Justice League or Grace Gang

Liberty Baptist, Sermons 5 Minutes
9/10/2023

Message Title:  Justice League or Grace Gang
Theme: Forgive, Really?!
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Matthew 18:15-20
Scripture Reading: Romans 13:8-14;
RCL Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 149; Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20
Focus:  Jesus gives instructions on reconciliation.
Function: To consider our own conflict and seek God-guided healing.
Other Notes: GRANDPARENT’S DAY// 9-11 MEMORIAL

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 13:8-14 8 Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law. 9 The commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have,[a] and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself.[b] 10 Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law. 11 As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. 14 Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.

NEW SERIES: For the next2 weeks we will examine a segment of Matthew 18 focusing on Jesus’ words on forgiving someone who has wronged you. How has the church messed up the message of forgiveness and left people in abusive situations? where is the balance between forgiveness and self-preservation? can you forgive too many times? when does it turn to enabling sinful behavior? If we’re lucky, we’ll answer one of these questions together.

INTRODUCTION:

  1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Can you think of any songs about the topic of forgiveness? (Positive or negative)
    1. Forgive by Rebecca Lynn Howard
    1. Forgive Them Father by Laryn Hill
    1. We can work it out by The Beatles
    1. If I could turn back time by Cher
  2. When I was initially pondering songs about forgiveness all I could think of were country songs about a guy cheating and a woman seeking revenge.

TRANSITION: Pop culture tells us that when we are wronged, we have the right to claim vengeance or reparations. Justice *should* be on our side. Our text today will provide us the first installment of Jesus’ words on the subject of forgiveness. I invite you to read all of Matthew 18 this week to give yourself the greater context.

MAIN TEXT: Matthew 18:15-20 15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. 16 But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.[b] 17 But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. 18 I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. 19 Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

EXPLAINATION:

  1. Context of passage:
    1. Location: Capernaum (where Peter’s MIL lives)
    1. Audience: “the disciples” plus kids, could be just the 12 and kids or it could be the more broad term for disciples.
    1. Jesus had just paid his taxes through a miracle, warned about causing kids to stumble, and a parable about lost sheep.
  2. Jesus has been teaching the people to see the Upside-Down Kingdom of God. God’s kingdom does things differently than the world. – valuing kids, celebrating the minority or vulnerable, and recognizing the law of men is not what determines our character.
    1. He shifts the conversation to instructions on reconciliation. What do we do when the someone hurts us?
  3. SPELL OUT THE STEPS of reconciliation:
    1. Correct when alone (1 on 1)
    1. Correct with support (1 on 2-3)
    1. Correct with the church
    1. Treat as an unbeliever

INTERPRETATION:

  1. Accountability of Fellow Believers: These instructions initially assume the two parties are believers. When we call ourselves “Christians,” “children of God,” or “Christ followers,” we are committing to living according to God’s standards. “To follow God means to embrace how God designed things to be.” (Not, how we want them to be.)
  2. Mission to Unbelievers: When the unrepentant is treated like an “unbeliever” this is not an invitation to shun them or treat them poorly. An unbeliever is a teaching opportunity of the love and compassion of God. This teaching opportunity is a chance to show exactly how God designed things.
  3. Ambassadors of God: “What we fasten… what we loosened” – has anyone besides me been terrified of this phrase? The amount of power and responsibility is gigantic.
    1. As ambassadors of Christ in this world, our actions and our relationships matter.
    1. NOTE: “where two or three are gathered in my name…” – is about forgiveness.
      1. Are we consulting the Holy Spirit about the situations of conflict in our lives?
  4. This passage is not a moment of shame to push for reunification of broken relationships. As a pastor who was divorced and remarried, I can attest to this. The relationship between person a and person b is permanently changed by the wrong doing when person b refuses to repent.
  5. ACCOUNTABLITY IS KEY to healing relationships.
    1. Accountability only works if a relationship is bathed in trust, respect, and love.
    1. Accountability only works when both partners agree to participate.
    1. Accountability only works when names and faces are connected to the conflict. Anonymity doesn’t work with accountability or conflict resolution.
    1. Christians cannot expect non-believers to behave as Christ followers.

APPLICATION:

  1. Reflection this week:
    1. Take time to ponder your conflicts
      1. what relationships are experiencing tension?
    1. Spend time in prayer asking for God’s Spirit to guide you in the best path of healing.
      1. How is God asking you to be responsible for this conflict? Did you inflict pain or are you experiencing pain?
    1. Consider the steps in Matthew 18 and how they apply to your situation
      1. Can accountability be applied to this relationship?
        1. Are both parties willing?
      1. How are my actions and words informed by God’s Word?
    1. Seek Spirit-led healing

CONCLUSION:  God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation teaches of God’s desire for community. Be ambassadors of forgiveness. Be agents of healing. Be missionaries speaking God’s love. Pursue restoration.

Published by meriahjtigner

Pastor. Wife. Fur momma.

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