Reverence For The Past Insures The Future

Text:

Luke 9:62:

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

 

Theme:

Reverence For The Past Insures The Future

 

Introduction:

As the program explains:

 

“As is said in Gullah:  “Ef hunnuf ain kno wey dey frum, hunnuf ain gwine no wey. E hafa go bak an’ fetch it” – now is the time. Therefore the theme for this reunion is: REVERENCE FOR THE PAST INSURES THE FUTURE.”

 

 

Body:

• Our theme begins with “Reverence for the past”
  • Know the value of the past
  • Know the wisdom gleaned from past experience
  • Know to avoid past mistakes
  • Know to recreate past success and build on them
• The PAST
  • Two ways to access information or experiences in the past – Looking back & Going back
    • The passage in Luke clearly condemns one who “Looks back” (Luke)
      • Once you put your hand to the plough – “You are going on with your life”
      • Looking back is a distraction.
      • Not good because God needs soldiers who are focussed and servants who are dedicated.
    • However, the Gullah saying encourages one to “Go back” (Gullah saying)
      • Need the knowledge of the past – where you’re from.
      • Going back allows you to regain the knowledge missed in past experience.
      • Going back is a proactive action for growth
      • Good because it fills in gaps that help the present and prepare for the future.

 

 

Conclusion:

• Now we can deduce the result of reverencing the past…it INSURES THE FUTURE!
  • Those coming after us have to know “How we got over”…we must go back
    • Wisdom
      • Knowledge + experience = wisdom
      • Wisdom = applied understanding
    • Pride
    • Inspiration
• So don’t LOOK BACK…GO BACK!
  • Don’t look back and criticize…GO BACK and change
  • Don’t look back and admire…GO BACK and encourage
  • Don’t look back and avoid…GO BACK and learn
  • Don’t look back with curiosity…GO BACK with intention
• Remember, Looking back has gotten you thoughts of family, but going back has gotten you the Stewart Family Reunion in the year 2000!
• Now we all can go forward into the future with renewed strength, focus, self-pride, and connectedness.
• Why? Because Reverence For The Past Insures The Future
• So, Every mother, every grandmother, every father, every grandfather, every aunt, every uncle, every brother, sister, cousin, and child…We all must go back!

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