How to Receive Forgiveness

“How to Receive Forgiveness” Discussion Questions

Warm Up:

In this sermon, we learned how to pray through “forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12

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Reflect on the Message:

1. This week we made the shift in the Lord’s Prayer to turn from asking for physical needs to asking for spiritual needs. What is one current spiritual need that you have?

2. How might God be inviting you to grow in your prayer life this week based upon your specific spiritual need?

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Scripture Engagement:

Read Matthew 6:12 and Matthew 6:14-15

3. Prayer empowers us to be able to truly forgive others in our hearts and to show that forgiveness through our changed words and actions. Pastor Scott acknowledged that sometimes the process of forgiveness is long/hard and that it takes time for repetitive prayers and repetitive conscious acts of forgiveness to fully do its work. Write on a piece of paper who you need to forgive and why. Take time this week to pray a prayer of forgiveness over this person. Next week, as a group, share how God has worked in your heart to move you closer to forgiveness over this specific person/circumstance

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Personal Connection

4. Pastor Scott asked us “how can we be people who actually make a change in our families?” He then answered by saying “we must first address our brokenness in our own relationship with God.” Reflecting on this, what is one area of your relationship with God that is currently broken and needs God’s healing. Share with the group.

Now, take time individually to acknowledge your brokenness before God and ask Him for forgiveness and healing.

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Group Prayer Time

Be bold and share with the group what you have asked forgiveness or  healing for. After each person shares, have the group respond with “___(name), through Jesus you have been forgiven.”

This is a powerful exercise to demonstrate the “great exchange” that happens in community when we bring our brokenness before one another and verbally affirm our forgiveness from God. This exercise takes humility and boldness, but God always honors that act of faith by pouring out His unity, peace, and overwhelming compassion over the room.