Opening Discussion

• What is something silly you’ve had to ask for forgiveness for? (i.e. leaving the toilet seat up, being annoying, etc.)

Read and Discuss

Luke 17:1-2 NASB 1995

1 He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.

• Why does Jesus want His disciples to hear this?
• Why shouldn’t we be surprised when people within the church sin against us or others?
• What can you do to to avoid being a stumbling block for others?
• When you are a stumbling block to someone, what can you do to correct the situation?
• Why is Jesus so harsh to those who cause “little ones” (children, and those new in their faith in Christ) to stumble?

Luke 17:3-6 CSB

3 Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

6 “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

• Why does Jesus give the warning, “Be on your guard?”
• What should rebuking sin look like?
• Jesus uses the word “brother” meaning a follower of Jesus. Why is that distinction important when it comes to rebuking sin?
• Is there any sin in a brother or sister in Christ, that you are letting slide? How could you deal with it this week?
• How do you deal when someone calls you out for your sin?
  • What needs to happen so you can get to a place of repentance when that happens?
• If someone sinned against you seven times in one day, but then asked for forgiveness each time, what would you think by the seventh time?
  • Why does Jesus tell us to forgive them anyway?
• Why do the apostles ask for an increase of faith instead of patience, wisdom, or even a bigger capacity to forgive?
• How does Jesus’ response show us that forgiving is possible?
• How could having some people in your life who hold you accountable help you in this area?
• What do you find hardest about forgiving others?

Apply it!

• Who is someone you need to forgive?
  • What can you do this week to forgive them?
• Who is someone you need to ask for forgiveness from?
  • What can you do this week to have that conversation?

Memorize it!

Luke 17:3 Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Prayer TACOS

Thank the Lord for forgiving you for ALL your sin

Adoration- Worship the Lord for providing freedom through forgiveness

Confess to the times you have let sin slide in the lives of others, as well as not forgiving like you should

Others- Pray for someone that you have hurt. Ask the Lord to help you talk to them this week and ask for forgiveness

Self- Ask the Lord to help you to forgive others and to increase your faith.

Closing thoughts

There was a time when someone started something with me, and I responded without thinking. The result of that response ended in damaged property and hurt feelings. I apologized and talked it over with the people involved. However, they didn’t see that they had done anything wrong. None of it would have happened if they hadn’t done what they did, but they didn’t see it that way. So I had to pay for all the damage, and take the blame for all that had happened.

I don’t know if I ever said that I didn’t forgive them, but my thoughts and attitude towards them showed otherwise. I don’t think I ever realized it until maybe a year later when I was doing a prayer exercise where I wrote a letter to someone who I needed to forgive. When I thought about who I needed to forgive, these two people came to mind right away. As I wrote that letter, I felt free. They didn’t know I was still mad about the situation, and I’m sure they weren’t carrying around bitterness like I was. I didn’t give them the letter, because it really wasn’t for them. It was between me and the Lord, and that day He increased my faith.

I learned something important about forgiveness that day. Sometimes people aren’t going to ask for forgiveness. We need to forgive anyway. When we allow unforgiveness to stay in our lives, it grows into something more. It changes from anger to bitterness. So how do you know if you harbor unforgiveness towards someone? If you rejoice when someone gets hurt, has a bad day, or fails, then that’s a good sign there is bitterness there. Take time this week to release that anger and bitterness. Maybe you write a letter to them telling them you forgive them. Not so you can hand it to them, but so that the Lord can do a work in your life and increase your faith. I suggest burning that letter when you’re done.