Forgiven Much: The Road of Reconciliation

A message from Pastor David Elliott for Sunday May 24th, 2020.

Video

The service video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/D5Lcr12XBuQ :

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/2020/06/20200524_sermonaudio_forgiven_much_shrink.mp3

Notes

PDF Sermon Notes

1. _________ is into reconciliation big time.

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18)

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. (Psalm 133:1)

2. Reconciliation depends upon ________.

3. Reconciliation is always preferable but not always
_______________.

(Rom. 12:10–18)

4. Reconciliation is often a _______________.

1. REPENTANCE

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)

Do two walk together unless they be agree to do so? (Amos 3:3)

Repentance means I acknowledge my mistake, the _________ I have caused and my desire to go a new _________________.

2. RESTITUTION (Luke 19:1–7)

Restitution means I voluntarily seek to “_________” the person for the hurt I have caused.

Acts 26:20, Luke 3:7–8

3. REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation means I ______________ myself in order to strengthen that which is weak in my life.

Brethren, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline… He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.(Proverbs 1:7; 15:32)

Digging Deeper

For personal study, family devotions, or care group.

• Q1: Can you think of any situations in government or public life where someone has messed up and sought reconciliation in a healthy and humble way? If so, what was the result? How did the public respond to the situation?
• Q2: Read Genesis 32–33. What lessons about reconciliation can you learn from the story of Jacob and Esau?
• Q3: Why is repentance often so difficult? What is it in our “flesh” that resists humble admission of sin?
• Q4: Pastor David said that when you “confess” it means you say the same thing about your sin as God says about your sin. How does that definition impact the way you think about repentance?
• Q5: In 2 Corinthians 5:18 Paul says that God has “reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” What did Jesus have to do in order to make reconciliation possible?
• Q6: If you are hoping for reconciliation in a particular relationship, which of the three ingredients required may be lacking or require additional effort? Explain.