WEEK 7 - OUTLINE
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
Theme: Learning to Release What Others Owe Us
Main Scripture: Matthew 6:12
“As we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Supporting Scriptures
Matthew 18:21–35 • Ephesians 4:31–32 • Colossians 3:13 • Genesis 50:15–21 • Luke 23:34 • Romans 12:19
BIG IDEA
Because we have received __________________, Jesus calls us to become people who __________________ others.
Last Week: Forgive us.
This Week: As we forgive __________________.
Being forgiven feels ________________________. Forgiving someone else can feel___________________________.
LOOKING BACK
Last week we talked about receiving __________________.
What did God teach you about receiving forgiveness?_______________________________________________________________
Why is receiving forgiveness sometimes harder than we think?_______________________________________________________________
Jesus doesn't stop with receiving forgiveness. He immediately takes us to what we do with forgiveness once we've _________________________ it.
ICEBREAKER
“THE LITTLE THINGS”
What's a really small thing someone can do that annoys you way more than it should?
My answer:______________________________________________________________
Why does this bother you?_____________________________________________________________________
Little offenses are easy to laugh about. But what happens when the offense isn't ___________________________________?
DISCOVER
Matthew 6:12 — “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 18:21–22
What does Jesus teach about how often we should forgive?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ephesians 4:32
What does this passage tell us about how we should treat others?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Think About It
What do these passages teach you about forgiveness?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
POINT 1
FORGIVENESS DOESN'T SAY WHAT HAPPENED WAS OKAY
This is critical.
Forgiveness doesn't mean: “It didn't __________________.”
It doesn't mean: “It wasn't __________________.”
It doesn't mean: “You can __________________ me again.”
Forgiveness says:
“I refuse to let what happened to me control what happens _____________ me.”
Forgiveness doesn't change the __________________. It changes the
__________________ the past has over your future.
POINT 2
FORGIVENESS IS RELEASING THE DEBT
Jesus uses the language of __________________.
Someone owes you something.
Maybe: an apology, justice, an explanation, restitution, etc.
Forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean you stop wanting __________________.
It means: “I release my right to personally collect the __________________.”
Romans 12:19 — “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Forgiveness means I stop trying to be:
God. Judge. Jury. Executioner.
Instead, I put the person—and the outcome—into __________________.
What does “releasing the debt” mean to you?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
POINT 3
FORGIVENESS IS OFTEN A PROCESS
Don't tell people: “Just forgive and __________________.”
Some wounds don't disappear overnight.
Forgiveness may need to be chosen __________________.
You may forgive today and have to surrender the __________________ again tomorrow.
That's not failure. That's part of __________________.
Forgiveness isn't always a __________________. Sometimes it's a
__________________ you make before your emotions catch up.
Reflection
What emotions can make forgiveness difficult?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
POINT 4
FORGIVEN PEOPLE BECOME FORGIVING PEOPLE
In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the story of a servant who was forgiven an __________________ debt but refused to forgive someone else's ____________ debt.
The problem wasn't that he hadn't experienced __________________.
The problem was that he had received grace without allowing grace to __________________ him.
“Grace that stops with me has not yet __________________ me.”
God's forgiveness is meant to __________________ through us, not merely __________ us.
Personal Reflection
How has experiencing God's forgiveness changed the way you view other people?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DISCUSSION
1. Why is forgiveness so difficult?_____________________________________________________________________
2. What misconceptions do people have about forgiveness?_____________________________________________________________________
3. What does it mean to “release the debt”?_____________________________________________________________________
4. Have you ever experienced freedom after forgiving someone?_____________________________________________________________________
5. Is there someone you need to begin releasing to God?_____________________________________________________________________
APPLICATION
“THE DEBT I NEED TO RELEASE”
Take a quiet moment. You do not have to share what you write.
GOD, I RELEASE TO YOU:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Now write: “I cannot change what happened, but I can _______ what I do with it.”
And finally: “I release the ____________ to You.”
PRAYER OF RELEASE
Father, thank You for forgiving us. Thank You for releasing us from debts we could never pay. Now help us release those who have hurt us. We surrender the anger. We surrender the desire for revenge. We surrender our need to make them pay. Justice belongs to You.
“As we have been forgiven, teach us to forgive.”
Amen.
THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
THE “RELEASE” CHALLENGE
For seven days, pray:
“Father, I release __________________ to You.”
Fill in the name or situation.
Instead of only praying: “God, change them.”
Try praying: “God, change me. Heal me. Free me. Help me release this to You.”
Day 1: Father, I release __________________ to You.
Day 2: Father, I release __________________ to You.
Day 3: Father, I release __________________ to You.
Day 4: Father, I release __________________ to You.
Day 5: Father, I release __________________ to You.
Day 6: Father, I release __________________ to You.
Day 7: Father, I release __________________ to You.
ANCHORED IN FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness doesn't mean it didn't hurt.
Forgiveness doesn't mean it wasn't wrong.
Forgiveness doesn't mean I have to return to an unsafe relationship.
Forgiveness means: I refuse to let what happened to me control what happens in me.
I can release the debt.
I can surrender the anger.
I can trust God with the outcome.
Because I have received grace, I can become someone who forgives others.
“As we also have forgiven our debtors.” — Matthew 6:1
