Element Christian Church
Forgive Week 7 Restoration of Community
Locations & Times
Element Christian Church
4890 Bethany Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93455, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Welcome to Element
We strive to ensure the biggest thing people think when they hear about Element is Jesus! We aim to glorify God by teaching and living out the Scriptures, transforming community into Gospel community and planting churches.
Baptims, Sunday September 10 at 1pm
At Element we believe baptism is making a public statement about your life and commitment to walk in the ways Jesus calls you to. Many people only get the Jesus “as seen on TV” and don’t understand what Jesus does in “real life” or what following Him looks like on a practical level...so we not only baptize people, but have them write their stories as well. <br><br>We then celebrate as a church family with food, swimming and laughter! We hope you will plan to join us for the afternoon! More details will be released as we get closer to the date.<br>If you would like to be baptized, please email Michelle.<br><br>CELEBRATE WITH US! Immediately following Baptisms, we will have a BBQ. Element will provide Meat, Bread, Beans, and Water. <b>We ask that you bring something based on your last name:</b><br><b> A-R bring salads/sides</b><br><b> S-Z bring FINGER FRIENDLY desserts</b><br><br>You also might want to bring chairs, shade, sunblock and swimsuit - as the pool will be open afterwards. <br><br>This is off-site, please email us if you need direction - info@ourelement.org
"Pray for Me" Campaign - Adult Participation Form
Element is launching a prayer initiative to encourage the older generation of attendees to keep our younger generations in prayer. Complete the following form if you are interested in being paired with and consistently praying for a 1st-12th grade student from September through December 2023.
https://ourelement.churchcenter.com/people/forms/601973High School Ministry Begins September 17th
Kevin is launching High School Ministry on Sundays from 1:30-3pm in the Barn. Email Kevin for interest... kevin.kaub@ourelement.org
Join us for our Meet and Greet after Service
Today following our service we will have a short meet and greet in the lounge. All are welcome.
Stay Connected - Download the Church Center App
https://ourelement.churchcenter.com/setupThis week's song list
Interested in looking for some of the songs we sang this week? Here's the titles and original artists:<br><br>King of Glory<br>No Chains on Me<br>Hope of the World <br>Mighty to Save<br>All of Creation<br>This is Amazing Grace
Restoration of Community
This week’s message on biblical forgiveness focuses on how forgiveness aims to restore community. God’s forgiveness of us individually is meant to be reflected in our own relationships with other broken people. Scripture calls us to rebuke those who sin against us, but also to forgive endlessly. This combines confronting wrongs while being willing to reconcile when the other party is willing.
The Passover shows that all are guilty and substitution is the only way to satisfy justice and love—Jesus’ death is that substitution for us. Mark 11 and Luke 17 give a nuanced view - we can forgive inwardly even without the offender’s repentance, yet full reconciliation requires their repentance. These passages show how forgiveness entails an inward attitude and an outward action. Both are vital—inner forgiveness alone risks enabling harm, while outward forgiveness alone risks being transactional. Forgiveness promotes justice by confronting evil out of love, like Jesus’ command to love our enemies. This distinct love reflects God’s gracious love toward us. Restoring community requires learning to live in the grace we’ve received.
How does understanding our own forgiveness and acceptance by God empower us to forgive others, even enemies? What makes this so difficult at times?
Why is it important that forgiveness is not just an individual, inner experience but also has a community/reconciliation aspect? What does this teach us about God’s purposes?
Internal
Why are both inward (attitudinal) forgiveness and outward forgiveness important?
What aspects of broken community do you consider beyond forgiveness or repair? How does the Gospel challenge that view?
Horizontal
What could it look like to forgive someone who hasn’t repented or asked for forgiveness?
When have you enabled harm by forgiving without confronting wrongdoing?
What boundaries are still appropriate when forgiving someone who remains dangerous or unrepentant? How do we balance grace and truth?
How can our group practice confronting sin graciously but truthfully?
Action Steps
Spend time in prayer, thanking God for His extension of reconciliation through the Cross and ongoing restoration by the Holy Spirit.
Consider who God is calling you to pursue reconciliation with.
In cases where the other person has not repented, consider what consequences/boundaries are healthy.
If possible, pray for your “enemies”—those who have wronged you. If you feel unable/unwilling to at this point, ask God to continue to soften your heart.
Review and work through this week’s additional resources: “How do you reconcile?“, and “What to do when someoner refuses reconciliation?”