Restoring Us: Forgiveness

Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor | June 2, 2024

Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, JUST AS in Christ God forgave you.

Matthew 18:23-35
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’
In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Observations from Parable:
1) Forgiveness is the decision to cancel a debt.
2) Unforgiveness puts us in prison.
3) The cross of Jesus gives us the power to forgive.

Practical Steps to Forgiveness:
1) Who do I need to forgive?
2) What is the debt that they owe?
3) Cancel the debt.
4) Don’t reopen the case.

Matthew 6:12 (NIV)
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

How has Christ forgiven me?
How am I to forgive others?
With whom do I need to start?

Reflection Questions:
1. How have you seen unforgiveness have a negative effect in your life? In the life of people you know?
2. What makes forgiving people that have wronged you difficult for you? What causes you to get stuck?
3. Where have you seen success in forgiving people that have wronged you? What were some of the positive results you experienced?
4. In regards to Matthew 18:34-35, Why do you think that Jesus gives such a strong rebuke to those that refuse to forgive others?
5. Jesus describes unforgiveness as a torturous prison sentence. What do you think is the “prison” that we experience? How have you or how are you experiencing this?
6. In regards to Ephesians 4:31-32 (referenced above), “JUST AS, in Christ God forgave you.” How has Christ forgiven you? How are you to forgive others? With whom do you need to start?
7. Why is it imperative to look at the cross of Jesus as we extend forgiveness to others?

Agree or Disagree? Why?
When we receive the forgiveness of Jesus on the cross we give up our right to hold unforgiveness toward others.

Review the practical steps to forgiveness…
Which step do you find the most difficult? Not understand?
What would keep you from pursuing forgiveness today?

Practical:
1) Who do I need to forgive?
2) What is the debt that they owe?
3) Cancel the debt.
4) Don’t reopen the case.

Next Steps:
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Notes Page: https://journeybozeman.com/sermons/notes/2024.06.02.pdf