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[57.46 --> 60.02] And that's a command, not an invitation. |
[60.56 --> 62.62] A serious command with serious consequences. |
[63.68 --> 68.26] That's also when we looked at the definition of forgiveness from Tim Keller, and I think it's helpful to repeat. |
[69.00 --> 73.68] Where forgiveness is renouncing revenge and being open to reconciliation. |
[73.68 --> 82.42] And last week, Pastor Jonathan was opening up the teaching, both in Matthew 18 and Galatians 6, that we are invited to confront sin. |
[82.64 --> 84.14] Very challenging thing to do. |
[84.80 --> 91.32] We are invited to do so with gentleness, with love, with tenderness, so that there can be reconciliation. |
[92.46 --> 98.68] And then Jonathan kindly said that, I'm going to come up and teach on all the hard things about forgiveness that no one wants to talk about. |
[99.22 --> 100.20] And he wasn't wrong. |
[100.20 --> 110.00] I want to say at the outset that this is a bit of a unique sermon, because I've tried to incorporate, as much as I could, some of the feedback we've been getting over the course of the last three weeks. |
[110.90 --> 116.30] There's no question that when you talk about forgiveness, life stories come up, challenging circumstances are shared. |
[116.72 --> 123.16] And I want to honor some of the things that have been shared with me, because I appreciate some of the struggles that people in our church are going through. |
[123.66 --> 127.48] And the stuff forgiveness brings up in their life, so you're going to hear some of that this morning. |
[127.48 --> 133.18] If you have your Bible, digital or physical, turn with me to Romans chapter 12. |
[133.80 --> 137.98] We're going to read 9 to 21, but I'm going to focus on verse 17 to 19. |
[139.02 --> 141.70] So Romans 12, starting at verse 9. |
[141.70 --> 147.56] Love must be sincere. |
[147.56 --> 150.46] Hate what is evil. |
[150.84 --> 152.20] Cling to what is good. |
[153.06 --> 155.42] Be devoted to another in love. |
[156.40 --> 158.54] Honor one another above yourselves. |
[159.52 --> 163.80] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. |
[164.80 --> 166.12] Be joyful in hope. |
[167.08 --> 168.30] Patient in affliction. |
[169.50 --> 170.58] Faithful in prayer. |
[170.58 --> 174.40] Share with the Lord's people who are in need. |
[174.84 --> 176.22] Practice hospitality. |
[177.40 --> 178.90] Bless those who persecute you. |
[179.16 --> 181.18] Bless and do not curse. |
[182.14 --> 183.78] Rejoice with those who rejoice. |
[184.16 --> 185.64] Mourn with those who mourn. |
[186.38 --> 188.24] Live in harmony with one another. |
[189.32 --> 193.76] Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. |
[194.44 --> 196.94] Do not think you are superior. |
[196.94 --> 200.56] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. |
[200.72 --> 203.92] Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. |
[204.76 --> 210.56] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. |
[210.56 --> 214.58] Do not take revenge, my dear friends. |
[215.00 --> 217.04] But leave room for God's wrath. |
[217.52 --> 220.08] For it is written, it is mine to avenge. |
[220.30 --> 222.36] I will repay, says the Lord. |
[222.36 --> 226.54] On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. |
[227.02 --> 229.16] If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. |
[229.58 --> 232.48] In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. |
[233.58 --> 238.46] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. |
[238.46 --> 248.50] Now I want to begin by sharing two scenarios that help us get into this conversation a little bit. |
[248.90 --> 252.36] The first scenario is of a pastor of a mid-sized church, |
[252.36 --> 256.78] and it came to light that this pastor had an affair with a member of his church, |
[257.38 --> 258.96] and at first he denied it, |
[259.12 --> 261.30] and then when the evidence and the testimony was overwhelming, |
[261.48 --> 263.72] he acknowledged it but downplayed his role in it |
[263.72 --> 266.20] and shifted the blame towards the other party in the affair. |
[266.20 --> 269.60] The leaders of the church had this very challenging task |
[269.60 --> 272.66] of establishing a healing and restoration process, |
[273.12 --> 275.24] which this pastor tried to short-circuit |
[275.24 --> 278.10] so that he could get back to his position as soon as possible. |
[278.90 --> 281.90] And along the way, he kept reminding his own congregation |
[281.90 --> 284.22] of their command to forgive him. |
[286.52 --> 289.80] Second scenario, a mother and a daughter. |
[290.76 --> 293.80] The daughter learned at a young age that you do not cross her mother. |
[294.40 --> 295.36] There are consequences. |
[296.20 --> 298.62] For denying or saying no to your mother. |
[299.16 --> 303.96] And it just so happened that this daughter met and then married a young man |
[303.96 --> 305.82] that this mother very much did not like, |
[305.94 --> 307.86] for reasons the daughter could never even understand. |
[308.74 --> 310.98] The mother would criticize this man, |
[311.40 --> 315.08] and she would often speak very disparagingly of this man to her daughter |
[315.08 --> 317.20] and to family members and friends in her church. |
[317.60 --> 320.88] And every now and then, she would sort of overflow with her anger, |
[320.88 --> 324.46] and she would say very hurtful things about the decisions her daughter has made, |
[324.56 --> 325.52] the nature of their marriage, |
[325.68 --> 328.58] and sort of explode some of her unfair emotions. |
[329.38 --> 332.46] Only to then pick up the phone the day after she would explode |
[332.46 --> 333.18] and say to her daughter, |
[333.26 --> 334.42] I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it. |
[334.46 --> 335.12] Will you forgive me? |
[335.12 --> 339.10] And the daughter, of course, with deep hurt, would do so. |
[339.88 --> 343.60] But the hurt knowing that her mother would do this again and again and again |
[343.60 --> 345.10] several times each year. |
[347.22 --> 349.24] These are just two stories |
[349.24 --> 352.76] that open up the difficulty of forgiveness and reconciliation. |
[352.76 --> 354.70] You could tell many more, I'm sure. |
[355.82 --> 359.58] Stories of loved ones, spouses, friends, coworkers, |
[360.52 --> 363.38] who have a very creative way of downplaying sin, |
[363.78 --> 367.26] denying sin, creatively avoiding even talking about it. |
[367.98 --> 369.72] They are sorry they got caught, |
[369.80 --> 372.74] but show no real repentance for the damage that has been done. |
[373.06 --> 375.48] And along the way, they can even weaponize |
[375.48 --> 377.74] the Christian command for forgiveness |
[377.74 --> 381.60] as a way of saving face and avoiding getting caught. |
[382.76 --> 386.32] And some of us know exactly what I'm talking about |
[386.32 --> 388.04] in your experience. |
[389.22 --> 391.02] And it's very difficult sometimes |
[391.02 --> 392.98] to even sit under this teaching |
[392.98 --> 394.46] and this sermon series on forgiveness |
[394.46 --> 396.06] when you're thinking to yourself, |
[396.20 --> 398.80] okay, I do forgive, and I will forgive, |
[398.94 --> 400.30] and I desire to forgive, |
[400.62 --> 402.74] but I keep getting hurt. |
[403.52 --> 405.10] And what do I do then? |
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