Message Title:
Theme: Forgive, Really?!
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Matthew 18:21-35
Scripture Reading: Romans 14:1-12
RCL Scripture: Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21; Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35
Focus: Jesus uses a parable about debt to talk about compassion and grace.
Function: To recognize our calling to forgive and seek forgiveness.
Other Notes: END OF SERIES// HOMECOMING
HOMECOMING FUN! – January 1854 Liberty was organized as a congregation. We have been a congregation for 169 years. Abraham Kirtley deeded land for a church to be built. They used candlelight and logs for initial seating. Some of the first preachers were circuit/itinerant preachers coming on horseback.
Hymns were sung in acapella until the purchase of an organ in 1895 (a piano was purchased in 1916). There was not proper lighting or heating in the church until 1898. Over the 169 years – Liberty has gathered in multiple forms:
- Met in homes -1854
- Log cabin – 1858
- A-frame church -1882
- The church that burned -1922
- Current building – Sept 1995 first service
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Someone tell the story about the cemetery after the civil war.
We will be ordering new Liberty shirts soon. The order forms have been delayed.
SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 14:1-12 Welcome the person who is weak in faith—but not in order to argue about differences of opinion. 2 One person believes in eating everything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Those who eat must not look down on the ones who don’t, and the ones who don’t eat must not judge the ones who do, because God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servants? They stand or fall before their own Lord (and they will stand, because the Lord has the power to make them stand). 5 One person considers some days to be more sacred than others, while another person considers all days to be the same. Each person must have their own convictions. 6 Someone who thinks that a day is sacred, thinks that way for the Lord. Those who eat, eat for the Lord, because they thank God. And those who don’t eat, don’t eat for the Lord, and they thank the Lord too. 7 We don’t live for ourselves and we don’t die for ourselves. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God. 9 This is why Christ died and lived: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you look down on your brother or sister? We all will stand in front of the judgment seat of God. 11 Because it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.[a] 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
SERIES CONCLUSION & SERMON INTRODUCTION: This miniseries on forgiveness is already wrapping up. Just two short weeks of hearing Jesus’ words on forgiveness.
- AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Recount a time your parents got involved in your apology to someone
- Kid’s lesson in forgiveness – say it like you mean it
TRANSITION: Last week we talked about accountability – It is ok to hold someone accountable and if they don’t own up to their behavior, your relationship changes. This week we continue the conversation because our buddy Peter asks an honest question about the limits of forgiveness. (Specific accounts)
MAIN TEXT: Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times. 23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, they brought to him a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold.[d] 25 Because the servant didn’t have enough to pay it back, the master ordered that he should be sold, along with his wife and children and everything he had, and that the proceeds should be used as payment. 26 But the servant fell down, kneeled before him, and said, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ 27 The master had compassion on that servant, released him, and forgave the loan. 28 “When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred coins. He grabbed him around the throat and said, ‘Pay me back what you owe me.’ 29 “Then his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he threw him into prison until he paid back his debt. 31 “When his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply offended. They came and told their master all that happened. 32 His master called the first servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you appealed to me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 His master was furious and handed him over to the guard responsible for punishing prisoners, until he had paid the whole debt. 35 “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if you don’t forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
EXPLAINATION:
- Continuation from last week:
- Significance of numbers in Jewish culture – https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/judaism-numbers/
- “7” is the number of perfection – forgive excessively more than perfect.
- (In other gospels Jesus says 70*7) Forgiveness should be such a habit we don’t even keep track.
- Significance of numbers in Jewish culture – https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/judaism-numbers/
- Parable about the Kingdom of Heaven – “THE WAY GOD WORKS….”
- Servant A owes – GIGANTIC AMOUNT, like more than MULTIPLE lifetimes could pay back (60 million days wages – 165k years wages)
- King forgives Servant A’s debt
- However, Servant A is not changed by this reality.
- Servant B owes Servant A – 100 days wages
- Servant A refuses to forgive Servant B, assaults him and places him in prison to pay off his debt. Servant A shows no mercy.
- King hears about it and then demands Servant A sit in jail until his debt is paid since he had a lack of compassion on his fellow servant.
- (Jewish law to loan money without interest)
INTERPRETATION:
- Connection to scripture reading:
- In our scripture reading, Paul speaks to the Romans about eating habits and their connection to faith. This discussion is about the question of eating food sacrificed to false gods. Some people choose to abstain from eating the meat while others know those gods are not real and food is food.
- We are God’s representatives to non-Christians and Christians alike. We’re called to hold our faith siblings accountable while also pouring out mercy and setting an example on how to live.
- It’s not helpful to compare your faith journey with your neighbor. Be a positive example that does not cause another person to stumble in their walk…But also don’t elect yourself the faith police for others faith walk.
- American Christians are currently a stumbling block with our words of hatred being spoken to people who are different from us (especially in politics and lifestyle).
- In our scripture reading, Paul speaks to the Romans about eating habits and their connection to faith. This discussion is about the question of eating food sacrificed to false gods. Some people choose to abstain from eating the meat while others know those gods are not real and food is food.
APPLICATION:
- Last week: Responsibility in Forgiveness lesson: Loosed on earth loosed in heaven, fastened on earth fastened in heaven – Representatives of God’s design. We learned about boundaries to place when the person refuses to admit their wrong. Accountability is key.
- HOWEVER, This week is a Humility in Forgiveness lesson: God’s character should change our behavior. God’s actions should transform us too.
- Your role in forgiveness? To have compassion on the apologetic and hope for restoration for the rest. To recognize our own history of needing forgiveness. And we show how to rebuild after the mess.
CONCLUSION:
Meriah J Tigner 