Episode Summary: "Remember Jesus Christ"

Podcast: Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Date: December 25, 2025
Episode Theme: The importance and practice of remembering God's providence, particularly focusing on remembering Jesus Christ, and the spiritual discipline and privilege of remembrance in the Christian life.

Overview

In this reflective episode, Sinclair B. Ferguson delves into the biblical call to “remember”—highlighting the tendency of believers to forget God’s past faithfulness, and the discipline of keeping His providence at the forefront of daily life. Through scriptural insights and practical encouragement, Ferguson underscores that remembering is both a responsibility and a privilege, central to genuine Christian living. As the episode gently unfolds, Ferguson encourages listeners to make Christ Himself the vibrant, ever-present center of their faith, not just at Christmas but every day.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Discipline of Remembering God’s Providences

• Practical Wisdom from Spiritual Masters

  • Ferguson recalls how “the old spiritual masters” recommended literally writing down God's providences in a notebook as a tool to combat spiritual forgetfulness.
  • He affirms that this is more than good advice—it's rooted in biblical instruction.
  • Quote [00:08]:

    "God's people were told many times, remember because of their tendency to forget. And let's be honest, we all have that tendency."

• Scriptural Foundations (Deuteronomy 8)

  • Ferguson points to Moses' repeated exhortation to “remember” (v.2, v.11, v.18) and the warnings against forgetting.
  • He highlights the rhythm of faith:

    "Remember, don't forget, Remember, don't forget. And the same principle holds good not only in life in general, but in our worship in particular."
    (Sinclair B. Ferguson, 01:05)

• Worship and Remembrance (Psalm 103)

  • The “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” refrain is given as central to worship and spiritual vitality.

Realism About Human Forgetfulness

• Our Tendency to Forget

  • Ferguson exposes the human weakness of forgetfulness, even spiritual coolness, noting that God Himself is aware of our frailty.
  • Quote [02:38]:

    "God needs to remember our frame because we are dust. And to put it pointedly, he knows that we can be careless and forgetful and even cool hearted children."

• Spiritual Consequences

  • When we forget what God has done, we're left spiritually undernourished and weak, missing out on confidence in His promises.

The Centrality of Christ

• Paul’s Instruction to Timothy

  • Ferguson brings focus to Paul’s words: “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,” highlighting their significance as Paul’s last advice to Timothy.
  • He explains that Paul wasn't doubting Timothy’s knowledge but warning against the distraction and drift from a Christ-centered life.
  • Quote [04:45]:

    "It's actually surprisingly easy to live without the Gospel making a profound and constant impact on our mind, our will, our emotions, and then our whole life."

• Active Remembrance

  • Remembering Christ is not a passive act—it’s intentionally making Him the center of our “thinking and our feeling, and our willing, and our living.”
  • Ferguson encourages listeners to keep this as a perpetual “watchword,” especially as believers live in the tension between the first and second comings of Christ.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Nature of Remembrance:

  • “Fixing in our minds and hearts the providences of God in our lives. All that is part and parcel of living well as a Christian believer. Remembering is our privilege and it's also our responsibility.” (Sinclair B. Ferguson, 01:40)

• On Forgetfulness and Weakness:

  • “We become like people who lose their appetite, not realizing that they're unwell. And then they wonder why they feel so weak and lacking in energy.” (Sinclair B. Ferguson, 03:07)

• On Christ as the Center:

  • “This kind of remembering isn't just a matter of how good our memory is. It's a matter of making the Lord Jesus himself central in our thinking and our feeling, and our willing and our living.” (Sinclair B. Ferguson, 05:05)

• Final Word—The Heart of the Episode:

  • “We're living between the past of Christ's first coming and the future of his second coming. So don't forget him. Remember. Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead.” (Sinclair B. Ferguson, 05:37)

Important Timestamps

• 00:08 — Introduction to the theme of spiritual remembrance
• 01:05 — Scriptural basis for remembering (Deuteronomy, Psalm 103)
• 02:38 — Realism about human forgetfulness and God’s compassion
• 03:07 — The consequences of spiritual forgetfulness
• 04:45 — Paul’s admonition to Timothy, practical application
• 05:37 — Closing exhortation to remember Jesus daily

Conclusion

Through gentle, scriptural meditation, Ferguson invites Christians to recognize both the challenge of forgetfulness and the essential calling of remembrance, most especially the call to remember Jesus Christ as risen, reigning, and central in every aspect of life. This is more than memory—it’s the heart of faithful discipleship.