Welcome to Celebrate Recovery!
You are invited to an amazing spiritual adventure. By working and applying Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually and become free from our addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors. We discover the personal, loving, and forgiving Higher Power, Jesus Christ.
September 13, 2012 – Lesson: Forgiveness
“So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.” Luke 17:3
This week we will continue to work on evaluating all of our relationships. We’ve discussed how to make amends, but tonight we will cover something that has the ability to block, stall, or even destroy our recovery: the inability to accept and offer forgiveness. We find in the Bible that forgiveness is God’s prescription for the broken. No matter how great the offense or abuses, along the path to healing lies forgiveness.
The first and most important forgiveness is extended from God to us. By His death on the cross, all our sins were canceled, paid in full. The second kind of forgiveness is extended from us to others. This type of forgiveness is much more of a process. Forgiveness is all about letting go. It’s like a game of tug-of-war you would have played as a child–as long as the people on each end are pulling, you have a war. You “let go of your end of the rope” when you forgive others. No matter how hard they may tug on the other end, the war is over. But until you release it, you are a prisoner of war!
Forgiveness enables you to become fully freed from your anger and allows you to move forward positively in your relationships. Remember, forgiving someone in no way excuses them for the hurt or harm they may have caused you, but it will release you from the power they have had over you. Forgiving yourself and others may not–ok, will not–change the past, but it sure can change the future!
“Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12: 17-18
Recovery Reminder
Principle 6: Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me & make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.
“Happy are the merciful.” Matthew 5:7
“Happy are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9
Step 8: We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31
Step 9: We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
A fun, engaging program for kids 5- 12 years old, designed to prepare them to overcome obstacles that lead to hurts, hangups, or habits in their lives – now and in the future. Based on the 8 recovery principles found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10), children learn the same biblical truths that adults are digging into in Celebrate Recovery.
Contact Cassie in the Preschool Ministry for more information by calling (813)251-1515 x 308 or emailing Cassie@stfchurch.com.
Care for younger children is available in the nursery.
Prayer Requests
It is our privilege to pray for you. You may request prayer for anything on your mind: your recovery, your family, or even a friend. All requests are completely confidential. Let us know with a yellow card on Thursday nights or email us at cr@stfchurch.com.