2. “Odds are, you have luggage in your hands right now. Somewhere between your first step out of bed this morning and your last step out the door, you picked up some overstuffed bags. You stepped over to the baggage carousel and loaded up. Don’t remember doing so? That’s because you did it without thinking. Don’t remember seeing a baggage terminal? That’s because the carousel is not the one in the airport; it’s the one in your mind.” Which bag are you carrying?

3. “And the bags we grab are not made of leather; they’re made of burdens. The suitcase of guilt. A sack of discontent. You drape a duffel bag of weariness on one shoulder and a hanging bag of grief on the other. Add on a backpack of doubt, an overnight bag of loneliness, and a trunk of fear. Pretty soon you’re juggling more luggage than a skycap. No wonder you’re so tired at the end of the day. Carrying all that baggage is exhausting." “Traveling Light” -Max Lucado Which bag are you carrying?

4. “…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin [the baggage] that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” -Heb. 12:1 (NLT) Getting rid of your baggage:

6. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. -Ephesians 4:31 (NLT) What bags are we to unpack?

7. Bitterness—a spirit that refuses reconciliation Rage—outbursts of anger or quick temper for selfish reasons Anger—a continuous attitude of hatred that remains bottled up within Harsh words—loud self-assertions of angry people determined to make their grievances known Some “definitions”:

8. Slander—destroying another person’s good reputation by lying, gossiping, spreading rumors, etc. Malicious behavior—doing evil despite the good that has been received Some “definitions”:

9. “Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” - Pastor Ron McManus

10. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. - Hebrews 12:15 (NLT) We are called to watch our hearts & each others’ backs:

11. Bitterness—a spirit that refuses reconciliation Rage—outbursts of anger or quick temper for selfish reasons Anger—a continuous attitude of hatred that remains bottled up within Harsh words—loud self-assertions of angry people determined to make their grievances known Some “definitions”:

12. Slander—destroying another person’s good reputation by lying, gossiping, spreading rumors, etc. Malicious behavior—doing evil despite the good that has been received Some “definitions”:

13. “…sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” -Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT) Do not…

14. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) What’s the alternative?!

15. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. - Ephesians 4:2-3 (NLT) What’s the attitude?!

16. “… does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” -1 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) Love…

17. “…forgive us our sins.” We want God (and others) to… But we’re not so sure we want to… “…forgive those who have sinned against us.” -Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

18. Freely How have we been forgiven?

19. Freely Fully How have we been forgiven?

20. Freely Fully Liberally (70 x 7) How have we been forgiven?

21. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. -Romans 5:6-8 (NLT) They (and we) do not deserve forgiveness…but:

22. So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. - Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT) Like him, you take the initiative!

23. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? -1 John 4:20 (NLT) A problem we sometimes have:

24. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. -Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT) Failing to forgive has significant impact on our lives: