Church: A Forgiven, Forgiving Community
July 16, 2023

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We need to know what forgiveness looks like.

Genesis 4:23-24 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

“The disciple must be as extravagant in forgiving as Lamech was in taking vengeance.” ~R.T. France

Matthew 18:24-26 As he (the king) began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

“Christian living - rather than insisting on rights - should be a continual dispensing of mercy and forgiveness, mirroring God’s own character and treatment of his people.” ~Klyne Snodgrass

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” ~C.S. Lewis

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

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.

BEYOND SUNDAY
What does it mean to be the church of Jesus Christ? During this 8-week series, we will focus on what it means to be the community of believers. This week, our focus is on recognizing our forgiveness and who we are called to be as a forgiving community.

1. When was the last time you felt offended by a friend, neighbor, spouse, or family member? How did it make you feel? How did you respond?

2. Read Matthew 18:22-35. Peter asks Jesus to quantify how much forgiveness he should extend to his brothers and sisters. Jesus responds with this parable about the unforgiving servant. What stands out in the parable?

3. Jesus responds to Peter by suggesting the amount of “77 times.” Read Genesis 4:23-24. Why does Jesus reference “77 times” from a passage about vengeance in order to talk about forgiveness? What does this tell us about how we should live counter-culturally?

4. The first servant in this parable owed a debt that would have taken 164,000 years to pay off…in other words, it was impossible to pay off. As followers of Christ, we see ourselves as the first servant in this parable who have had our great debts erased. How does it sit with you to contemplate the enormity of your debt?

5. How does the enormity of your debt reframe the magnitude of God’s forgiveness to you?

6. The first servant was within his rights to demand payment from the second servant. Where did he go wrong? Why was the king disappointed?

7. Klyne Snodgrass writes, “Christian living -- rather than insisting on rights -- should be a continual dispensing of mercy and forgiveness, mirroring God’s own character and treatment of his people.” How might this look in our relationships? How have you seen this play out?

Daily Prayer:
Lord, help me to remember how desperate I am for your constant forgiveness. Let me not forget the great cost of my rescue. Give me the strength and grace to extend your extravagant forgiveness to others.

For PCC's budgeted giving year
(June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024)

Annual Budget: $3,100,000

Giving Update (as of 7/11/23)
Needed to Date: $775,000
Giving to Date: $209,969
Shortfall to Date: $565,031