The Gospel of Forgiveness: Living in Mercy

Transcription

1 The Gospel of Forgiveness: Living in Mercy WELCOME & SHARING: Love People Extravagantly HOSPITALITY & FELLOWSHIP Welcome everybody joyfully, with a glad and sincere heart As we begin to conclude The Gospel-Centered Life series, recap on some of the things that have stood out for you. Share how you have been challenged to live the Gospel in your everyday life FAMILY NEWS: Up-&-Coming Events MARCH APRIL 2012: - Small Group Leader Training part 1 Mon 19+Tue 20 Mar - GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE at Harvest Fri, 6 April 9 AM - SUNRISE SERVICE: Hobbie Beach Sun, 8 April - 6 AM - Karoo Mighty Men Conf.-Angus Buchan April Contact Gavin Doyle for details SUN STAND STILL: Prayer & Worship Event Sat, 14 April 7PM Stirring Prayer & Audacious Faith in the Joshua Generation as we Dare to Ask God for the Impossible A 6 Week DVD Series is available for order from: garethhogg@harvest.co.za PRAYER & WORSHIP: Love God Extravagantly Select songs that speak about God s amazing love, mercy, grace, and salvation. Spend some time thanking Jesus for forgiving us and restoring us to a right relationship with Father God. Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 1

2 WORD & DISCUSSION: Impart Victorious Lifestyle The Gospel of Forgiveness: Living in Mercy 1. POSITIONED THROUGH FORGIVENESS The message and promise of the Gospel, is eternal salvation through Jesus Christ: Forgiveness from a loving Father. DISCUSS: What is the only condition of God s forgiveness and what is our position as someone forgiven by God? FORGIVENESS FROM A LOVING FATHER positions us in liberty, freedom, life in abundance, peace and joy as a son or daughter of Father God. In humility & repentance we receive forgiveness as a gift from God conditional only on one thing Mark 11:25-26 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Matt 6:14-15 Notes: If you forgive men the Father will forgive you: If you do not forgive, neither will your Father forgive you. Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 2

3 2. THE OPPOSITE OF FORGIVENESS The opposite of forgiveness is judgement. Judgement is rooted in a spirit of unforgiveness which causes us to: criticise, find fault, condemn, resent, harden our hearts, withdraw emotionally, build walls, shame, abuse. DISCUSS: How does being judged this way make you feel? How would you respond to a person who was: 1. Judging you? 2. Criticising you? 3. Shaming you? 4. Finding fault in you? 5. Condemning you? 6. Abusing you? James 2:13 Can you think of a recent instance where you have judged someone in one of these ways? To pronounce judgement is to curse, to bind in chains, keep in bondage in fact it speaks of death. Life ceases to flow and causes a CYCLE OF DESTRUCTION So we need to break the cycle of blame, shame and pain. Judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. We have to surrender our right to get even. That s what God did! Not to forgive imprisons you in the past and locks out all potential for healing, freedom and growth. Lewis Smedes in The Art of Forgiving, says: When we forgive we set a prisoner free and then discover that the prisoner we set free is me. Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 3

4 DISCUSS: Have any of you ever experienced the freedom of forgiving someone who has wronged you? Can any of you share that testimony with us? 3. WHY DO WE JUDGE? Be sensitive to those in your group as you discuss these points: DISCUSS: How does the cycle start? What are some of the reasons for why we begin to judge people? 1. DISAPPOINTMENT: Unfulfilled expectations people let us down. 2. SHAME: When our identity, personhood, is ridiculed, criticised, laughed at. E.g. you re stupid, useless, can t you read, speak properly, catch a ball, fat, dirty clothes, you smell! etc. 3. FAULT FINDING Due to and unhealthy spirit of criticism, perfectionism and/or self-righteousness. 4. SUSPICION vs. DISCERNMENT 5. PERFORMANCE: Again due to a spirit of perfectionism and/or selfrighteousness DISCUSS: Do you recognise if any of these points have caused you to judge someone else? Or have any of you been judged for some of these points? Notes: Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 4

5 4. WHAT IS TRUE FORGIVENESS? DISCUSS: What is True Forgiveness? Romans 15:7 (Amplified) Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God. Forgiveness is more than pardoning it is welcoming into restored unity. We deserved judgement, but God sent His son Jesus to die for us to pay the price to set us free. On the cross Jesus said: Father forgive them they do not know what they do. Ephesians 2:4 6 (THE DIVINE FLOW) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 5

6 Harvest Christian Church - Small Group Discussion Guide: MINISTRY & MISSION: Be a Resource to Others & Touch the World 5. THE RIVER OF MERCY Mercy One who shows acts of kindness, compassion, sympathy and sensitivity. To be understanding of another s weaknesses, and to release grace and forgiveness towards them. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, they will receive mercy. John 7:37 Out of your heart will flow Rivers of living waters. The Gospel-Centered Life is a channel of God s LOVE, MERCY, GRACE, REDEMPTION and LIFE It s the mercy of God flowing through us. We can t - but God can! Consider those that have disappointed and hurt you PRAY for each other that God would enable us to; RELEASE MERCY & FORGIVENESS! If you would like to learn more about Living in God s River of Mercy the book by Drummond & Lindah Robinson is available at Family Transformation Ministries. For Courses, Counseling & Resources please contact Roberta: Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 6