1. Small Groups of 4 1)Why is forgiveness important? 2)How do we forgive? 3)What happens if we don’t forgive? 4) Write down what you think the Bible says about forgiveness WITHOUT USING A BIBLE! 1)Why is forgiveness important? 2)How do we forgive? 3)What happens if we don’t forgive? 4) Write down what you think the Bible says about forgiveness WITHOUT USING A BIBLE!

2. Small Groups of 4 1)Look up the verse Becky gives you. Read it 3 times out loud 2)What do you learn from it? Does this scripture surprise you? 3)Do you like the scripture or not? Explain 1)Look up the verse Becky gives you. Read it 3 times out loud 2)What do you learn from it? Does this scripture surprise you? 3)Do you like the scripture or not? Explain

3. Forgiveness: Different with small stuff and big stuff

4. Forgiveness DOES NOT mean: -That what they did was OK -You have to repair the relationship -We forget it. (“Forgive & Forget” is CRAP!) -You have to tell them face to face that you forgive them if it is unsafe -You have happy feelings towards them - You can ignore what happened and never talk about it again -That what they did was OK -You have to repair the relationship -We forget it. (“Forgive & Forget” is CRAP!) -You have to tell them face to face that you forgive them if it is unsafe -You have happy feelings towards them - You can ignore what happened and never talk about it again

5. Forgiveness DOES NOT mean: -They have permission to do it again -That there isn’t justice or consequences. -We can do it instantly, it can be a process. -They have permission to do it again -That there isn’t justice or consequences. -We can do it instantly, it can be a process.

6. Forgiveness DOES : -Mean that we give up the right to take revenge -Free us from bondage. FREEDOM -Remind us that we ALSO need to be forgiven -Require God’s help -Act as a reminder to us when we are tempted to “replay” what happened and get angry again -Mean that we give up the right to take revenge -Free us from bondage. FREEDOM -Remind us that we ALSO need to be forgiven -Require God’s help -Act as a reminder to us when we are tempted to “replay” what happened and get angry again

7. Forgiveness is not a feeling it is an ACTION and an ATTITUDE CHANGE.

8. If we don’t forgive: -We suffer (NOT them) -We become a slave to bitterness, rage, anger. Things that destroy us -People in our lives suffer. -Mark 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” -We suffer (NOT them) -We become a slave to bitterness, rage, anger. Things that destroy us -People in our lives suffer. -Mark 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”

9. Forgiving Yourself -Acknowledge your bad choices and what you are responsible for -Have a SPECIFIC plan not to get into that sin or situation again -Ask God’s forgiveness. Confess your sin, repent (turn from sin). -Accept His forgiveness as real, true, and TOTAL -Acknowledge your bad choices and what you are responsible for -Have a SPECIFIC plan not to get into that sin or situation again -Ask God’s forgiveness. Confess your sin, repent (turn from sin). -Accept His forgiveness as real, true, and TOTAL

10. Challenge *In the next 2 weeks listen to the sermon series on Forgiveness by Rob Bell. Links posted on our Facebook Page.