Get Over It!
Preaching
Lions And Cows Dining Together
And 111 Other Sermon Ideas
Object:
Purpose Statement: We have to learn how to really forgive and accept forgiveness. This includes forgiving ourselves.
Of course, one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith is forgiveness. Everyone knows that, but not enough of us know how to forgive ourselves, others, and how to accept the forgiveness of others. The first thing Jesus does after teaching his followers the Lord's Prayer is to elaborate on one of the main ideas: forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15). We have to forgive in order to be forgiven. Later (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus shares a parable that dramatizes this subject, after he has responded to Peter's question about how many times we are to forgive offensive behavior. The number "seventy times seven" means indefinitely, as we all know. Reiterating these ideas Sirach 28:1-7 (another chance to use the Apocrypha if you are so inclined) also adds perceptive thoughts regarding hate and our neighbor's faults. Forgiveness is one of those topics we are so familiar with, and yet we need to hear more often.
a. Forgive. A major hurdle to forgiveness may be the enjoyment we experience when we have "something on somebody." One of those self help books might have identified this posture as one of the games we play: "I've got you now, you *#@." We can actually revel in "being hurt or offended." It is another form of martyrdom: "Look how I am a victim, sorely abused. You did this to me, that makes you a bad person and you owe me." Secretly, we may be delighted when someone offends us (perhaps this should be an entire sermon in itself). There is much to be said concerning forgiving. How dare we expect to ever be forgiven unless we forgive. When Jesus said, "Let the one who hasn't sinned cast the first stone," he humbles us.
b. Reconcile. Do we really believe that forgiveness is just saying the magic words, "I forgive you?" It means much more: we must repair the relationship, work out the differences, and actually love each other. Without the rest of this, forgiveness never happens. It may even mean reparations. And, it often will mean admitting we were also probably at fault ourselves.
c. Accept forgiveness. In many cases, it may be easier to accept forgiveness than to grant it, as Jesus suggested in the parable cited above. The exception is the special case when we won't accept God's absolution because we won't forgive ourselves. Our remorse becomes so great that we either wallow in self-pity, or simply think our sin was so great we do not deserve to be pardoned. There are acts so heinous we ask, "How can they live with themselves?" And if we feel that way concerning our own sin, we can be severely condemning of our self on occasions. We need to believe Jesus when he said God does forgive us and we must accept God's mercy by receiving that pardon. Jesus said there was only one unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32); which may be interpreted as simply not accepting God's forgiveness.
d. Change. In order that we might truly be forgiven, it is imperative we give up the sin we are asking pardon for, or that we eliminate the offensive activity or attitude.
e. Forget it! Get over it! Let it go; never dredge up bygone altercations or alienations. In marriages it is easy to let the heat of a current argument tempt us to resurrect some past difference, hurt, or offense with which to remind the other party, "Remember that bad thing you did?" If we cannot forget it and get over it, it was never forgiven.
Of course, one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith is forgiveness. Everyone knows that, but not enough of us know how to forgive ourselves, others, and how to accept the forgiveness of others. The first thing Jesus does after teaching his followers the Lord's Prayer is to elaborate on one of the main ideas: forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15). We have to forgive in order to be forgiven. Later (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus shares a parable that dramatizes this subject, after he has responded to Peter's question about how many times we are to forgive offensive behavior. The number "seventy times seven" means indefinitely, as we all know. Reiterating these ideas Sirach 28:1-7 (another chance to use the Apocrypha if you are so inclined) also adds perceptive thoughts regarding hate and our neighbor's faults. Forgiveness is one of those topics we are so familiar with, and yet we need to hear more often.
a. Forgive. A major hurdle to forgiveness may be the enjoyment we experience when we have "something on somebody." One of those self help books might have identified this posture as one of the games we play: "I've got you now, you *#@." We can actually revel in "being hurt or offended." It is another form of martyrdom: "Look how I am a victim, sorely abused. You did this to me, that makes you a bad person and you owe me." Secretly, we may be delighted when someone offends us (perhaps this should be an entire sermon in itself). There is much to be said concerning forgiving. How dare we expect to ever be forgiven unless we forgive. When Jesus said, "Let the one who hasn't sinned cast the first stone," he humbles us.
b. Reconcile. Do we really believe that forgiveness is just saying the magic words, "I forgive you?" It means much more: we must repair the relationship, work out the differences, and actually love each other. Without the rest of this, forgiveness never happens. It may even mean reparations. And, it often will mean admitting we were also probably at fault ourselves.
c. Accept forgiveness. In many cases, it may be easier to accept forgiveness than to grant it, as Jesus suggested in the parable cited above. The exception is the special case when we won't accept God's absolution because we won't forgive ourselves. Our remorse becomes so great that we either wallow in self-pity, or simply think our sin was so great we do not deserve to be pardoned. There are acts so heinous we ask, "How can they live with themselves?" And if we feel that way concerning our own sin, we can be severely condemning of our self on occasions. We need to believe Jesus when he said God does forgive us and we must accept God's mercy by receiving that pardon. Jesus said there was only one unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32); which may be interpreted as simply not accepting God's forgiveness.
d. Change. In order that we might truly be forgiven, it is imperative we give up the sin we are asking pardon for, or that we eliminate the offensive activity or attitude.
e. Forget it! Get over it! Let it go; never dredge up bygone altercations or alienations. In marriages it is easy to let the heat of a current argument tempt us to resurrect some past difference, hurt, or offense with which to remind the other party, "Remember that bad thing you did?" If we cannot forget it and get over it, it was never forgiven.
