SUNDAY LESSON, 9/21/25
GOD’S SOLUTIONS TO LIFE’S STRUGGLES, OUR PAST
Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Timothy 1:12-16
(first half of the sermon preached on 9/21/25)
In our third lesson of our September series, GOD’S SOLUTIONS TO LIFE’S STRUGGLES, we will be studying what God’s Word says how we are to respond and react to OUR PAST–good and bad.
As the apostle Paul writes the Philippian church, he addresses things in his past that most Jews would take pride in (Philippians 3:4b-6), but we also know that while writing to the young preacher Timothy Paul described a past that he deeply regretted (1 Timothy 1:12-16). Regardless of his past—good and bad—Paul was not going to allow it to deter him from pressing on to be more like Jesus.
Satan keeps reminding us of our past in hopes that we will take our eyes off the goal to be more like Christ. He hopes that our past will cripple our relationship with God and discourage us in our walk with Him. But Paul stressed the importance of “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…toward the goal [to be more like Jesus] to win the prize [eternal life in heaven].”
Come join us Sunday as we study GOD’S SOLUTIONS in dealing with OUR PAST.
1 TIMOTHY 1:12-16
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
