Matt Nelson - February 4, 2024
Forgive Us
TEACH US TO PRAY Forgive Us 2.4.24 There is nothing more transformative than loving your enemy and offering forgiveness to the undeserving. Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, power & glory forever & ever. Amen. And forgive us our trespasses. · Do we comprehend the gravity of our sin, our need for redemption, and God’s unconditional love towards us? As we forgive those who trespass against us. · Will we freely give the forgiveness to others that we have received in Christ? Matthew 18:23-35 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Unforgiveness is often a sign we have failed to understand the gravity of our sin and the finished work of the cross. Forgiveness does not mean... · What the other person did is okay. · You have to forget (or overlook) what they did. · You have to go on like nothing ever happened. · They shouldn’t receive any consequences for their actions. · You never feel pain, anger, or sadness about the situation. · You should allow the offender to continually mistreat you. The potential warning signs of unforgiveness: · Lingering anger or resentment · You relive the offense over and over · Avoidance · You seek revenge · You repeatedly bring up the past · You lack empathy · You hold grudges · It negatively impacts all your relationships · You carry it like a weight in your soul Forgiveness is both a decision and a process · Will you receive forgiveness? · Will you release unforgiveness?
From Series: "Teach Us To Pray"
The life and ministry of Jesus was formed around the practice of prayer. The disciples notice this rhythm in the life of Jesus and ask, "How should we pray?" Jesus gives his followers a guide for prayer while helping them overcome their fears and misconceptions surrounding prayer. Join us as we seek to imitate the life of Jesus by becoming a people of prayer.