AfterThoughts: April-23-2023

April 23, 2023

Forgiveness: Who Should I Forgive?

This week, Pastor David continued the sermon series on Forgiveness with a look at the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. He reminded us that:

GOING DEEPER:

What does it mean that "a forgiven people are called to be a forgiving people"? When and how are you tempted to disregard that call? Explain.

While we would like to construct boundaries around how many times we should forgive someone, God’s forgiveness of us calls us to radical forgiveness as His followers. How does this truth encourage and challenge you?

Pastor David shared that forgiveness is not approving, excusing, forgetting or reconciling. How does that change your thinking about someone that needs your forgiveness? How does that change your willingness to move toward forgiveness of that person(s)?

Pastor David shared this definition of forgiveness: Forgiveness is a costly commitment that begins at a moment in time and is also a process over time. The cost of forgiveness is letting go of the wrong, letting go of the desire for revenge, and releasing the situation to the Lord. Which of those things do you need to do this week to take the next step in the process of forgiveness? Ask the Lord to help you take that step.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In conversation with Tim Keller: Forgiveness is a commitment before God to not seek the revenge of a wrongdoer.

3 practical commitments:

You commit to not constantly bring up the sin to the wrongdoer in order to punish them.
You commit to not constantly bring up the sin to other people in order to harm the wrongdoer’s reputation and relationship with others.
You commit to not constantly bring the sin up to yourself to replay it and rehash it.

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ~ 2 Corinthians 13:14

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