Sunday 19th October, 2008
If you missed the talk from this Sunday, you can listen to it by clicking here. (32 minutes)
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FORGIVENESS: WHAT’S GOING ON?!?
- Re-read the story of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:1 to 2 Samuel 12:23. What questions does it raise? How do you feel about David? Can you see the progression of his sin as it snowballs larger?
- How do you feel about thinking of sin as anything that stops you from being the person God created to be (someone perfectly reflecting the image of God)? Do you find it easier to think of sin as an action you do? Can you see the state of your heart is crucial to this?
- Read the story Jesus tells in Luke 18:9-14. Unlike the Tax Collector, the Pharisee lives his life doing nothing wrong. However, what is it that God is looking for? Do you have it?
- Can you think of stuff in your life that holds you back from being the person that God created you to be? How did it start? Is there stuff you do now that 1-, 2- or 5-years ago would have horrified you?
- Is the reverse true? Is there stuff that 1-, 2- or 5-years ago you really struggled with that now you are free from? How did that happen?
- Do you think there are no victimless sins? If you believe it with your head, does your heart agree? Are there things you do which you think God wouldn’t approve of, but you don’t think is hurting anyone? Why do you think God wouldn’t approve? Stuff like this is really good to talk through with someone to get another perspective.
- Do you think the consequence of sin is the same as the punishment? Read Luke 23:32-43 for a story that illustrates how forgiveness is key to our life with God, but doesn’t change the consequence. What is the punishment when we think of it from God’s perspective?
- Read Romans 6:11-23 out loud. Work your way through it again, this time writing it out in your own words as if you were going to convey all of Paul’s ideas in the passage to one of your friends. Don’t be afraid to read between the lines or to take as many words as you need to get the point and emphasis across.
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Labels: Forgiveness Series
posted by Dave @ 20:09
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Well this is pretty challenging stuff. I know I fall short of this standard. No pretences. Sin is rather like a Trojan Horse infecting the whole PC, but thank you Jesus for your cleansing blood.
I know David and others in Scripture have had to suffer the consequences for their sins, even though they were forgiven, however to see this as the norm in the New Testament does somewhat undermine the good news of forgiveness and salvation, although a consequence may be the vehicle God uses to change us. When we pray, God does sometimes intervene and change things on our behalf or for others who might be harmed by our sin. We don't serve a powerless God, but a heavenly Father who loves us and who reworks the pattern of our lives when we wander away from Him. I will have to find some examples of this. A father who lets us go through every consequence after we have repented is not the one I know. As a father I limit the consequences when my own children mess up. I pay the fine, I speak to the teacher,I support and protect them, whatever it might be, I know that I cannot outdo my heavenly father's generosity and mercy towards me His child, so He must do this for me also. Jesus knows we are guilty, but He steps up and pays the court fine in full. Justice is served and He takes the penalty upon Himself. Something to think about?
the story of david and bathsheba blew my mind but helped me when my husband was unfaithful...God still loved David (and my husband).I wondered how uriah`s family coped with loosing their son. i`m not sure it helped me with the devastation of unfaithfulness or the numbness i felt ,but it helped me to begin the forgiveness process. Caroline
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