21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! (Or seventy-seven times) 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. (Greek 10,000 talents [375 tons or 340 metric tons of silver]) 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

1. Forgiveness starts with me and God.

2. Forgiveness isn't fairness.

14 For if you forgive (Greek anthropoi) others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

3. Forgiveness brings freedom.

Declaration: From this day forward I choose to deal with it. I choose to forgive! I choose to forgive others of their reckless and willful sins, and not hold those sins against them. I choose to no longer nurture hurt and anger, but, instead, I choose to love others just as God has loved me. My love for others will show the world that I am God’s! Amen!

Have each person share a high and low from this last week.

Big Idea:

We are to forgive out of the reservoir of forgiveness we have received from God.

Open Up:

Share a movie that highlights forgiveness. What was it like before the choice to forgive was made? And what was it like after?

Discuss:

Choose one or two questions for your group to discuss as time allows.

- Our main scripture for this series comes from Ephesians 4:30-32 which ends with “...forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” List some of the characteristics of how Christ has forgiven us.

- What could it say to our culture if all Christians practiced active, healthy forgiveness?

- Can you forgive someone but still experience hurt feelings? Why or why not?

- Rather than “forgive and forget” what does it mean to “remember and release”?

Engage:

Spend 1-2 minutes in silence with these questions then share your thoughts.

Think of something God forgave you for and take a moment to thank him for that, or is there something you need to ask and receive forgiveness for?

Ask God to reveal any obstacles that have been keeping you from extending forgiveness and if there is anyone you need to forgive.

Close in prayer by reading the declaration of forgiveness together.