Amazing Grace to Forgive

Sermon Series: How Sweet The Sound

Message given Sunday, September 14, 2014

By Pastor Tim at Armbrust Wesleyan Church

Welcome to our group! So everyone can get to know everyone, go around the room taking turns telling the group.

  1. Your name.
  2. And an answer to one or two of these questions. If the group is large, keep the stories a reasonable length.
  • What do you think about the Ray Rice situation? -or-
  • What do you think about the Texas man charged and recently acquitted of shooting and killing the drunk driver who struck and killed his two boys?
  • Did you forgive others more this week or did others forgive you more? Why?
  • What has been the greatest act of forgiveness in your family or life?

Now take turns answering these questions. Not everyone need answer each question. Try not to be the person who is first to answer them all. 

  1. Christian author Elizabeth O’Connor wrote, “Despite a hundred sermons on forgiveness, we do not forgive easily, nor find ourselves easily forgiven.” Why do you think this is true?

In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. aloud to the group.”

  1. Why would God not forgive us, if we don’t forgive others when they sin against us?
  2. What do you understand forgiveness to include or be? What is forgiveness not?

Joseph is an example of one who refuses to let unforgiveness lead to a cycle of blame and pain. His older brothers had sold him into slavery when he was quite young (Gen. 37:28). But he eventually became second in command over all of Egypt.

  1. How did his brothers expect to be treated when they learned Joseph was in charge (Gen. 50:15)?
  2. Whose job was it to punish sin, according to Joseph (v. 19)? What does this say about forgiveness?
  3. How does Joseph himself benefit from his own forgiveness of his brothers? How can a person who forgives benefit from forgiveness? How have you and/or your family recently benefited from forgiveness?

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 says, “Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes..”

  1. Paul says he forgives the Corinthians for their sake. How can others benefit from our forgiveness?
  2. How can Satan outwit us when we don’t forgive?
  3. Forgiveness is good for our relationship with God, good for ourselves, and good for the ones we forgive. Of these three, which was Jesus’ priority? (Don’t say all three; fall off the log.) What does this mean for how mature followers of Christ forgive?

Closing:

  1. Is there anything we did not discuss about this Sunday’s message that was interesting or important to you?
  2. Now, let’s pray. Go around the room and share any concerns for which you would like prayer. Then, either take turns praying for the shared concerns, or invite a few who are comfortable with public praying to pray.