Bury The Hatchet – Part 1: God’s Grace Forgives
Acts 9:1-19
Series Memory Verse: “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (p.904)
The truth about unforgiveness:
- It always gets heavier.
- You risk becoming defined by your past.
- Your relationships will remain fractured.
- You will teach the next generation that holding grudges is how you deal with conflict.
- God’s Grace Reminds Us That No Sin Is Too Great For His Forgiveness.
- Name the unforgiveness or guilt.
“’Who are you, lord?’ Saul asked. And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” Acts 9:5-6 (p.838)
- Remind yourself that it’s a gift.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (p.896)
- Make a conscious choice.
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners…” 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (p.910)
My Next Step This Week: “Lord, I release [name or situation] to you. I choose to live in your forgiveness.”