Embracing Forgiveness: A Call to Follow Jesus
Summary
On this Palm Sunday, we are reminded of the profound invitation to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Jesus, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorned its shame, and overcame sin, death, and the devil, calls us to live the life God has intended for us. As we continue our series "Called to Overcome," we delve into the Lord's Prayer, specifically the petition, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." This prayer is not just a recitation but a call to action, urging us to embody the forgiveness we seek from God in our relationships with others.
Trespassing, in the context of this prayer, means crossing boundaries and disrespecting God's laws. When we ask for forgiveness, we are asking for a gift of grace and mercy, acknowledging that we have not earned it. The prayer also challenges us to forgive others, offering them grace before they have made amends. This is a reflection of God's own forgiveness towards us, a call to not hold grudges or harbor bitterness.
Palm Sunday exemplifies three truths: resolve, humbleness, and praise. Jesus' resolute determination to fulfill His mission is a model for us to remain steadfast in our faith and forgiveness. His humbleness, demonstrated by riding a donkey into Jerusalem, teaches us to lay down our power and pride, embracing a soft heart that is open to repentance and reconciliation. Finally, the act of praise, symbolized by the waving of palm branches, is not just about outward expressions but is deeply rooted in our love and forgiveness towards others.
As we enter Holy Week, let us keep our eyes on Jesus, drawing strength from His resolve, humbleness, and obedience. May we be empowered by His Spirit to forgive others as we have been forgiven, carrying our cross and following His example. In doing so, we participate in the miraculous work of God, transforming our hearts and relationships through the power of forgiveness.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a divine gift that we receive and are called to extend to others. It requires acknowledging our own trespasses and offering grace to those who have wronged us, reflecting God's mercy. This act of forgiveness is transformative, freeing us from the shackles of bitterness and resentment. [04:28]
2. Resolute Faith: Jesus' journey to the cross exemplifies unwavering determination. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody this same resolve in our faith journey, especially in forgiving others. This steadfastness is essential in overcoming the challenges and temptations that seek to derail our spiritual walk. [08:31]
3. Humility in Action: True humility involves laying down our pride and power, just as Jesus did. It requires a soft heart, open to repentance and reconciliation, both with God and others. This humility is the foundation for genuine forgiveness and healing in our relationships. [12:58]
4. Praise Through Love: While outward expressions of praise are important, the greatest act of worship is love towards others. This love is manifested in forgiveness, reflecting the heart of God and His desire for reconciliation and unity among His people. [16:19]
5. Carrying Our Cross: Jesus invites us to follow His example by carrying our cross, which includes forgiving others as we have been forgiven. This call to discipleship is a journey of transformation, where we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out the radical love and grace of Christ. [21:39]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:15] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
- [02:45] - Understanding Trespasses
- [04:28] - The Gift of Forgiveness
- [06:10] - Palm Sunday Prayer
- [08:31] - Jesus' Resolute Determination
- [10:05] - Humbleness of Jesus
- [12:58] - The Call to Humility
- [14:30] - The Symbolism of Palm Branches
- [16:19] - Praise Through Love
- [18:00] - The Rocks Cry Out
- [19:45] - Entering Holy Week
- [21:39] - Carrying Our Cross
- [23:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 12:2 - "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
2. Matthew 6:12 - "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
3. Philippians 2:5-8 - "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does it mean to "fix our eyes on Jesus" according to Hebrews 12:2, and how does this relate to the theme of overcoming? [00:00]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "trespassing" in the context of the Lord's Prayer? [04:28]
3. What are the three truths exemplified by Palm Sunday as mentioned in the sermon? [08:31]
4. How is Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey a demonstration of humility? [12:58]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the act of forgiveness reflect the character of God, and why is it considered a transformative gift? [04:28]
2. In what ways does Jesus' resolute determination to fulfill His mission serve as a model for our own faith journey, especially in the context of forgiveness? [08:31]
3. How does the sermon suggest that humility is essential for genuine forgiveness and healing in relationships? [12:58]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between praise and love, and how does this relate to the act of forgiveness? [16:19]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to forgive someone. How can Jesus' example of forgiveness help you in similar situations in the future? [04:28]
2. What specific steps can you take to embody the same resolve in your faith journey as Jesus did on His way to the cross? [08:31]
3. Identify an area in your life where pride might be hindering your relationships. How can you practice humility to foster reconciliation? [12:58]
4. Consider how you express praise in your daily life. How can you ensure that your praise is rooted in love and forgiveness towards others? [16:19]
5. Is there a particular relationship in your life where you need to extend forgiveness? What practical steps can you take this week to begin that process? [21:39]
6. How can you keep your heart soft and open to repentance and reconciliation, as described in the sermon? [12:58]
7. As you enter Holy Week, what specific actions can you take to keep your focus on Jesus and His example of love and forgiveness? [21:39]
Devotional
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Quotes
God's Word invites us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, so that we will not grow weary and lose heart, so that we will not shrink back, that our eyes would be on the overcomer Jesus, who overcame sin, death, and the devil, so that you and I can live the life that God has called us to live. And so, yes, it is Palm Sunday, and we are still in a sermon series here at Trinity called Called to Overcome. [00:01:11]
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And so what are we saying there? We're saying that the truth is in this eye of eternity that people trespass against us. That people hurt us. That people cross the line against us. That people disrespect us. But what we're praying there is, God, I'm going to forgive them. I'm going to give them something that they don't deserve. I'm going to give it to them before they even make amends for it. [00:04:34]
God, don't treat me as I deserve. God, heal my relationship with you. God, don't hold a grudge against me. God, don't condemn me. And God, I don't want to hold a grudge. I don't want to hold bitterness. I don't want to have condemnation in my heart towards someone. I do want to keep a record of wrongs towards that person. I don't want that. God, forgive me as I forgive others. [00:05:11]
preparing for this message. This prayer is a Palm Sunday prayer. And the move that Jesus makes on Palm Sunday takes us deeper into understanding our relationship with God and how to live life through this petition. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And so if you're taking notes, there's three Palm Sunday truths we're going to get into. And the first truth starts with the letter R. You can fill in the blank if you want, but it's resolute. [00:05:38]
And so when God invites us to pray this prayer, when Jesus invites us, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Jesus actually warns against us and he says, don't let this ever be vain repetition or empty words. It takes resolve and I love it here at Trinity. We have communion a lot. We don't have communion today but we have communion a lot. Why do we have that meal? Because he was resolved and we are resolved to stay focused on the forgiveness of sin so that none of us walk around shackled and bound by sin. [00:09:35]
or guilt but free compelled by the love of God his forgiveness that we don't deserve but he's given it to us out of grace and mercy right a baptism just took place right what happens in baptism forgiveness right the main thing it's right there right we are resolved as disciples of Jesus to proclaim forgiveness and to receive forgiveness and to pray forgive us our trespasses but when we pray that petition we work it out with God in our lives hopefully every single day and multiple times a day we consider the resolve of Jesus right God's calling us to have that same resolve towards our neighbors even our enemies [00:10:10]
and so i don't know how many of you have been trespassed against right but it's hard it's hard to stay resolute right it's hard not to grow weary it's hard not to be discouraged when it's hard to actually forgive somebody is it hard to forgive can we be honest right but god calls us to have the same resolve that jesus himself had resolve forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and so we stick on with it with palm sunday right not just the resolve of jesus but we see the humbleness of jesus all right if you've been around palm sunday if you know anything about palm sunday there's a donkey and why is that donkey there why is jesus riding the donkey zachariah told us right behold your king is coming riding a donkey in humbleness right he's laying down his power he's laying down his authority all the authority that jesus displayed throughout his life that's recorded for us in the gospel and that move of riding the donkey he's laying it down [00:11:20]
Philippians chapter 2 tells us that Jesus gave up his right as God to become one of us, to take on human flesh, and ultimately to become obedient even to death. His humbleness, laying down his power. And I don't know if you know this about humbleness, but it takes humbleness to actually fess up. Right? To fess up when we mess up, certainly in our relationship with God, but it takes humbleness to actually repent, to make things right with our brothers and sisters, even our enemies. [00:12:33]
Psalm chapter 51 says this, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart. What's a contrite heart? It's a humble heart. Oh God, you will not despise a humble heart. When I think of a humble heart, a soft heart, when I think about this move that God calls us to, us to have in our daily life of forgive me my trespasses as i forgive others a humble heart soft heart reminds me of plato how many of you ever played with plato before everybody's played with plato just think of how it smells right plato has this distinct smell where you always want it back in its case you want it sealed why so it stays soft right god wants to seal us in this petition why so that our hearts stay soft that our hearts don't harden certainly in our relationship with him but certainly in our relationships with our neighbors with our spouses with our kids with our parents with our in -laws with our co -workers and even with our enemies right god calls us to have a soft heart and clearly in this petition that jesus has taught us to pray he wants to keep our hearts soft ephesians chapter 4 verse 32 we hear this clear teaching be kind to one another tender -hearted soft -hearted humble -hearted forgiving one another finish that for me [00:13:14]
Certainly when we see people praising Jesus, right, for all the authoritative, the majestic things that he has done. Jesus just raised Lazarus from the dead. People are pumped. People are excited. Right? They're praising him. And they're looking to him to save them. Praise. Right? And so I ask myself this question. I ask you this question. What's the greatest act of praise that you and I can do? Is it waving a palm branch? Waving a palm branch is an act of praise, though. Is it lifting our voices and singing a song to him? Telling him who he is and giving him thanks for what he has done and proclaiming the gospel? Certainly that is praise. [00:15:54]
Showing up for the sacred assembly. Remember the Sabbath day. Right? That's praise. Honoring God. Listening to him. Obeying him. Praise. Even praying. Right? That's a form of praise. But the greatest form of praise when you study the scriptures, when you begin to understand the truth of what it means to truly worship God, to love God, is the act of love towards each other. That's why we reveal the truth of God, to love God for God and to love our dog. And we'll continue to уверen is a failure. And, gee, thank you. [00:16:35]
He calls us to drop the rock of condemnation and to forgive as we have been forgiven. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. As you and I enter into Holy Week, keeping our eyes on Jesus, I do pray that we see his resolve. His resolve for you, that you know how much he loves you and to the extent of how far he will go to let you know that. I pray that you see his humbleness. All that power he laid down for you and for me. [00:20:26]
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