New Hope Sermon Notes

Forgive.. But... Don't Forget

"'Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?' Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matt. 22:36-39 NLT)

Living is when I'm right with GOD & OTHERS.

I can have a right relationship with God when I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.
I can have right relationships with others when I OFFER FORGIVENESS.

"So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God." (Matt. 5:23-24 NLT)

"Then Peter came to Him and asked, 'Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?' 'No!' Jesus replied, 'seventy times seven!'" (Matt. 18:21-22 NLT)

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DON'T FORGIVE?

I disobey God's INSTRUCTIONS.
My anger is INTENSIFIED.
I re-live painful EXPERIENCES.

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matt. 6:14-15 NLT)

HOW I CAN BEGIN TO FORGIVE?

Identify the people who have HURT YOU.
Determine what they OWE YOU.
Cancel their DEBT.

"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." (Col. 3:13 NLT)