Hard Candy: Unwrap the Hard Sayings of Jesus: Gouge It Out, 08/10/14

Sermon 8-10-14 hard sayings – gouge it out mt 5:27- 30=

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’^{[e] 28} But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

I heard of a pastor who brought an axe to church when he preached on this topic and asked if anyone here took the bible literally……..

When we talk of taking it literally, passages like this are troubling.

Akin to this is the Mark 16 ending…..

In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; Mark 16

A Kentucky pastor who co-starred in the TV show Snake Salvation has died of a snakebite.  Emergency personnel received a call Saturday night that someone at a church, Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name, had suffered a snakebite, Middlesboro Police Chief Jeff Sharpe said in a statement. He said an ambulance crew went to the church, but the Rev. Jamie Coots had left. The crew went to Coots' home and found him suffering from a bite to the hand.  "After a brief examination and discussion of the possible dangers if the wound was not treated, treatment — and transport to the hospital — was refused," Sharpe said.  An hour later, police, emergency officials and a deputy coroner returned to the home to find that Coots had died, Sharpe said.

Coots, who was profiled on The National Geographic show featuring pentecostal, serpent-handling preachers, pleaded guilty last year to violating Tennessee's exotic animals law and agreed to surrender his snakes.

He had been bitten 8 times before

He had a dead finger that he kept as a trophy.

His friends said, well at least he went to his reward exercising faith

Should you be handling snakes?

I can help you with this passage.  It wasn’t in the bible originally.

What?  Read your bible, see what it says.  Not in the earliest manuscripts…….

Phew.  I don’t have to handle snakes…….

But the cut off your hand is in the sermon on the mount.  It is red letter jesus!

Some parts are meant to be literal…….. love your enemy.

Some are not.  I am the door.  He is not a literal door.  Gouge out your eye?

That’s not the point.

Remember that scripture  is not the end, it’s the means.

Its not the goal, it’s one of the things that point us to God.

Its ok to not cut off your hand…….

It is not your hand’s fault.  It is not your eye’s fault.

The part that really needs to be changed is the heart.

And now we see what Jesus is after.  Different hearts. Ahhh

Whats in your heart.

Do you find any sin and selfishness?

Roger horn…….i won’t sin for 24 hours

Big argument

He was thinking of sin as actions only

Is it only our actions or is it also our thoughts

Jesus is saying its more than what we do……..we must guard our thoughts

Do your thoughts ever get you in trouble?

Jimmy carter lusted.

You have power over your thought life

You can let them run

Or you can manage them…….

⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have [our weapons have] divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:4-5

What is in your heart?

If it is bad for you then get rid of it.

We live in a throw away culture

Everything is disposable.  We set massive amounts of trash at our curb every week.  We throw away more food in a week than many people around the world have to eat.

Poor people in many cultures make their life off of what others throw away.

Yet we refuse to part with attitudes that are harmful
We recycle and retool and return to the same old reactions, attitudes and practices throughout our lives as if each one were made of the most precious resources available.

We are invited to change our life paradigms.

People say, oh, this is just me.

It doesn’t have to be you.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of our most beloved old rags should have been banished to the trash heap decades ago.

Story -Fire at grandma’s house from the old rags

They should have been disposed of……..

What is it that we need to pluck out of our lives?

Lets get real about what gets in the way - Money

Mark 10, Luke 18, Mt 19

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[d]” ²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Mark 10:17-22

you lack one thing.  Sell all you have.  Gouge out the money.

Set aside that which gets in your way

Set aside the money- love of money is the root of evil

Un forgivenss-

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Mt 6:14-15

Jesus can I get a redirect onthis?  Is this exactly what you mean?

Does it make sense for god to forgive you if you wont forgive others

Set aside unforgiveness

Interesting that you cant chop off unforgiveness without offering forgiveness

Mt 18 peter asks how many times should I forgive?  7 times?

Conclusion
- If you want to be healthy, ... stop doing those things that harm you.

- If you want harmony in your life, ... stop doing those things that cause discord.

- If you want peace in the world, ... stop doing those things that lead to war.

- If you want a closer relationship with your children, ... stop doing those things and saying those things that build up walls between you.

- If you want to rekindle the romance in your marriage, ... stop doing those things that create animosity and boredom.

- If you want to live in a close-knit, caring community, ... stop hiding behind your front door.

- If you want a spiritual life that fills you up, ... stop pouring all your energies everywhere but toward God.

Nothing should get in the way of the kingdom

You can have a new marriage ... a new body ... a new attitude ... a new spirit ... a new career ... a new community ... a new world - but only by stopping the old destructive, hurtful behaviors you've doggedly recycled for so many years.

The changes we want to come about in our lives will not happen just by wishing them to be so. We must cut ourselves off from our old attitudes and throw them away.

Now are you thinking of yourself or someone else?

No one can judge you over what you may need to change.

It is not up to them.

Only you know what needs to change.  But you do know.

So jesus invites us to rid our lives of the things that harm us and others

For good. For God. For us

Forgiveness Part 3 Colossians 08/28/2011

Sermon 8-28-11 forgiveness 3 Colossians 3:12-17 GINGER
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


Series on forgiveness
Week one god forgives me, I should forgive myself
Week two I forgive you

Today, living as a forgiven forgiver [explain]
I should not be carrying around the knives
To dwell on the hurt is to set up a memorial to what happened

Living life as it can be
Living the Christian life
The abundant life – find the verse john 10:10
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Life to its fullest

what we humans usually do with this is tragic

Rewrite this a some dysfunctional worrywart neurotic

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen , BUT POWERLESS PEOPLE, clothe yourselves with SADNESS, WORRY, ANGER, ARROGANCE AND DEPRESSION., 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another BUT STILL CARRY AROUND THE PAIN. Forgive NOT as the Lord forgave you – BUT SETTLE FOR HUMAN FORGIVENESS. 14 And over all these virtues put on SELFISHNESSS BECAUSE EVERYTHING REALLY IS ABOUT ME ANYWAY.

15 FEEL BAD BECAUSE the peace of Christ IS GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE rulING in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace BUT YOU REFUSE TO BURRY THE HATCHET. . 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, SAY YOU ARE DOING IT ALL FOR GOD, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE JUST CANT GET PAST STUFF..

we forgive our parents, but still carry the baggage
we forgive the old boy friend, girlfriend, husband, wife, but still carry the baggage

this is not easy- everybody’s stuff is important to them
Lost luggage
Someone moved my cheese

Demello – the book reached me

1. Tigers boy and strawberry

2. If I want something from you its not love

Seeing the good
You can be sick and angry or you can be sick and not angry

Man in nazi prison
Paralyzed man
Read demello chapter on happiness

Breaking the cycles of bad thinking


If we are under condemnation, then are we living the life that god wants us to lead?


What this life might look like

I am forgiven and I forgive and I am working to heal the carnage

I know what I am supposed to do and that is enough. I’m not depending on anyone other than god to tell me that I am ok.

I have become Johnny Appleseed john chapman

Seriously pursuing God – putting on compassion, kindness, humility gentleness love and unity
Seriously pursuing growth- the peace of Christ, thankfulness
Living a congruent life

Free of guilt
Free of condemnation – there is there now no condemnation
Romans 8:1-2
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.

Filled with love
Filled with joy

Living out what you believe- do it all in the name of the lord

Freedom in Christ
Those whom the son sets free are free indeed
Not simply freedom from sin, but freedom to something
To live the abundant life


Not with our power, but as we allow Christ to live in us
Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart
How does your life work when you have peace?


Conclusion
Who are we ?
Remember who you are
I’m a sinner = identity
2 cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
I’m forgiven = new identity (in Christ I am a new creation…God is making all things new)

Engage in the good stuff
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And love
– it what we were created for

Forgiveness Part 2 - Matthew 6:1-14 8/21/11

Sermon 8-21-11 forgiveness part 2 forgiving one another Mt 6:1-14 kkkk

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,[a] but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Forgiveness series
Part one – God forgives me, how can I forgive myself
We have to let the voice of grace become louder than the voice of self condemnation

Forgiveness part two – forgiving one another

We all get this
The business partner that stole from me
The rapist, the employer, the church member,
The cheater
The nazi’s, osama ben laden
At the core of every moment of forgiveness is the realization that Someone hurt me

Here is the sermon on the mount
The main stuff
And the lords prayer – the main stuff
And here right in the middle of his prayer and his sermon, is forgiveness

Optional for humans, not optional for Christ followers
To reject the call for forgiveness is to reject the one who teaches that we must do it
So in effect, if you refuse to forgive someone, you are rejecting Jesus

If you refuse to forgive, you are not on board with what God is trying to do in this world

What forgiveness is not
Misconceptions about forgiveness
1. Approval of what they did
2. Excusing what they did
3. Justifying what they did
4. Not pardoning what they did
5. Reconciliation - Restoration of fellowship
6. Not a denying of what they did
7. Forgetting
8. Pretending that we were not hurt

Forgiveness is a choice and a process
If I can wave my hand and forgive you, then what was between us wasn’t very much
Forgiveness – point in time and a process


Consider the consequences of not forgiving
Bitterness
Others are defiled
Broken fellowship with God
If you refuse to forgive, you are living your life in your own strength
Thoughts are consumed with anger and sadness

Consider the consequences of forgiving
Love can come back in
They get grace from me
I get grace from God

Forgiveness is beautiful
In "The Christian Leader," Don Ratzlaff retells a story Vernon Grounds came across in Ernest Gordon's Miracle on the River Kwai. The Scottish soldiers, forced by their Japanese captors to labor on a jungle railroad, had degenerated to barbarous behavior, but one afternoon something happened. A shovel was missing. The officer in charge became enraged. He demanded that the missing shovel be produced, or else. When nobody in the squadron budged, the officer got his gun and threatened to kill them all on the spot . . . It was obvious the officer meant what he had said. Then, finally, one man stepped forward. The officer put away his gun, picked up a shovel, and beat the man to death. When it was over, the survivors picked up the bloody corpse and carried it with them to the second tool check. This time, no shovel was missing. Indeed, there had been a miscount at the first check point. The word spread like wildfire through the whole camp. An innocent man had been willing to die to save the others! . . . The incident had a profound effect. . . The men began to treat each other like brothers. When the victorious Allies swept in, the survivors, human skeletons, lined up in front of their captors (and instead of attacking their captors) insisted: "No more hatred. No more killing. Now what we need is forgiveness." Sacrificial love has transforming power.
We have the power
When the first missionaries came to Alberta, Canada, they were savagely opposed by a young chief of the Cree Indians named Maskepetoon. But he responded to the gospel and accepted Christ. Shortly afterward, a member of the Blackfoot tribe killed his father. Maskepetoon rode into the village where the murderer lived and demanded that he be brought before him. Confronting the guilty man, he said, "You have killed my father, so now you must be my father. You shall ride my best horse and wear my best clothes."

A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"

Thomas A. Edison was working on a crazy contraption called a "light bulb" and it took a whole team of men 24 straight hours to put just one together. The story goes that when Edison was finished with one light bulb, he gave it to a young boy helper, who nervously carried it up the stairs. Step by step he cautiously watched his hands, obviously frightened of dropping such a priceless piece of work. You've probably guessed what happened by now; the poor young fellow dropped the bulb at the top of the stairs. It took the entire team of men twenty-four more hours to make another bulb. Finally, tired and ready for a break, Edison was ready to have his bulb carried up the stairs. He gave it to the same young boy who dropped the first one. That's true forgiveness.

How can I learn to forgive
1. Choose to forgive and say the words
2. Make a choice not to tell anyone what they did
3. Be pleasant to them when around them
4. If conversation comes up, say words that release them from bondage
This allows them to feel good about themselves
5. Protect them from their fear
6. Pray for them –
forgive them,
bless them
7. Keep it up – next week, next month, next year

The greater the hurt, the greater the amount of the holy spirit that you need to forgive

The greater the hurt, the greater the blessing that comes from forgivenss


John 8:36 - He whom the son sets free is free indeed

Forgiveness 1 John:5-10 8-14-11

Sermon 8-14-11 forgiveness – one 1 john 1:5-10
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Is the headline of your life’s newspaper sin or forgiveness?

God’s story of sin and forgiveness
Sin is real – sin is like a dirty diaper
Sin is a great deceiver, promises what it cannot deliver
Sin is not the headline. Love is the headline.
God so loved the world.

Our story of sin and forgiveness
Why is it easier for me to feel bad about myself?
I know psalm 103 says as far as the east is from the west, but they seem to be stuck on me.
Misspelled words – loveable, judgment, forgiveness
I hope you don’t understand this, but those of you who do,
Maybe this is why forgiveness is such good news

Why does my relationship with God feel like a transaction?

Remedies
God has solved the problem of sin.
He has made the way thru Jesus
God has already done the work, nothing more is needed.

Then there is the problem of how we see ourselves
We hear forgiveness, but have trouble sensing that it is for us

Seeing – the board in your eye mt. 7
In order to see, we have to change the way we look at things
When our vision is obstructed, we see the world incorrectly

How do we see god + ourselves when there is a board in our eye?
When our judgment is obscured

God is a mean angry father
And we are unworthy, unlovable, worthless
This is an insult to God

How do you see God when we walk in the light and we see clearly?
God is a loving father, aka prodigal son
God is love
Demello story – tell him I don’t remember his sins


How do we see ourselves? Imperfect, but loved

Pastor shawn shared with me Newborn Baby
We see the sin. I lie. I cheat. I steal. etc. (and we act out of that “seeing”. Guilt/shame/anger/etc.)
God sees more than that. God sees the potential me (The me I am created to be). The grace. The love. The peace. Etc.

Here’s my illustration…..
New born babies.

They are ugly. Wrinkly. Splotchy. Covered in goop and cleaned up they don’t get much better.
But ask a parent holding their new baby and they will describe the wonder, beauty, the grace. It’s almost as if they don’t even notice their kid is a misshapen prune.

Newborns are ugly, but parents see more.
Sinners are ugly, but God sees more.

Let’s take a closer look at this passage
Does God expect us to be perfect?
How do you read it
Light and darkness, good and bad or
Light and darkness, seen or unseen. Open and honest or hidden

1 jn 1:9 if we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

Living in the light or living in darkness- if we walk in the light as he is in the light
Read it both ways
Isn’t this the characteristic of your best friend?
They know the worst about you, but they love you all the same.

Conclusion

If you are in love with God, confession is not about sin. It is about grace.
Will we hold up sin or God?

Ps 32
Prodigal son
Deep desire for the father to reconcile and walk with
What is the headline in your life, sin or grace

What is the headline on the newspaper of your life?

Stories Jesus Told: The Unmerciful Servant Matthew 18:21-35

Stories Jesus Told: The Unmerciful Servant Matthew 18:21-35

Into - different spin - Rob Bell
Peter want to be unforgiving
I forgave 7 times!!!
Let me do enough to be religious and then I want to go back to being human

As if it were optional, for many Christians, Forgiveness is pushed over in the corner, like maybe one of these days I will get around to it

Jesus makes it clear that it is a central part of being a part of the kingdom.
an integral part of being a Christ follower.
Don't think that this is easy - it is a constant battle.

Peter beings in one direction...Jesus turns it around.
Peter wants to know how much he should offer grace to another,
Jesus shows him how much grace he has received.
When we realize how much we have received, our outlook changes...

3 characters
king-unmerciful servant - servant 2
Where is Peter in this story? What role do we play in the story?

the actions of the king
wants to settle accounts - he is a good businessman - bring me the book.
Calls in servant
Servant asks for mercy = Be patient, I will repay
the king does not say, "okay, I will give you more time"...the Debt is cancelled

the actions of the servant
Finds a fellow servant, throws him into debtors prison
I love what the other servants do
the other servants know what is right...they are distressed at the injustice
People know what is right...

The size of the debt
1 denarius is a days labor. 100 denari = 1 denarius. One days pay

6000 denarius = one silver talent X 10,000
60 million days of work 164,000 years of working.
5 billion, 400 mission dollars [at minimum wage]

not large vs small
but unrepayable sum vs a small sum

can the debt be paid
As a side bar, what kind of servant racks up this kind of debt?

Boy this is a stupid king...look how much he has loaned me...
He thinks I am going to pay him...
He is ungrateful and he doesn't understand why the debt is forgiven

I will pay back the debt
Can he pay it back? 154,000 years
Does the king release the debt because of what the servant says?
No
Is it because it is good business?
The king has become a bad businessman
the king is no longer in the business business.
It does not make sense it does not add up in the book.
the king lets the accounting system go
If I stay with the system, the debt will never be cancelled
So for some profound reason, he tossed the book - makes no worldly sense.
There is something going on inside of the king that makes him want to forgive.

How sad that the servant, even after being forgiven, is unforgiving
He sees a fellow servant and busts him
The servant holds onto the book. he refuses to set aside the book.
As long as we hold onto the book, the other person will never be free.

Torture-Great ending...parable about grace that ends in torture...
What is the torture...surely Jesus did not mean that people should be beaten...

The servant could not put put down his book. He carried it in to see the king, he carried it in the streets, he carried it to prison.

If you want to stick with the book, then you will pay by the book
He clings to his books, his idea or right and wrong.
And he totally misses grace
He spends the rest of his life in prison, a prison of his own accounting
This is possible for people...to know God's grace, but still hold the books

living by the book is not an attractive way of living
life rooted in the books - shapes everything
If you hold others to the books, then you yourself are also tortured by the judgement.
It is a torture of the heart and soul

It looks like good business, but it is a form of torture
It is judgement, it is hatred, it is separation it is hell on earth

Do you want to live in an account ledger relationship with God?

What the king does in the story is to decide that we will not live by the books
The man asks for grace, the king gives the grace
This is good news - God has tossed out the books.
If the gospel gets a hold of you, then you have to toss the books.
Because you have seen what torture they can be, and not you are free.
God's love and grace are amazing!

what happens to the debt - the books are gone, but what about the debt?
Forgiveness cost someone
When we exact revenge, we make them pay.
When we hold our forgiveness,
We take the pain, we absorb the hatred meant for them, we absorb the energy
we take the pain and we die to the bookkeeping system so that someone else can go free

What happened to the debt - Who pays it, where does the $ go? Who eats it?
the master writes it off as a bad debt
Jesus tells a story about a king who pays the price bears the cost and sets aside the bookkeeping so that a servant can have a new life.

This is what we are to do - set aside the books
I think of 1 Corinthians 13:5 - love keeps no record of wrongs
If I see myself as wounded, I look for the perpetrator
If I see myself as whole, I have to let go of the offense
If I concentrate on what others have done, I am wounded
If I concentrate on what God has done, I am so overwhelmed by grace that I

Today Jesus asks us to set aside your system of accounting
Offer forgiveness to any persons that the Holy Spirit would bring to your mind.
Let's move forward into the rest of this day and into our future with a clean heart
Forgiveness coast someone
when we exact revenge, we make them pay.
When we hold out forgiveness,
We take the pain, we absorb the hatred meant for them, we absorb the energy
we take the pain and we die to the

Stories Jesus Told:the Two Sons Matthew 21:28-32 1-24-10

Stories Jesus Told:the Two Sons Matthew 21:28-32 1-24-10

The Parable of the Two Sons
28What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'i will sir,' but he did not go. 31Which of the two did what his father wanted?' "the first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you say this, you did not repent and believe him.

Why did Jesus tell this story?
He faced three groups of people...
Which are you? [conf class kids]

So he begins...what do you think?
Consider this. Stop for a minute and think about this.
What is your opinion?

This is a simple story- vs. spy vs spy
Like this, not like that...Like them, not like you.
"tax collectors and prostitutes" are examples of obedience
the religions authorities, the traditional symbols of piety and obedience, that are judged morally wrong and spiritually empty.

Where is Jesus in this story - which son was Jesus?
not one...not a player...sinless and obedient
Clearly siding with the 'sinners'

Jesus was not a part of the "in" crowd.
He was despised by the religious leaders of his day.
Be loved by the common people because he ran with them, he welcomed them, he loved them,
he taught them their life's purpose...to love one another.
The others, well they were unteachable
They were majoring in dogmas and minoring in forgiveness.
They did not get it....

A church in the St Louis area was going thru a consultation
They had no young people and they were shrinking
Recommended to change their rituals - refuse rather die

Story of two sons like - other stories that Jesus told
the Pharisee and the publican - I am glad that I am not like those others - publican - God be merciful to me a sinner

the inside of the cup - Luke 11:37-41
37When Jesus has finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38but the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.

39then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You foolish people! did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

we have a choice in this life of being normal, relevant and regular or being pretentious and self righteous.

Pretentious - to make an exaggerated claim - an exaggerated sense of one's own importance...
The moment you look down on someone else, you become the second son
and the moment you do this, you lose your audience with them...

Pretense in our world - if you are my age, you grew up with it...
Ozzie & Harriet, My 3 Sons, Leave It To Beaver, Brady Bunch
vs Mash, Seinfeld, Friends, Modern Family
[revolutionary road - backdoor look at 50's marriage]
You do love me, no I don't, yes you do
I married you because you made me laugh once at a party

In the first there is a pretend
In the second, there is a reality.

Not all are that don't get it are pretentious - sincere but irrelevant
the street preacher

Where are you?
Which group do you put yourself into

Group of the second son?
I know. I have it. The answers are mine. I am blessed.
Get stuck in their righteousness and forget the work of God

very easy for "Christian people" to hurt others
in your face evangelism
church bumper sticker car - cuts you off passes the homeless
meatballs
1980 radio at Forbes construction
10. The Rose, Bette Midler
14. Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me, Girl, Spinners
32. Sailing, Christopher Cross
46. Heartbreak Tonight, Eagles
55. All Out of Love, Air Supply
56. Cool Change, Little River Band
81. The Long Run, Eagles
83. Heartbreaker, Pat Benatar
87. Sara, Fleetwood Mac
93. You Decorated My Life, Kenny Rogers

Hopefully, you are in the Group of the first son...
We are all sinners. I am in need. I am less than perfect.
Without God, I am a ship tossed by the waves.
But he calls me to leave and I am doing that the best I can

What does this story of the two sons mean to us?
You are accepted as you are, welcomed as you are
You are invited to do into the vineyard as you are...

You the broken, the less than perfect, the humble
You who know you need him, you welcome others
You who are honest about who you are
the fathers vineyard awaits you
You are his voice, you are loved, you are free

Thankful for forgiveness of Sin Matthew 9:1-8 11-8-09

Star Date: Thankful for Forgiveness of Sin Matthew 9:1-8 11-8-09

1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.

3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" 4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority n earth to forgive sins..." then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7and the man got up and went home. 8When the crown say this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Veterans please stand

Intro
November is a time to be thankful
series - start date 33
the ministry for forgiveness - a very simple thing that I think we don't think about as we should or as ofter as we should

what is happening in This story?
the religious crowd is keeping people in bondage
Jesus is setting them free

this story is about friends bringing a friend....
why are his sins forgiven?11
What does this do to your theology?

this story is about a man on the fringe of society.
Broken. Paralyzed. Rejected. Discouraged
What is Jesus expecting?
I am bad, I am unworthy, I am pitiful

Common thinking was that he may have been paralyzed because he had sinned.
Some people believe that God punishes them - John 9:1-3

1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3"Neither this man or his parents sinned, " said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed n his life."

Sandlot theology - populist
Some people think that good people have god things happened to them, and bad people have bad things happen to them, good luck at that.

The rain falls on the just and the unjust. [Matthew 5] You can't expect good results because you have been good. And bad things in our life does not mean that you are bad. It is complicated, and we have to learn to trust God, no circumstances

Anyway, Jesus says....
"Take heart, Son; your sins are forgiven."
Yet he says, take joy.
Joy in what
Your sins are forgiven

To those on the margins, to the broken, to the paralyzed of life
Your sins are forgiven
This is not just a pie in the sky thing.
This is a here and now thing.

Some Christians say, I can't wait until I get to heaven because I have felt guilty my entire life for 60 years worth of sermons that told me I was a sinner.

Today I am thankful for this...our sins are forgiven

How can this be good new for us today?
Big and little sins
They don't seem the same to us.
If it is our sin, they seem huge
God can forgive everyone but me

middle
what is we got what we deserved...What it you were being punished - What if you were not forgiven

Ever have a friend that would not forgive you? Even after a divorce or separation, there remains a judgement.

If I do not forgive Dan I do not release him to live
He can hate me
He can self differentiate
He can so everything he can to more on

Bu the fact remains,
Every time I see him and he sees me, he is drug back into the pain of the brokenness
Only when I release him, is he free to live.

If I do not forgive someone else, can I ever understand the forgiveness of God?

Let's look at this another way
What would be the worst thing that your pastor could say on Sunday morning.
I don't believe in the resurrection. The resurrection is a myth.
What is that bad?
It is the core of the Christian faith
If Christ is not raised, we are still in our sins.

1Corinthians 15:17
17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Why do we act like we are still in our sins
The message we give to others is that Christ is not raised.
Our witness of the faith is that the resurrection is a myth

And this is what Jesus is saying

You don't have to worry about the bad things that you did when you were in college. The bad things you did when you were in a mid life crisis...

We can live with a heart that is clear and clean.

But what I did was so bad and it was just a month ago
So here is the new formula, Jesus died on the cross for everyone's sins
that are at least a month old and medium size or smaller

Either his blood cover our sin or it does not.
These are his words...your sins are forgiven
See, this is good news

This relationship with God, the story of redemption begins with love, not sin
Remember your faith story
What do you remember
I am a bad person - I am a big sinner
No
God loves me - Jesus died for me.
I am forgiven

conclusion
we must make a choice about our lies
will our lives be sin centered or Christ cantered
everything is bad or everything is good
guilt centered r grace centered

to the life o bondage , to the life o being paralyzed by sin, to the life of---a life of joy and celebration
And so I am thankful that my sins are forgiven

So we have good news
Take joy, your sins are forgiven

Dale, take heart, you sins are forgiven. Ann take heart. Bill take heart. Janet take heart. Matt take heart, your sins are forgiven.

Forgiveness 9-21-09 Matthew 6:5-15

Forgiveness 9-21-09 Matthew 6:5-15

Stories of Pain

in the course of life there may be no greater stumbling block than that of unforgiveness
I can't let it go...it didn't happen 5 minutes ago, it is 1, 5, 20 years old...I can't shake it
Friends, it is a matter of focus
Time heals everything?...think about it
refocusing heals everything...
the passage of time often needed to help us refocus on something that can heal the sit.

Focus on Self
all grief is about the self...being a victim...this is about me, I cannot change them or the circumstances...these things will eat our lunch
Hebrews 12:15 Look diligently lest any one fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

If is important that we take care, and keep our hearts clean
otherwise we impact our family, friends, all of life
forgiveness is something that all of us need to find

this is a difficult place to so...give me something nice, give me something easy
Wait friends...isn't this what the call of Christ is about?
that the depths of our soul would be open... that we would learn to say
father forgive them, they know not what to do

Focus on Others
when you focus on problems you take your eyes off of God
that example from Jesus is very important...he did not see the crown as murderous, nasty people, he saw them as thoses who God loves and wants to redeem
how do you want God to see you
we want all the grace for us, but are less willing to grant it to others
if we are to follow the way of Christ...we must learn to see others as God sees them
see them as imperfect, broken, weak

Sermon - Lent 2 Forgiveness March 12, 2006 Luke 23:32-34

• A story or a fable - the Spanish fighter and patriot, Narvaez lay dying, his priest asked him whether he had forgiven all his enemies. Narvaez looked astonished and said, "Father, I have no enemies, I have shot them all,"
  
  
  What is The defining moment in Jesus ministry
  
  Birth/age 12 in temple/ announcing his ministry/wedding at Cana/ teaching and miracles/last supper/cross/death/resurrection
  
  This moment on the cross screams to be considered for the prize
  
  
  Not said in a pontificating manner....not offering peace to a love lost world...not like the Rio de
  
  Janero statue...He is on the cross...
  
  
  Forgiveness is pretty important to Jesus...from the sermon on the mount
  
  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins Mt6:14-16
  
  Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (maybe this goes to you yourself)
  
  
  Forgiveness is unbelievable-what God can do in a person who is willing
  
  When Allied troops liberated the Ravensbruck concentration camp in 1945, they stumbled onto the indescribable horror of the Nazi Moloch-machine in which 92,000 women and children had died. But they also came across signs of unquenchable faith. The following words were found written on a piece of wrapping paper near the body of a dead child:
  
  
  O lord, Remember not only the men and women of goodwill, But also those of ill will.
  
  But do not only remember the suffering they have inflicted on us,
  
  Remember the fruits we brought thanks to this suffering,
  
  Our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, The courage, the generosity,
  
  The greatness of heart which has grown out of all this.
  
  And when they come to judgement, Let all the fruits that we have borne
  
  Be their forgiveness. Amen, Amen, Amen
  
  
  Forgiveness is point in time...you can decide
  
  It is like pulling on the rope that rings the bell
  
  Even after you let go, the bell rings for a while
  
  It takes a while for the hurt to stop..but it will
  
  it begins with a choice
  
  When the pain goes deep the road to forgiveness is long
  
  
  Disclaimer...you don't have to have them to your dinner table. But Jesus does
  
  
  Forgiveness is more than just a point in time
  
  Forgiveness as an on going state not a buy and sell transaction
  
  Not thrown away after too man 7X 70
  
  
  Matt 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
  
  
  22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
  
  
  Are we applying this in our marriages? Not that there isn't a time to give up, but too many people are throwing each other away for little of nothing
  
  
  Nobel prize winner tells the story of a marriage that disintegrates over a bar of soap.
  
  It was the wife's job to keep the house in order, including the towels, toilet paper and soap in the bathroom. One day she forgot to replace the soap. her husband exaggerated the oversight: "I've been bathing for almost a week without any soap." She vigorously denied forgetting to replace the soap. Although she had indeed forgotten, her pride was at stake, and she wouldn't back down. For the next seven months, they slept in separate rooms and ate in silence. Their marriage had suffered a heart attack. "Even when they were old and placid," "they were very careful about bringing it up, for the barely healed wounds could begin to bleed again as if they'd been inflicted only yesterday." How can a bar of soap ruin a marriage? The answer is actually simple. because neither partner would say. "Forgive me."
  
  
  The one who loves little is forgiven little and reveals through self-righteousness the shallowness of grace in one's life."
  
  
  To forgive a partner may be hard, but to forgive a partner is Holy
  
  
  Christians are called to Break the cycles of revenge
  
  Vengeance is mine says the Lord. I will repay
  
  Judgement and condemnation are over...they are replaced by love
  
  But you can break the cycle of revenge if you are willing to forgive"
  
  
  Forgiveness is costly
  
  I must die to my self..to my importance..my ideas, my pride.. I make another important I make a mean person important..I give up my place for them. This is love.
  
  This story sound familiar. Isn't that what Jesus did
  
  
  
  True forgiveness is hard to extend because it demands that people let go of something they value--not a piece of jewelry, but pride, perhaps, as sense of justice, or desire for revenge.
  
  Or the desire to hurt back
  
  
  
  forgiveness takes place when the person who was offended and justly angered by the offender bears his own anger, and lets the other go free. Either the injured and justifiably angry person vents his feelings on the other in retaliation (That is an attempt at achieving justice as accuser, judge, and hangman all in one) or the injured person may choose to accept his angry feelings, bear the burden of them personally, find release through confession and prayer and set the other person free. this is forgiveness.
  
  
  
  Desmond TuTu tells the following story...A (man) had a particular besetting sin, and he used to confess it and God would forgive him. But no sooner had he been absolved than he would trip up and sin again. One day this happened, and he rushed back to Bod and said, "I'm sorry. I've done it again," And God asked, "What have you done again?"
  
  
  
  There is an old story of a priest in the Philippines, a much-loved man of God who carried the burden of a secret sin he had committed many years before. He had repented by still had no peace, no sense of God's forgiveness. In his parish was a woman who deeply loved God and who claimed to have visions in which she spoke with Christ and he with her. the priest, however, was skeptical. To test her he said, :the next time you speak with Christ, I want you to ask him what sin your priest committed while he was in seminary." the woman agreed. A few days later the priest asked, :well, did Christ visit you in your dreams?'
  
  Yes, he did," she replied. "and did you ask him what sin I committed in seminary?" "Yes."
  
  "Well, what did he say?" "He said, 'I don't remember."
  
  
  
  If you don't believe this then you are still trying to be good enough
  You can't earn it
• We are not forgiven because we are sorry for our sins.
• The only explanation for the forgiveness of God and the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is that we are forgive because of what Jesus did on the cross
• Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of what God has done in Jesus
• It is not earned, but accepted.
• The atonement is an act whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy. Oswald Chambers.

So what are we to do.....Story of the two wolves
An elder Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, :a fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guild, resentment, inferiority, lies, pride, and superiority. The other wolf stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. this same fight is going on inside of you and every other person, too.: the children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, " Which wolf will win? the old Cherokee simply replied: Whichever one I choose to feed."

Goes with the wolf story-Which one of these two people would you be? A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. the boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"

Which spouse are you in this story
Love keeps on record of wrongs

Conclusion
Is there someone who awaits your forgiveness
Maybe it's you yourself
Jesus has set the example
To not forgive yourself is an insult to God , it is to say that God is stupid. He loves someone who should not be loved. He has forgiven someone who should not be forgive

So what to do
Extend a hug
Deliver love to those who hurt you
Remember Jesus who said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons and daughters of your Father in heaven.

We need to recognize a curious duality in Christian attitude toward sin, at any rate in the case of the averagely sensual human being. It is to hold that sin is on the one hand utterly abominable, serious to the depths, but on the other hand wholly understandable, ultimately even trivial, for God's ready forgiveness awaits us. On theone hand, you might appropriately get into - and stay in-- a great state about it; on the other hand, you should scarcely worry about it at all. It is not surprising that, historically, different parts of Christian tradition and different Christian churches have highlighted one or the other of the two sides which I have so crudely characterized. - Leslie Houlden, Truth Untold: Meditations on the Gospel (London: SPCK, 1991), 45.

Forgiveness Matthew 6:5-15 Sept 21 1997

Matthew 6:5-15 9/21/1997

Stories of pain:

I used to be a Christian. I used to have a great life, but it won't last much longer. I am 47 years old and have been diagnosed with bone cancer. Chemo has slowed the cancer, but it is just a matter of time. I don't want to die, I want to live! I want to watch my children grow up and want to see my grandchildren. How could God do this to me? I feel so powerless against this thing. If I get to see God after I die, I am going to give him a piece of my mind.

I continue to be passed over for promotions, and I know why. My boss doesn't like me. I am not his kind of person. I have been with this company longer than several others who have moved up the ladder. Doesn't he know that I have a family to feed? Maybe he just doesn't care. I despise the days when he is in the office. Just the thought of him makes me sick.

Will this pain ever leave? My precious baby, my arms ache to cuddle you close again and feel your soft skin against mine. Your sweet baby smells still fill my senses. Your death wat so unexpected and so devastating. You had so many symptoms and I repeatedly took you to the doctor for each one. We went in so often, I worried that the doctor would think I was just a paranoid Mom. Each time I was told it was nothing -- you just had a virus. I trusted the doctor -- until the day you died in my arms. It was the worst day of my life. They told us your heart fibrilated and stopped as a result of coarctation of the aorta. It could have been corrected. You could have lived. When you died, you took part of me with you. Now a part of my heart is forever gone. How can I ever forgive your doctor? More than that, how can I possibly forgive myself? I should have seen that something serious was wrong. Somehow I should have known. If only I could turn the clock back and do things right, you'd be with me now.

I am disgusted with life. Nothing has turned out the way I wanted it to. I always wanted to be a pilot, but my eyesight was too bad. It makes me sick that such a small thing has kept me from my dream. My frustration doesn't end there though. I am the least successful of my brothers and sisters, and I feel that I never measure up. My marriage that started off with such sweet love seems to have settled down into boredom....two ships that pass in the night. I have thought about suicide. I hate the way that my life has turned out.

Here I am at the brink of early retirement. I have worked hard, planned and dreamed of this moment for a lifetime. The "golden years" stretch out before me. How can they be golden when the woman I was supposed to spend those years with is gone from my life? All of our plans gone in an instant thanks to a man on a drinking binge. The years that were supposed to be so full are now only going to be empty. The golden years are truly behind me.

My wife, Becky, has been my best friend for the past 50 years. What great times we've had. Our home was really a home in the fullest sense. It brimmed over with love and laughter, but also its share of tears and struggles. Through it all we stuck together and grew closer with each passing year. It was painful enough when our children went away to college, but heartbreaking when they pursued careers in cities many miles away. But we didn't make a fuss. We silently shouldered the pain and sent them away with our blessing. We looked forward to the visits we were sure to receive. It is incomprehensible that they have made such little effort to make time to see us. I thought we raised them better than that.

I love my mother. I have warm memories of growing up in her care. She was always there for me, always attentive. But now I am 35 years old and things have changed. I have a husband and 4 fine children, and nothing I ever do makes my mother happy. We are never around enough to suit her. She hates my husband and disagrees with the way that we are raising our children. She calls at least 3 times a week to whine at me over something. I think that she is grieving the changes of growing old. But I am sick of it. Sometimes I wish that she would get it together and stop intruding into my life.

In the course of live, there may be no greater stumbling block than that of unforgiveness. I can't let it go.....it didn't happen 5 minutes ago, it is 1,5,20 years old.....I can't shake it. Friends, it is a matter of focus. Time heals everything? ....think about it. Refocusing heals everything.....the passage of time is often needed to help us refocus on something that can heal the situation.

Focus on Self: all grief is about the self.....being the victim.....this is about me, I cannot change them or the circumstances.....these things will eat our lunch. Heb 12:15 Look diligently lest any one fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. It is important that we take care, and keep our hearts clean. Otherwise we impace our family, friends, all of life. Forgiveness is something that all of us need to find. This is a difficult place to go.....give me something nice, give me something easy. Wait friends.....isn't this what the call of Christ is about? That the depths of our sould would be open.....that we would learn to say "Father forgive them, they know not what they do."

Focus on Others: when you focus on problems, you take your eyes off of God. That example from Jesus is very important. He did not see the crowd as murderous nasty people, he saw them as those who God loves and wants to redeem. How do you want God to see you? We want all the grace for us, but are less willing to grant it to others. If we are to follow the way of Christ, we must learn to see others as God sees them; to see them as imperfect, broken, weak.

Focus on God: We focus not on ourselves, not on others or the problem at hand. Why do we forgive? Because we have been forgiven, and part of the Christ character within us wants our hearts to be clean. Focus on God...who is God? Only ground of hope. How.....through prayer.....God-centered prayer.....offering our pain, asking for his love over and over and over. God offers grace freely and fully to whosoever would ask; grace to those who have hurt you, and grace to you to let it go.

Ultimately, forgiveness is about believing that God is big enough to help me, big enough to help me let go. Focusing on Him can bring about a change in my life.....through prayer and relationship. In order to forgive, one must turn attention away from the self and circumstance and again to God; feast upon the goodness of who God is.....remember that His love is directed not only to me but also to those who have hurt me. When I focus on the problem, I have lost the battle. When I focus on God...O, the riches...it all comes in to perspective. Let's compare...lost promotion vs knowing God? Lost childhood vs knowing God? Knowing and walking with God--this is where our hearts must focus. Trust God, give it to Him. Focus on Him...think about Him for a minute...we humans cannot think about more than one thing at a time.

If you have spent time lost in unforgiveness, I want to invite you again to focus on the Lord, to see others as he sees them, to let His love free you to life--a life filled with joy.

Lent 2 - Forgiveness March 12, 2006 Luke23:32-34

sermon - Lent 2 Forgiveness March 12, 2006 Luke23:32-34

A story or a fable---the Spanish fighter and patriot, Narvaez looked astonished and aid, "Father, I have not enemies, I have shot them all.

What is The defining moment in Jesus ministry
Birth/age 12 in temple/announcing his ministry/wedding at cana/teaching and miracles/last supper/cross/death/resurrection
This moment on the cross screams to be considered for the prize

Not said in a pontificating manner...not offering peace to a love lost world...not like the rio de janero statue...He is on the cross

Forgiveness is pretty important to Jesus...from the sermon on the mount. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins. Matthew6:14-16
Mark11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. [maybe this goes to you yourself]

Forgiveness is unbelievable-what God can do in a person who is willing
When Allied troops liberated the Ravensbruck concentration camp in 1945, they stumbled onto the indescribable horror of the Nazi Moloch-machine in which 92,000 women and children had died. But they also came across signs of unquenchable faith. The following words were found written on a piece of wrapping paper near the body of a dead child:

O Lord, Remember not only the men and women of goodwill, but alsothose of ill will.
But do not only emember the suffering they have inflicted on us,
Remember the fruits we brought thanks to this suffering,
Our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, the courage, he generosity,
the greatness of heart which has grown our of all this
And when they come to judgement, Let all the fruits that we have borne
Be their forgineness, Amen, Amen, Amen

Forgiveness is point in time...you can decide
It is like pulling on the rope that rings the bell
Even after you let go, the bell rings for a while
It takes a while for the hurt to stop...but it will
It begins with a choice
when the pain goes deep the pard to forgiveness is long

Disclaimer...you don't have to have them to your dinner table. But Jesus does

Forgiveness is more than just a point in time
Forgineness as an ongoing state not a buy and sell transaction
Not thrown away after too many 7 X 70

Matthew18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times

22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but until seventy times seven.

Are we applying this in our marriage? Not that there isn't a time to give up, but too many people are throwing each other away for little of nothing.

Nobel prize winner tells the story of a marriage that disintegrates over a bar of soap. It was the wif's job to keep house in order, including the towels, toilet papaer and soap in the bathroom. One day she forgot to replace the soap. He husband exaggerated the oversight: "I've been bathing for almost a week without any soap." She vigorously denied forgetting to replace the soap. Although she had indeed forgotten, her pride was at stake, and she wouldn't back down. For the next seven months, they slept in separate rooms and ate in silence. Their marraige had suffered a heart attack. "Even when they were old and placid, they were very careful about bringing it up, for the barely healed wounds could begin to bleed again as if they'd been inflicted ony yesterday." How can a bar of soap ruin a marriage? the answe is actually simple. Because neither partner would say, Fogive me.

The one who loves little is forgiven little and reveals through self-righteousness the shallowness of grace is in one's life.

To forgive a partner may be hard, but to forgive a partnes is Holy

Christians are called to Break the cycles of revenge
Vengeance is mine sayd the Lord. I will repay
Judgement and condemnation are over...they are replaced by love
But you can break the cycle of revenge if you are willing to forgive

Forgiveness is costly
I must die to my delf...to my importance...my ideas, my pridcde...I make another important I make a mean person important...I give up my place for them. This is love. this story sounds familiar. Isn't that what Jesus did

True forgiveness is hard to extend because it demands that people let go of something they value - not a piece of jewelry, but pride, as sense of justice, or desire for revenge.
Or the desire to hurt back

forgiveness takes plave when the person who was offended and justly angered by the offender bears his own anger, and lets the other go free. Either the injured and justifiably angry person vents his feelings on the other retaliation (That is an attempt at achieiving justice as accuser, judgem and hangman all in one) or the injured person may choose to accept his angry feelings, bear the burden of them personally, find release through confession and prayer and set the other person free. This is forgiveness.

Desmond TuTu tells the following story...A [man] had a particular besetting sin, and he used to confess it and God would forgive him. But no sooner had he been absolved than he would trip up and sin again. One day this happened, and he rushed back to God and said, "I'm sorry, I
ve done it again." And God asked, What have you done again?

There is the old story of a priest in the Phillippines, much-loved man of God who carried the burden os a secret sin he had committed many years before. He had repented but still had no pease, no sense of God's forgiveness. In his parish was a women who deeply loved God and who claimed to have visions in which she spoke with Christ and he with her. The priest, however, was skeptical. To test her he said, "the next time you speak with Christ, I want you to ask him what sin your priest committed while he was in seminary." The women agreed. A few days later the priest asked. "Well, did Christ visit you in your dreams?"
"Yes, he did," she replied. "And did you ask him what sin I committed in seminary?" "Yes"
"Well, what did he say?" He said "I don't remember."

God is - Part 5 God is Forgiving Micah 7:18-20 7-8-07

Sermon 7-8-07 Micah 7:18-20 God is, Part 5 God is forgiving

Vbs registration

Back to school drive
God is:
1. god is trustworthy, present everywhere
2. god is our loving father
3. god is not trying to trick you, he is caring
4. god is our friend
5. god is forgiving

Micah is called a minor prophets…..What is a minor prophet?
Micah’s time…sitz en leben
He speaks the promise of forgiveness……
Micah 7
18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. 20 You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago.

Main theme of scripture- Core doctrine of the Christian faith

Litany of forgiveness
Noah, David, Jonah, Joseph’s brothers
Hosea’s wife

Jn 4 the woman at the well.
Jn 8, the woman caught in adultery
The prodigal son
The disciples that deserted him
The thief on the cross
Saul, murderer of Christians

We don’t celebrate these people because of their sin.
but our sin is always an opportunity to experience grace
Romans 6:1 shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?
Your sins can play a positive purpose…..drive you closer to the heart of God

Woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears.
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[d] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

For you to remember your sins
is a be healthy if it keeps you from repeating them
It is bad if you constantly beat self up over them

How well does the church represent the grace and forgiveness of God
· The church has not always served people well.
· We are supposed to be the brokers of grace, yet the churches are filled with people who don’t feel forgiven.
· There are many who tend to be overcome with a sense of their own inadequacy instead of God’s grace.

Easier to talk about forgiving others than forgiving self.
We aren’t personally invested in the sins of others unless they effect us.
We have an innate sense of right and wrong and we are appalled, embarrassed by our sin.
We don’t connect to the sins of others. We don’t feel personally responsible for them.
We aren’t

The result is that we think god can forgive others, but not me
When we think god can forgive others but not us, we feel small,
but that is an enormous thought. Selfish thought. I am special.
My sins are worse than anyone else’s.
God is going to have to make another sacrifice for me

you don’t get another sacrifice for your sins
Well friends it was a Costco purchase. You were bought in bulk…

So: God holds no grudges
Psalm 103:12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

He keeps no record of wrongs….
1 cor 13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Hebrews 10
16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Demello…story of forgiveness….tell the bishop I don’t remember his sins.

God holds no grudges
He keeps no record of wrongs….

There is a time to hurt and a time to heal.
The awareness of sin brings us down, but when we ask for forgiveness, we should become aware of his grace

Psalm 30 weeping lasts for a night, but joy comes in the morning….

What can I say to get thru to you.
Its over. The battle is over the victory is won.
You don’t have to carry this burden any more
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
It is what God does…….