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A God Who Loves and a God Who Forgives

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. MATTHEW 6:14-15 NLT

WHAT I HAVE FREELY RECEIVED, I AM CALLED TO GIVE

“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” MATTHEW 18:28-35 NLT

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. JAMES 2:13 ESV

HOW DO I FORGIVE?

Get Real: Confess and Confront It

Choose Quickly

Pray

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. HEBREWS 12:15 NLT

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,… MATTHEW 5:44 NKJV

WHY DO I FORGIVE?

My whole life (and maybe eternity) is at risk.

Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. MATTHEW 18:34 NLT

WHO IS WORTHY?

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place to connect with God and reflect on this message about forgiveness. Invite God to help you see what forgiveness has looked like in your life? Who modeled forgiveness for you, and what did you learn from them? In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus emphasizes how important it is to forgive others. How quick are you to forgive someone? What makes it difficult for you to forgive? What have you felt after forgiving someone, and how has your life changed when you forgive versus when you don’t? Next, think about how forgiveness makes us like Jesus, who gave His life to forgive us all. How have you experienced forgiveness from God? Is there something you need to confess now and receive God’s forgiveness? Now consider: Is there someone who you haven’t forgiven? It’s okay to acknowledge any hurt this person may have caused you. What would it look like to begin the process of forgiving them? If you struggle feeling they don’t deserve forgiveness, remember that none of us are worthy of God’s forgiveness, yet He graciously forgives out of His great love for us. Ask God to help you forgive them so that you can begin to experience freedom and healing. Commit to keep praying this week and beyond, until your feelings match your faith.

Discussion Questions

For our Matthew series, we’re offering two options for discussing the sermon and Scripture. Choose option A or B to guide your group’s discussion time.

(A) The R.E.A.L. Bible Study Method:

1. Read the Passage. Start by reading Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT) out loud.

2. Explore the Theme. What are the main points or theme of the passage? What does this passage reveal about God and/or humanity? Consider these passages in your discussion: Hebrews 12:15, Matthew 5:44-45

3. Ask God. How do we apply these passages to our lives today? How might God be encouraging or challenging you?

4. Live It Out. What prayerful and specific action will you take based on what you learned?

(B) Choose a couple of questions from each section below to discuss as a group:

  1. START HERE: Describe your home life when you were growing up.
  2. START HERE: When someone wrongs you, what’s your natural reaction or instinct: to confront, to avoid, or to hold a grudge?
  3. START HERE: Who has modeled forgiveness for you? What did that look like?
  4. KEEP GOING: How have you personally experienced forgiveness from God?
  5. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT). Why is it so important to God that we forgive others?
  6. KEEP GOING: What do you think forgiveness/forgiving can be difficult for us?
  7. KEEP GOING: Read Hebrews 12:15 (NLT). How have you experienced the effects of a “poisonous root of bitterness” in your life?
  8. KEEP GOING: Describe what it has felt like for you to forgive someone. How has that act of forgiveness grown your faith?
  9. LIVE IT OUT: What do you believe should motivate us to move from a spirit of bitterness toward a heart of forgiveness? How do you think God helps us do so?
  10. LIVE IT OUT: Who is someone that you need or want to forgive? What is a step you can take to move toward forgiveness?