying aside every encumbrance”—the weights and sins that slow us down—to focus fully on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We learn that preparing for the future requires a commitment to endurance and a refusal to become weary or lose heart.
Key Facts & Themes
- Laying Aside Weights: Identifying the habits and distractions that hinder spiritual progress.
- The Endurance of the Race: Why perseverance is the hallmark of the Christian life.
- Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: Keeping Christ at the center of our future vision and motivation.
Primary Scripture Reference
- Hebrews 12:1–3
