My Epic Journey

release (1): First Things First

BOTTOM LINE: As a recipient of forgiveness, become a dispenser of forgiveness.

TEACHING OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION:

There are some things that you understand but trying to help someone else understand requires a translator.

Because of what Jesus did on our behalf, we can freely receive the forgiveness offered to us.

As followers of Jesus, forgiveness cancels the bill. The cross says we are forever forgiven.

TENSION

Ultimately forgiveness is at the center of what it means to believe in Jesus. It isn’t possible to follow Jesus without it.

Just because we are recipients of forgiveness, doesn’t automatically make us dispensers of it.

TRUTH

In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him (Genesis 4:3-8 NIV).

“If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over” (Genesis 4:15 NIV).

“If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times” (Genesis 4:24 NIV).

What does this have to do with forgiveness?

“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? (Matthew 18:21 NIV)

“I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22 NIV).

Jesus is saying to take all those feelings you have of vengeance and direct them towards forgiveness.

The issue is about you. Your heart. Your need to relinquish vengeance. Your need to forgive.

When we don’t forgive, we are bound by the issue, the situation, the person.

APPLICATION

Every one of us has been hurt by someone.

For some, the battle is between forgiveness and revenge.

Others have decided to play the victim.

Some prefer the passive-aggressive approach.

Forgiveness is the only way to fix what is broken.

LANDING

We are going to have to work at it. Forgiveness isn’t something we understand and then get over in a matter of minutes, days or sometimes even weeks.

It is a process.

What will we pursue?

You can’t afford not to forgive. Whatever the cost—it’s worth it.

Okay, I am aware that it is not Monday but since I missed a couple of weeks due to Christmas, I thought it would be best to post one now at the beginning of the New Year.

ORANGE.  Where Faith and Family intersect.

Activity:  New Year’s Covenants

I am sure each and everyone of us has sat down, at the end of the year, to evaluate the past year and to vision about the coming year.  I know I have.  As long as I can remember I have sat down to write out New Year’s resolutions.  From losing weight, to becoming better organized, to connect more with God.  And yet, at the end of the year, I seem to have failed WAY MORE than I was successful.  The problem with resolutions are just that, they are a resolve to change.  I think it best to make a covenant to change, a contract with God and with others, to live differently.

Application:

With that in mind, sit down as a family.  Talk about what the year looked like as a family and individually. (Parents, don’t be afraid to be honest about your shortcomings as well.  Your student already knows them.)  After you have listed areas you can improve, write out a covenant to God as a family as to how you are going to improve in the New Year.  Sign it as a family and post it up in a prominent place (such as, refrigerator, front door, etc.).  Then hold each other accountable to keeping the family covenant.