Sermons on Forgiveness
Forgive From the Heart
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often ywill my brother sinagainst me, and I forgive him? zAs many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Ido not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded withhim, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and puthim in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw whathad taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported totheir master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and saidto him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The Christian and Anger
Matthew 5:21-26 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,24 leave your gift there…
Psalm 32
Psalm 32 1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”And you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6 Therefore let…
A Young Man Named Saul
58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 8 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Joel – “Yet Even Now, Return to Me With All Your Heart”
Joel 1:3-4 (ESV) Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten.What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten,and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten. Joel 2:12-14 (ESV) “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart,with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.”Return to the Lord your God, for he is…