Teaching Outline—Release (Week 2)
BOTTOM LINE: Letting go involves identifying the offense and trusting God to fix what was broken.
INTRODUCTION
Forgiveness is necessary.
It’s a must if we are to become the people God designed us to be.
TENSION
Our memories aren’t always the most reliable things when it comes to recounting what has happened in our past.
Our memory can get infused with so many powerful emotions.
The offense against us can become beside the point, and the bigger issue is the person.
If you aren’t careful, you can focus on the “wrongness” of this person and all that this individual represents, and lose sight of the specifics—the thing they did that hurt you.
We begin to mistake our personal feelings towards someone as God’s feelings towards them.
TRUTH
Forgiving someone. Moving on. It sounds so simple.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31.34b)
Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. (Hebrews 10.17-18)
So how do we get to the point where we move on, where we are able to move past the pain?
APPLICATION
Three ways God forgives us:
1. He actively chooses not to bring up the sin to HIMSELF.
2. He actively chooses not to bring up the sin to OTHERS.
3. He actively chooses not to bring up the sin to YOU.
LANDING
Forgiveness doesn’t come naturally, or easily.
Two choices: Hold on to the past and let it dominate your life OR forgive as Christ forgave and live a life of freedom.
What will it be?
