My Epic Journey

Nine-year-old Noah Smith represents at least the fourth generation in a long line of fishermen and the first among them to catch a gar.

But he earned more than just family bragging rights when he landed the 3.17-pound, 29 3/16-inch spotted gar June 30 from Crooked Lake in Steuben County. He earned a spot in the state record books.

“It feels awesome,” said Smith, who is from Delaware, Ohio.

Smith’s catch was not particularly large for its species. Spotted gar can grow up to 6 pounds. But his entry came at an opportune time. The Indiana Record Fish Program just recently began recognizing the different species within the gar family. In the past, the program grouped shortnose gar, spotted gar, and the much larger longnose gar into the same category.

Smith’s entry was the first submission for a spotted gar. On Aug. 17, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources sent Smith a letter certifying his record fish. How long the record will stand is unclear, but the family plans to enjoy it while it lasts.

“Nobody in our family has ever caught a gar period,” Noah’s father, Ryan Smith, said. “To catch that one and catch a state record is pretty cool.”

Smith baited his hook with a minnow and tied his fishing rod to a dock, letting it stay there overnight. When he woke up the next morning, he reeled in the fish.

He plans on mounting the fish on the wall in his bedroom.

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?

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.