Week 3: Repentance and Forgiveness
1. What stood out to you from the message this past Sunday? Was there anything that seemed timely or relevant to you? Was there anything which made you uncomfortable, or with which you disagreed?
2. Share a little about your own journey with forgiveness. How has it impacted your experience of God? How has it affected your own sense of self-worth? Have you struggled with forgiving others?
3. Read 1 John 4:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. The first passage offers a definition of God as love. The second offers a description of love. What do these concepts suggest about the nature of God and how God relates to our imperfections?
4. Read Psalm 32 then go through it a verse at a time and discuss its meaning and relevance. How do you identify with Psalm? What do you find encouraging? What do you find challenging?
5. In Psalm 32:4 what do you think the writer means by “your hand was heavy upon me”? Have you ever experienced this? How could it be helpful and healing? How could it be destructive and toxic?
6. In Psalm 32:5 we see a rhythm of confession and forgiveness. What is the importance of confession in this dynamic exchange? What might be the outcome of too much emphasis on confession? What is important about forgiveness in this dynamic exchange? What might the outcome of too much emphasis on forgiveness? Which of these would you say you struggle with most?
7. Read Matthew 6:9-15. In a relatively short prayer Jesus places high value on forgiveness. Why do you think Jesus put such a big emphasis on an experience of forgiveness in our relationship with God? Why do you think he put such a big emphasis on forgiving others in our relationship with God? How do these two dynamics resonate together and how could this produce deeper life and greater health in us and others?
8. Break into smaller groups of 2 or 3 (or stay together as a larger group if that feels appropriate) to share about ways in which you have struggled with forgiveness. This could be wrestling with a sense of guilt or shame; it could also be the challenge of forgiving others. Listen to one another with empathy rather than trying to fix anything and then spend some time praying with one another.
Practice for the week: Confession and forgiveness
Here are two practices for the week. Choose the one that seems most appropriate for you.
Practice 1: Confession
While I kept silent, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32: 4-5 (NRSVUE)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 (NLT)
Read the scriptures above and reflect on any sense of guilt or shame from the past that has remained like a heavy burden on you. Then think of a faithful and trusted friend, counselor, spiritual leader, or therapist with whom you could share this burden. This should be someone you know will listen with empathy, respond with compassion, and maintain absolute confidence. Take the courageous step to meet in a safe space and share with them. If it feels appropriate, ask them to pray with you. As you let the light into this dark and intimidating area receive God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness. Let go of this burden now shared.
Practice 2: Forgiveness
Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5 (NRSVUE)
Read this scripture each morning and make an intention throughout the day not to judge. When a situation arises where you instinctively want to judge or criticize someone, instead reflect on you own frailty and weakness. Take a moment to briefly pray for the other person and give thanks for the mercy that you (and they) both receive.