Experience forgiveness THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 1 John 1:9-10 NLT
Acts 3:19 NASB
Express forgiveness Matthew 6:12 NLT
Colossians 3:13 NLT
Titus 3:4-6 NLT
SIN: Living in a way that is contrary to the way God declares in His Word. Sin shatters shalom and creates alienation between God and others. It results in a debt that must be paid. FORGIVENESS: The gift of grace God gives to all who receive His Son Jesus Christ; where the debt is paid in full, and the guilty are released from the penalty of sin.
Romans 4:7-8 NLT
Explore forgiveness
WE BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND LIFE EVERLASTING
Acts 26:17b-18 NLT
This Study Guide is designed to help you apply Sunday’s message. Join one of our message-based Community Groups to do this study together. Visit the Groups table after service to find a group!
LESSON AIM: The aim of this lesson is to trust and believe in the forgiveness of Jesus.
B E LO NG in G od ’ s family: _____________________________________________________ CHECK IN: (optional) Let’s briefly share with each other how we’ve been doing this week. OPENING PRAYER ICEBREAKER: When do you find it hardest to forgive others, to forgive yourself, or to accept God’s forgiveness?
B E C O M E like Je sus: _____________________________________________________ 1. On Sunday, we learned that forgiveness is central to Christianity. How were you challenged? 2. God didn’t create the world on a whim. He had an eternal plan and humanity has a central role to play. Sin didn’t surprise Him or derail His plan. Read Isaiah 43:25, 44:22-23 and 55:7, Micah 7:18-19 and Ezekiel 18:23. How do these Old Testament verses show us the depth of God’s desire to forgive? 3. Isaiah 40:3-5 talks about making crooked paths straight, rough ground level, rough ways smooth. How is this a picture of repentance, as it relates to our hearts? Luke 3:2-6 repeats Isaiah and applies those verses to Jesus in verse 6 when He says, “all people will see God’s salvation.” How are God’s salvation and His forgiveness related? What role does repentance play?
4. Luke 15:4-32 contains three parables. What do they have in common? 5. God forgives us so completely that He can relate to us as if we’d never sinned. Read Ephesians 4:32. He asks us to do the same for each other. Sometimes forgiving others is nearly impossible. How can we do this?
BL ES S o th er s : _____________________________________________________ Read the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11. Jesus turned the spotlight around to point to her accusers. What do we learn about forgiveness in this story from the perspective of the woman? What about from the perspective of the accusers?
BUI L D G o d ’s k i n g d o m : _____________________________________________________ Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught about the coming kingdom of God. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to seek God’s kingdom above everything else. Matthew 18:21-35 tells the parable of the unmerciful servant. How is mercy the dominant theme in the kingdom of God? How can we apply this within the church?
BEL I EV E G o d a n d a c t i n fa i t h : _____________________________________________________ Read Psalm 130:3-4, Jeremiah 31:33-34, Jeremiah 32:38-39, Ezekiel 37:26-28, Hebrews 8:10 and Revelation 21:6-7. How does God’s forgiveness encourage you to be generous in forgiving others? PRAYER: What challenge are you facing this week? How can our group pray and support you? August 27, 2017
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