Forgiveness | Mark Rutland
Sunday, May 26
Scriptures
Matthew 18:21-35. Related: Ephesians 4:32, Proverbs 28:13.
Introducción
Welcome to our small group discussion on forgiveness, inspired by the profound message in Matthew 18:21-35. In this passage, Jesus illustrates the boundless nature of forgiveness through the parable of the unforgiving servant. He shows us the immense grace God extends to us and calls us to extend that same grace to others. Today, we will explore the themes of forgiveness, grace, and the transformative power of releasing offenses. As we delve into these teachings, let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, seeking to understand and apply these principles in our lives.
Our main passage begins with Peter asking Jesus, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:21).
Jesus' response illustrates the essence of the kingdom of heaven and the true nature of forgiveness.
Ice Breaker Activity: "Forgiveness Journey"
Assign one forgiveness scenario to each person (doubling up is fine):
- "A friend forgot your birthday."
- "A family member said something hurtful in a moment of anger."
- "A coworker took credit for your work."
- "Someone spread a false rumor about you."
- "A significant other broke a promise."
Activity:
Give everyone a moment to read and reflect on their scenario. Then, ask participants to share how they would handle the situation, including their initial feelings, steps toward forgiveness, and any related personal experiences.
Discussion:
Facilitate a group discussion with these questions:
- What makes it difficult to forgive in these situations?
- How can we apply the message from the sermon to these scenarios?
- What strategies help when you struggle to forgive?
Reflection: Close the activity by inviting participants to reflect on their own experiences with forgiveness. Encourage them to think about someone they might need to forgive or ask forgiveness from. Remind them of the importance of releasing grudges and the healing power of forgiveness, as discussed in the sermon.
A Lesson in Divine Forgiveness
Jesus emphasizes forgiving others through this parable.
Read Matthew 18:23-35.
Matthew 18:23-35 Summary: A certain king had many servants, and one of them owed him a large sum of money—10,000 talents to be precise. Because he was unable to pay him back, the king commanded that he and his family be sold off to recover the debt. The servant begged him to have patience and give him more time. The master, moved with compassion, released him and forgave his entire debt. Our God is just like that—He’s a kind, loving, and merciful Father.
However, the servant, now forgiven and having received mercy and compassion, hardened his heart toward one of his debtors who owed him just 100 denarii. One talent equals 6,000 denarii, so the debt he had been forgiven was significantly larger than the debt owed to him.
Yet, the forgiven servant did not show any mercy and threatened his debtor by the throat and threw him into prison. He forgot in an instant that he had been in the same position not so long ago and had received complete forgiveness and freedom. When the other servants saw this, they came and complained to the king. The master then took this servant to task and asked him, “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” (Verse 33). The master got angry and delivered him to the torturers until he paid back all the money.
Jesus tells Peter that the Heavenly Father will also do this to each one of us if we don’t forgive the trespasses of our brother, sister, spouse, parent, child, neighbor, friend, etc., from our hearts (verse 35).
Although our loving and merciful Heavenly Father forgives us daily, we risk losing this forgiveness if we don’t extend the same grace to others. Forgiving can be difficult due to our hurts and pride, but it is a choice we must make to obey God.
Having received His forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we too can forgive the unforgivable, just as Jesus forgave Peter and the soldiers who crucified Him.
When we allow His healing love to flow from the cross into us and then through us to others, forgiving becomes easier. In doing so, we find peace and freedom.
- Can anyone share a personal experience where they felt the compassion and forgiveness of God in their own lives?
- Are we willing to forgive someone who has deeply hurt us today, knowing we can choose to forgive because we have received God’s forgiveness countless times?
The Heart of Forgiveness
Our willingness to forgive gives God the green light to pour out His healing and transformative grace into our lives. We can see in the Scripture below, Paul's words of advice, and arguably a command to us.
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Christ paid the ultimate price to relieve us of all our debts and all our sins. How, then, can we withhold forgiveness from others when we ourselves have been forgiven so completely and unconditionally? Forgiving one another doesn't excuse them for their actions or how they wronged you, but it does you the favor of preventing pride and bitterness from developing in your heart.
- How does remembering that "God through Christ has forgiven you" influence your perspective on forgiving others?
Dr. Mark Rutland said it best during the message: "Your forgiveness has nothing to do with what God will do in their life. It has everything to do with what God will do in your life."
Embracing Transparency
Proverbs 28:13 highlights the destructive nature of hiding one's sins often due to pride, fear, or a desire to maintain a facade of righteousness.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
Hiding sin creates spiritual stagnation, isolating us from God's grace and the support of our faith community. When we hide our sins, we attempt to manage them on our own, but this leads to a lack of peace, spiritual health, and overall well-being.
God's message is clear: any attempt to conceal sin will only lead to personal turmoil and spiritual decay.
- What does it mean to "conceal" one's sins, and why might someone choose to do this?
- According to Proverbs 28:13, what are the consequences of concealing sin?
The second part of Proverbs 28:13 offers a hopeful alternative. Confession and renunciation of sins bring us into the light of God's mercy and forgiveness. Confession means openly acknowledging our sins before God and others, breaking the hold that hidden sin has on our lives. Renunciation means turning away from those sins, committing to change our ways, and seeking God's help to overcome our weaknesses.
- What does it mean to "confess and renounce" sins, and what are the benefits of doing so?
- How can regular self-examination and prayer help in the process of confession and renunciation of sins?
God's mercy is abundantly available to those who confess and turn from their sins. This act of humility allows us to receive God's grace, bringing healing, peace, and spiritual growth.
- Why is creating a safe and supportive environment important for group confession and sharing?
- What practical steps can someone take to confess and renounce their sins effectively?
While concealing sin leads to spiritual and relational stagnation, confession and renunciation open the door to living in the fullness of God's grace and love.
Who Can Do This?
Ponder these points from the message:
Forgiveness is a process. Oftentimes, you must forgive the same transgression over and over; it’s something you work at. Take your hands off the rope of unforgiveness. The emotional echo may ring for a while, but you must keep on forgiving. View this 90 second clip for a story of Corrie ten Boom.
If Jesus forgave those who killed him, you can forgive anyone who’s wronged you. If there’s someone you need to forgive, let the forgiveness from the Cross flow from God into you and out to the other person.
Forgiveness doesn’t set them free; it sets you free. Forgiving someone that hurt you may feel like you’re letting them off the hook. But forgiving someone has nothing to do with how God deals with that person; it has to do with how God will deal with you!
Conclusion
As we conclude our discussion on forgiveness, remember that it is both challenging and liberating. It requires releasing our hurts to God and allowing His grace to flow through us. Forgiveness frees us from bitterness and opens us to God's healing.
May we leave inspired to forgive as we have been forgiven, embracing Jesus' abundant grace. Let’s pray for the strength to forgive those who have wronged us and the grace to seek forgiveness where we have fallen short. May God's love and mercy transform our hearts and relationships, bringing peace and reconciliation.
Recursos