Notes from 9/08/11 Caz service

O Lord God, merciful judge, you are the inexhaustible fountain of forgiveness. Replace our hearts of stone with hearts that love and adore you, that we may delight in doing your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Week of Pentecost +13………….. Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone 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 "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 you 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 greatly distressed 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 a brother or sister from your heart.

Title: CONFLICT RESOLUTION—JESUS’ WAY, pt 2

1—Peter initially offers forgiveness (for the *same brother/sister) 7 times. How generous does that sound to you?

2—Most commentators think that Jesus’ response of “77” times isn’t a fixed number, but a term meaning “an unlimited” number. What would you think about a fellow Christian who sins against you SO FREQUENTLY that they need limitless forgiveness from you?

3—Servant #1 is indebted 10,000 bags of gold to the king. Does this debt sound payable?

4—In contrast, Servant #2’s debt to #1 is so much less. What should we conclude about our sins toward God vs our sins toward one another?

GOING DEEPER

5—The Greek word translated as “forgive” means literally to “throw away.” When we forgive, what are we throwing away?

6—What’s the hardest part about forgiveness?

7—Why do you suppose Servant #1 wouldn’t forgive Servant #2?

8—Why do you think Christians have a hard time forgiving each other?

9—If the King is so forgiving, why do you think he acted so harshly with the servant the second time around?

10—Why does Jesus spend so much time focusing on forgiveness?

GOING OUT FROM HERE

11—Peter’s question dealt only with fellow believers. What about relating to non-Christians?

12—How should we take Jesus’ warning in vs 35?

13—Forgiveness sounds like work. What should we do if we have trouble forgiving someone who’s sinned against us?