Community Group Study Notes
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Have someone in your group give a brief recap of Sunday’s message, highlighting the main Scripture passages and the purpose of praying “forgive us our debts.”
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What was one thing that God was showing you through the sermon? How did the sermon change your perspective on praying for forgiveness and forgiving others?
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Interact with this statement: “We forgive because we’ve been forgiven.” How should the reality of our judicial forgiveness (our justification and forgiveness of past, present, and future sins) influence our forgiveness of others?
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We can only forgive debtors; God is the only one who can forgive the debt. How can this reality help you in your process of forgiveness and reconciliation?
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How can we as a group encourage you, pray for you, or help you in taking steps of forgiveness OR reminding you of God’s forgiveness?
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Take time to pray together as a group.
As you determine an action step you can take in light of Sunday’s teaching, consider the following ideas:
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For the next week, start your morning by reading and praying through some Psalms that praise and glorify God for his mercy and forgiveness. Consider these places to begin: Psalm 32, Psalm 40, Psalm 103, or Psalm 130.
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Each of us probably have at least one person in our lives that we haven’t forgiven. Write out a prayer of forgiveness each day this week, even if you don’t “feel” like forgiving. As you write, ask God to lead you in next steps of reconciliation where appropriate.
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Study and pray through Romans 12:18 and Ephesians 4:3. As you chew on these words, ask God to reveal any unresolved conflict in your life. Evaluate your responsibility through the phrases “as much as it depends on you” and “make every effort.”
