7 Practices for Spiritual Growth | Session 3: Forgiveness

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Serving Others

• Introduction
  • Forgiveness is a pillar of Christian living.
  • Luke 23:34; Matthew 6:12,14-15.
  • It should be in the DNA of every Christ-Follower
• Forgiveness Testimony
  • When we choose bitterness we are allowing someone else run our lives and we’re choosing chains when Jesus has given us freedom. 
• Science of Forgiveness
  • Science proves that bitterness and unforgiveness actually affect and hurt our bodies. 
  • It increases blood pressue, stress, heart rate, and sweat activity.
  • Forgiveness lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and lowers tension in the frown muscles of the fact.
  • Do you believe that forgiving someone can cause improved health? Why or why not?
  • “Forgiveness is anything but weak because the forgiver is not condoning, excusing, forgetting, or necessarily even reconciling with the other because none of these qualities is a moral virtue centered in goodness as is forgiveness. When a person forgives, he does not abandon justice, but instead exercises this virtue along with the mercy that is forgiveness.” -Robert Enright
• The Bible on Forgiveness
  • Forgiveness is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit that is causing one to be more like Christ and in turn, helping the believer grow spiritually.
    • Ephesians 4:31-32
    • 1 John 1:9
    • Matthew 6:9-15
• Forgiveness in Modern Culture
  • “Cancel Culture”
  • Forgiveness should cause us to seek reconciliation, though it doesn’t always happen. 
  • Forgiveness does not excuse consequences or turn a blind eye to injustice. 
  • We are commanded to live a lifestyle of forgiveness, not a life style of being offended.
• Whom do you need to forgive?
  • What is something you need to forgive someone else for?
  • What is something you need to forgive yourself for?
  • What is something you need to forgive God for?