A message from Pastor David Elliott for Sunday May 10th, 2020.
Contents
Video
The service video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/IMxg7ffuMSw :
Audio
Either listen to the sermon using the embedded audio player directly below or use the direct link to the mp3 file: https://altavistabaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200510_David_Elliott_Forgiven_Much_Why_Should_I_Forgive.mp3
Notes
Text: Matthew 18:23-35
Why should I forgive?
- An _____________ has been committed.
- The person who has offended us _______ us.
- The person who has been offended chooses to ______________ the offender from the debt they owe.
- Many times forgiveness is the ________ ______ to settle a debt and _________ ______. (Matt. 18:21-27)
- Forgiveness _______________ you from the torment of ongoing personal ______________. (Matt. 18:28-35)
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
This week take some time to read about Joseph as next Sunday we study…
How to forgive
- Age 17
- Blessings/Betrayal: coloured coat/sold by brothers (Gen. 37)
- Age 17-30
- Integrity: refused to commit adultery/Potiphar (Gen. 39:1-20)
- Age 30
- Influence: second in command in Egypt (Gen.41:41)
- Age 37
- Reconnection: does not reveal identity (Gen. 42-44)
- Age 39
- Reconciliation: reveals identity to brothers (Gen. 45)
Digging Deeper
(For personal study, family devotions or Care group )
- Q1. What kinds of situations have caused you to ask the question, “Why?” Explain.
- Q2. Have you ever experienced a time when you had to forgive someone repeatedly. If so, how did their multiple offenses make you feel? What brought resolution?
- Q3. Read Hebrews 12:14-15. What kind of root is dangerous? What kind of fruit can that kind of root produce?
- Q4. Think about a time in your life when the wisest thing to do was “walk away and cut your losses”. How could that situation apply to an ongoing offense in your life?
- Q5. Read Matthew 18:15-20. Do you think these verses are connected to what Jesus teaches about in vs. 23-35? If so, how.
- Q6. Have you ever met someone who seems to be “tortured” by past wrongdoings that they just can’t seem to forgive? What revealed that they were still in bondage?
- Q7. Read Ephesians 4:30-32. What are some of the negative characteristics of a person who has grieved the Holy Spirit by being unwilling to forgive?