2. The Walking Wounded

3. Wound
A feeling of sadness, anger, etc., that is caused by something bad that has happened to you
A mental or emotional hurt or blow

4. What is the severity of our wound and how are we dealing with it?

5. “In order to get past and overcome our wounds, we must be willing to grieve them and leave them.” ~ James McDonald

6. Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

7. Forgiveness
- to stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done something wrong) : to stop blaming (someone)
- to stop feeling anger about (something): to forgive someone for (something wrong)
- to stop requiring payment of something that is owed

8. How long does it take us to forgive the person who wounded us?

9. Luke 23:32-34
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 

10. Luke 23:32-34
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

11. Category 1 Wounds are simply minor offenses

12. “We can simplify our lives by keeping our bucket filled, so that the minor irritations and little injustices of life lose their power to rob you of emotional time and energy.” ~ Bill Hybels

13. Category 2 Wounds are legitimate wounds

14. We must deal with these wounds and these wounds especially require our forgiveness

15. Forgiveness means that we fully acknowledge the wrong that was done to us; we grieve over what was lost, and we eventually let the other person off the hook.

16. 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15)

17. #1. GO!
#2. Go alone!
#3. Go with the intent of reconciling the relationship!
#4. Go now!

18. Life Shattering Injustices
Category 3 Wounds are
Life Shattering Injustices

19. 1. Name what happened to us
2. Identify what we lost
3. Be open to forgiveness

20. “Forgive and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37b
“Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

21. 1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

22. We can simplify our lives and move from being wounded to whole by offering forgiveness to those who caused the injustice, and no longer allowing people to define who we are.

23. Use logo throughout sermon when there are long talking points