Elements City Church
Good & Beautiful & Kind series - Fragrance of Forgiveness
As we continue in our series seeking to grow as people who promote and radiate the goodness, beauty and kindness of God, we will see that forgiveness is a "must have" in that reality. In the midst of the differences and conflicts that will happen in our broken world and within our non-perfect relationships — we need to be people who will continually re-anchor ourselves to the forgiveness we receive from God and let the fragrance of that linger upon us and influence the way we relate one to another.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Welcome to Elements City Church
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new and want to get connected, we'd love to hep you do so! Click the link below to fill out our Connection Card.
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If you have a prayer request you'd like our Elders and Prayer Team to pray for, click the link below to share it with us.
https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fPOEM:
“Tired” - by: Langston Hughes
I’m so tired of waiting,
Aren’t you,
For the World to become good,
And beautiful and kind?
Let’s take a knife
And cut the world in two -
And see what worms are eating
At the rind.
This is NOT further language of division …
This is language of inspection…
We must get at the roots of the chaos in and around us.
“Tired” - by: Langston Hughes
I’m so tired of waiting,
Aren’t you,
For the World to become good,
And beautiful and kind?
Let’s take a knife
And cut the world in two -
And see what worms are eating
At the rind.
This is NOT further language of division …
This is language of inspection…
We must get at the roots of the chaos in and around us.
*remember a portion of the LORD'S PRAYER
May your Kingdom come on earth, as it is in Heaven.
(May the way things operate in heaven, operate here more and more)
The call of us Christ followers is to be part of God’s solution, not further stoke and exasperate the world’s problems…we’re to leverage our lives for God, His good and His gospel within our weary and broken world. To experience and then reflect more the goodness, beauty and kindness of God into our world.
May your Kingdom come on earth, as it is in Heaven.
(May the way things operate in heaven, operate here more and more)
The call of us Christ followers is to be part of God’s solution, not further stoke and exasperate the world’s problems…we’re to leverage our lives for God, His good and His gospel within our weary and broken world. To experience and then reflect more the goodness, beauty and kindness of God into our world.
This series premise flows from a book entitled: Good and Beautiful and Kind, by pastor Rich Villodas
Tonight we examine why the fragrance of forgiveness must be a part of our life and living as followers of Jesus.
Tonight we examine why the fragrance of forgiveness must be a part of our life and living as followers of Jesus.
Truth:
The world is made whole by people who know how to forgive.
Forgiveness — it is the essence of the Christian life. Not an add-on thing, but a lifeblood kind of thing in how were’ to live…
The world is made whole by people who know how to forgive.
Forgiveness — it is the essence of the Christian life. Not an add-on thing, but a lifeblood kind of thing in how were’ to live…
True freedom is in giving expression to the forgiveness you have received.
Forgiveness does not mean:
1. Forgetting what someone has done.
2. There are no consequences to what others have done.
3. No longer feeling the pain of grieving.
4. Reconciliation.
5. Doesn’t mean things will be as they once were.
Forgiveness does not mean:
1. Forgetting what someone has done.
2. There are no consequences to what others have done.
3. No longer feeling the pain of grieving.
4. Reconciliation.
5. Doesn’t mean things will be as they once were.
This notion of: forgiving others is not a decision we’re to perform just when we feel like it, it’s a habit Jesus desires to form within our hearts. It’s how we are too now live life…because WE ARE Christ's followers AND forgiveness is what He does…
Read Matthew 18:21-22
it’s like Jesus is saying to Peter:
You must learn to travel light.You can carry your grudges and follow your anger or you can carry your cross and follow me.
But, you cannot do both.
it’s like Jesus is saying to Peter:
You must learn to travel light.You can carry your grudges and follow your anger or you can carry your cross and follow me.
But, you cannot do both.
Key to understanding the story in Matthew 18:23-35...
Debts never just disappear. Somebody has to pay. Who’s going to take the loss? Who’s going to pay the debt?
Forgiveness is NEVER free, but it is ALWAYS freeing
forgiveness is a BIG DEAL TO GOD
Debts never just disappear. Somebody has to pay. Who’s going to take the loss? Who’s going to pay the debt?
Forgiveness is NEVER free, but it is ALWAYS freeing
forgiveness is a BIG DEAL TO GOD
Forgiveness is something we’ve been immersed with in Christ – and God wants to have it flow INTO us and then on THROUGH us to others…
Forgiveness is to be a fragrance we live with and carry with us
Forgiveness is to be a fragrance we live with and carry with us
In the act of forgiveness we are granted the inner freedom from allowing the wound inflicted from another to be the primary and permanent point of reference from which we relate to the world.
Quote:
Forgiveness is inwardly giving up the desire to get even.
-Timothy Keller
May the fragrance of God’s forgiveness forever be on you and forever radiate from you.
Quote:
Forgiveness is inwardly giving up the desire to get even.
-Timothy Keller
May the fragrance of God’s forgiveness forever be on you and forever radiate from you.
So when “hurt happens” and forgiveness is needed…
When you are asking for forgiveness, keep the following in mind:
1. Listen to and empathize with the other person’s hurt.
2. Make a sincere statement of regret and acknowledge harmful actions.
3. Make restitution for the pain caused.
4. Prevent repetition of the injury.
When you are asking for forgiveness, keep the following in mind:
1. Listen to and empathize with the other person’s hurt.
2. Make a sincere statement of regret and acknowledge harmful actions.
3. Make restitution for the pain caused.
4. Prevent repetition of the injury.
We're so grateful for our financial partners...
Thank you for giving your tithes and offerings. They enable us to be the church, and they help fuel the mission of Elements City Church. Our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis is directly impacted by your support, and we are so grateful for it! You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements City Church app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveWe're so glad you came to church tonight!
Gathering together as a church body to worship in song and in the Word is a great way to be refreshed in God's presence. We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Next Sunday we wrap up our series:
"Good and Beautiful and Kind"
Join us next Sunday evening for worship and stay current with all upcoming events in the Elements app:
- Faith and Family Night at the Tucson Roadrunners hockey game on Friday, Nov 22nd - get link to tickets in our app
-Cookies and Cocoa in the Courtyard, Sunday December 15th.
Gathering together as a church body to worship in song and in the Word is a great way to be refreshed in God's presence. We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Next Sunday we wrap up our series:
"Good and Beautiful and Kind"
Join us next Sunday evening for worship and stay current with all upcoming events in the Elements app:
- Faith and Family Night at the Tucson Roadrunners hockey game on Friday, Nov 22nd - get link to tickets in our app
-Cookies and Cocoa in the Courtyard, Sunday December 15th.