Offering Forgiveness to Those Who Have Hurt Us - Why? Sermon Notes

"Offering forgiveness to those who have hurt us – Why?"

Patuxent Presbyterian Church

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Matthew 18:15-17                           

Matthew 6:9-15                              

Genesis 50:15-21

What is to be our initial response to those who have hurt us? Luke 6:27-28

“’…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…’”

Q: For whom do you need to pray who has mistreated you?

How many times are we to forgive those who have hurt us? Matthew 18:21-22

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” 

Q: Who do you need to keep on forgiving?

Why do I need to be the one who goes to the one who hurt me and offer forgiveness – shouldn’t they come to me? Matthew 18:15

“”If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.’”

Q: Do whom do you need to go and offer forgiveness by discussing with them how they have hurt you?

What can an offer of forgiveness confrontation look like?

Genesis 50:15-21

-          Sometimes a fear of vengeance – v15

“’What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’”

-          Sometimes a request for forgiveness – v17

“’Now please forgive the sins of the servants of God of your father.’”

-          Forgiveness in the context of God’s sovereignty – v19

“’Do not be afraid. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…’”

Offering forgiveness to those who have hurt us – Why? Matthew 6:12,14-15

“’Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us…For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.’”   

Q; Reflective questions:

Where in our own life, your own history, are you having trouble finding forgiveness for yourself?  

Write the names of people you haven’t forgiven. How does this relate to your answer above based on Matthew 6:12,14-15?

THIS WEEK

Each day spend time on the questions in this outline – ask the Holy Spirit to help you know what the right answer before God is for you, and to give you a humble and willing heart to do what you know HE is showing you to do. You won’t regret it.

“The only day we ever have to forgive each other in is this one.”

Lewis Smedes, 1921-2002,  Forgive and Forget © 1984