Forgiveness
Who sought out our forgiveness from God?
Jesus!
What is the message of forgiveness in Jesus' conversation with Peter?
Jesus tells Peter to forgive "seventy seven times" - meaning that forgiveness should be unlimited.
This conversation shows the importance of showing others the same forgiveness/mercy that we have received from God.
Who is the fisherman who became one of Jesus' disciples who Jesus discussed the Parable of the Unforgiving/Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)?
Peter
As Jesus was crucified, he asked God for their forgiveness for they did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). There were two other people on both sides of him, who were also crucified. Who were they, and what did they say to Jesus?
(You can use your Bible for context clues)
2 criminals - one who shouted insults at Jesus, and another who spoke against Jesus being crucified.
Find Luke 23:34 in your Bible.
1) Read it out loud and 2) who spoke it?
Luke 23:34 - “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." - Jesus
Who did Jesus forgive?
1) His disciples
2) Those who wanted to crucify him
3) People who ask for forgiveness for our sins (Us!)
What is the message of forgiveness in the story of Jacob and Esau?
Jacob steals Esau’s birthright and takes his brother’s blessing from his father, and ran away when Esau vowed to destroy him.
Jacob feared seeing his brother again after a long time BUT Esau forgives Jacob for what he did (Genesis 33:1-4).
Whose name meant "grasps at the heel", or "deceives"?
Jacob
Like Onesimus, who else became a believer in Jesus through Paul?
Philemon
Find Matthew 18:21-22 in your Bible.
1) Read it out loud and 2) explain what these verses mean about forgiveness.
Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times"
Jesus tells Peter to forgive those who have sinned against him "seventy seven times" - meaning that forgiveness should be unlimited.
Define forgiveness.
Forgiveness is defined as - the action of letting go of your pain and choosing to not hold a grudge against the one who hurt you.
What is the message of forgiveness in the story of Joseph?
Jacob was sold into slavery by his 12 brothers, but through God, he was able to make a good life for himself in Egypt.
His brothers feared Joseph’s revenge but Joseph had already forgiven them as God had worked through him to save many lives.
Whose siblings called this character on forgiveness "the dreamer?" (Genesis 37)
Joseph
How did Jacob steal his brother's birthright? (Genesis 25).
(You can use your Bible for context clues)
Jacob stole his brother's birthright by asking Esau to sell it to him for bread and lentil stew. Esau agreed because he was hungry and about to die from starvation!
Find the verse that discusses Joseph forgiving his brothers for all they had done to him and read it out loud.
Hint: Genesis 50)
Genesis 50:17-20:
17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
What does Jesus teach us to do in terms of forgiveness?
Jesus teaches us to forgive, even when it’s hard.
Forgiving others lets us have a “clean slate”, so we live with peace, love, and grow closer with God.
What is the message of forgiveness in the story about Philemon and Onesimus?
Paul wrote to Philemon to forgive his slave Onesimus because they were not considered equal in their faith in God.
Paul wanted Philemon to forgive Onesimus out of the goodness of his heart, not just because Paul told him to.
What is the names of the slave now equal to his former master, that the author of many letters in the Bible urged him to forgive for his past sins against him?
Onesimus; Philemon; Paul
Joseph, despite being sold into slavery, made a good life for himself in Egypt. Name three things Joseph accomplished while in Egypt.
Multiple answers:
- Interpreted Pharoah's dreams when no one else could
- Became governor/second-in-command of Egypt
- Prepared the country from the famine
- Forgives his family/provides for them
Find the Bible verses below. Which of them does not talk about forgiveness?
Matthew 18:21-22
1 John 1:8-9
Luke 23:34
Luke 24:46-47
Colossians 3:13
Trick question!
All of these verses talk about forgiveness - showing how forgiveness is a common teaching in the New Testament
Pick a scenario that we discussed in class and provide a solution demonstrating forgiveness:
You and your sibling or cousin are playing. They wants to play with your stuff and grab it from you, hurting you hand in the process.
Your friend lies to your teacher and tells them that you did something you didn’t do.
Your friend comes over to your house to hang out and doesn’t help you clean up and you get scolded by your parents.
Free form answer that must demonstrate forgiveness.
Provide one forgiveness story that was NOT mentioned in class and explain how it is a forgiveness story.
You can use your Bible!
Free for all answer.
Whose name meant "red" (Edom) and "hairy"?
Why was this character also called "Edom"? (Genesis 25)
(You can use your Bible for context clues)
Esau; Because he was starving and asked for red lentil stew.
How did Jacob steal his father Isaac's blessing meant for his brother (Genesis 27).
(You can use your Bible for context clues)
With the help of his mother Rebekah, they made Isaac's a tasty meal with 2 goats and covered her son's hands and neck with the goat skins leftover. Isaac touched his son's hand and smelled the goat and believed it was Esau and gave him his blessing.
Find Acts 13:38-39 in your Bible.
1) Read it out loud 2) Who spoke this? 3) What do these verses say about forgiveness?
Acts 13:38-39 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses".
Paul notes that forgiveness of our sins is available through faith in Jesus, not through following the Law of Moses. We are "justified" (declared righteous) through God, not law.