Embracing Grace: The Complexity of Forgiveness

 

Summary

In today's sermon, we delve into the profound narrative of the crucifixion, focusing on the characters present during this pivotal moment in history. We are reminded that each individual has a story, a context that shapes their actions and decisions. As we reflect on the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus, we are called to see beyond their actions to the complexity of their humanity.

The Gospel of Luke presents us with a powerful scene where one thief mocks Jesus, while the other, recognizing his own guilt and Jesus' innocence, asks to be remembered in Jesus' kingdom. Jesus' response, promising paradise that very day, underscores the boundless grace available to us all. This interaction teaches us about the nature of forgiveness and the choices we face in responding to God's grace.

We are more than the worst things we have ever done. This truth is exemplified in the story of the two thieves and in the lives of those we encounter daily. We are challenged to see people in their fullness, to move beyond one-dimensional judgments, and to embrace the complexity of each person's journey. This perspective is not only for those who have committed crimes but extends to how we view all individuals.

Our response to God's grace is a choice we make daily. We can choose to be like the thief who mocked Jesus, or we can choose to be like the one who sought forgiveness. This choice is reflected in the parable of the sheep and the goats, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of serving others as if we were serving Christ himself. Our actions towards the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those in prison are a testament to our witness and our acceptance of God's grace.

In conclusion, we are called to live out our faith through acts of kindness, compassion, and love. We are to offer forgiveness as freely as we have received it and to remember that each person we meet is a complex individual with their own story. As we go forth, let us engage with others, learn their names, and share in the fellowship that binds us together as a community of believers.

Key Takeaways:

- The crucifixion scene invites us to consider the depth of human complexity and the transformative power of grace. Just as the two thieves on the cross had their own stories and choices, we too must recognize the multifaceted nature of every individual we encounter. This understanding calls us to extend grace and to see beyond the surface of people's actions. [49:33]

- Forgiveness is a central theme of the Gospel and our faith. It is not only about forgiving others but also about forgiving ourselves. The difficulty of this task should not deter us; rather, it should remind us of the need for God's grace in our lives and the importance of extending that grace to ourselves and others. [55:17]

- Our response to God's grace is a daily decision that shapes our witness in the world. We can choose to respond with cynicism or compassion, with bitterness or kindness. Our choices reflect our understanding of God's love and our willingness to embody that love in our interactions with others. [01:01:44]

- The parable of the sheep and the goats teaches us that our service to others is a direct reflection of our service to Christ. When we care for those in need, we are living out the call to be Christ's hands and feet in the world, and in doing so, we bear witness to the Kingdom of God. [52:07]

- The story of the two thieves challenges us to replace our "buts" with "ands" when we speak of others. This linguistic shift encourages us to acknowledge the fullness of people's lives and to resist reducing them to a single characteristic or action. In embracing this complexity, we honor the image of God in each person. [46:05]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 23:35-43 (NRSV)
> "And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, 'He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!' The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, 'If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!' There was also an inscription over him, 'This is the King of the Jews.' One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, 'Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!' But the other rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He replied, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'"

2. Matthew 25:31-40 (NRSV)
> "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'"

3. Hebrews 13:3 (NRSV)
> "Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured."

#### Observation Questions
1. What were the contrasting responses of the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus, as described in Luke 23:35-43?
2. According to Matthew 25:31-40, what actions does Jesus equate with serving Him directly?
3. How does Hebrews 13:3 instruct believers to relate to those in prison?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the interaction between Jesus and the repentant thief reveal about the nature of forgiveness and grace? [42:15]
2. How does the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-40 challenge our daily actions and attitudes towards others? [52:07]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest we can move beyond seeing people as "flat characters" and instead recognize their full humanity? [49:33]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you judged someone based on a single action or characteristic. How can you begin to see them in their full complexity? [49:33]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of daily choosing kindness, compassion, and love. What specific steps can you take this week to embody these values in your interactions? [01:01:44]
3. How can you practice forgiveness in your own life, both towards others and yourself, as exemplified by Jesus' response to the repentant thief? [55:17]
4. Think of someone in your life who might be struggling with feelings of guilt or shame. How can you offer them support and remind them of God's grace? [55:17]
5. The parable of the sheep and the goats highlights the importance of serving those in need. Identify one way you can serve someone in your community this week, whether they are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison. [52:07]
6. How can you replace "buts" with "ands" in your language to acknowledge the fullness of people's lives and resist reducing them to a single characteristic or action? [46:05]
7. Consider the sermon’s call to engage with others and learn their names. How can you make an effort to build deeper connections within your church or community? [01:04:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Human Complexity
Human complexity is a tapestry woven with threads of choices, actions, and experiences. The crucifixion scene, where two thieves hang beside Jesus, serves as a poignant reminder of this complexity. One thief derides Jesus, while the other seeks forgiveness, recognizing his own guilt and Jesus' innocence. This moment highlights that every person has a depth beyond their actions, a story that has led them to where they are. It is a call to look past the surface, to understand that we are all more than the worst things we have done. This recognition is not just an exercise in empathy but a spiritual imperative to extend grace as we have been graced, to see the image of God in every individual, and to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of their humanity. [49:33]

"Remember me when you come into your kingdom," said the criminal who hung there. And Jesus answered him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43 ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice seeing beyond the surface of someone's actions to understand the complexity of their story today?

Day 2: The Challenge of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a journey that often begins with a single, difficult step. It is a central theme of the Gospel, calling for a profound understanding of grace. Forgiving others, and equally important, forgiving ourselves, is a testament to the transformative power of God's love. It is a challenge that should not deter but rather inspire us to seek God's grace continually. As we learn to forgive, we become vessels of the same grace that we have received, and through this, we can heal and restore brokenness within ourselves and our relationships. This process is a daily commitment to live out the Gospel in its truest form. [55:17]

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13 ESV)

Reflection: Who do you need to extend forgiveness to today, and what practical step can you take to initiate that process?

Day 3: Daily Decisions of Grace
Every day presents a new opportunity to respond to God's grace. The choices we make can either reflect cynicism or compassion, bitterness or kindness. These decisions shape our witness in the world and reflect our understanding of God's love. By choosing to respond with compassion and kindness, we embody God's love in our interactions and become a living testament to His grace. This daily decision is a conscious effort to align our actions with the values of the Kingdom, to serve as beacons of hope and agents of change in a world that often seems devoid of both. [01:01:44]

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16 ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can choose to respond with compassion over cynicism in a challenging situation today?

Day 4: Service as Worship
The parable of the sheep and the goats teaches us that our service to others is an expression of our service to Christ. When we care for those in need, we are not just performing acts of charity; we are living out the call to be Christ's hands and feet in the world. This service is a direct reflection of our acceptance of God's grace and our commitment to the Kingdom of God. It is through these acts of love and kindness that we bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel, demonstrating that our faith is not just a belief but a way of life. [52:07]

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35 ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take this week to serve someone in need as if you were serving Christ Himself?

Day 5: Language of Inclusion
The story of the two thieves encourages us to replace our "buts" with "ands" when speaking of others. This linguistic shift is more than semantics; it's a way to honor the fullness of people's lives, to resist reducing them to a single characteristic or action. By embracing the complexity of each person's journey, we acknowledge the image of God within them. This approach fosters a culture of inclusion and understanding, where every individual is recognized as a multifaceted creation of God, worthy of love and grace. [46:05]

"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." (Acts 17:26 ESV)

Reflection: How can you change your language to reflect the fullness of someone's identity rather than a single characteristic or action?

Quotes

"We are called in the church to visit people in prison and to be in ministry with people in prison. We are called to see people more as just a thing or the one thing that they did, maybe the worst thing that they did." [49:38] (Download | )

"We don't know their crimes. We did not know their stories. We just knew their names. And that really, I felt like, just kind of set everything at an even table as we went in." [50:30] (Download | )

"We are more than just one thing. We're complex people, and we need to move beyond sort of the flat characters." [46:05] (Download | )

"Today, I would think that we would need to consider, you know, what our witness is in the way in which we treat other people and view other people. To see people that are not just flat characters, but they have depth." [01:00:00] (Download | )

"Choices that we make every day, to choose kindness over bitterness, to choose compassion over cynicism, to choose love over hate." [01:01:44] (Download | Download cropped video)

"Forgiveness, this hard work of forgiveness is something that is personal that we have to work on ourselves. It's hard sometimes to forgive people that have harmed us, but I think some of the most hard forgiveness work we have to do is the forgiveness, forgiving ourselves." [55:17] (Download | Download cropped video)

"We see the one with the one thief on the cross, and he is kind of lashing out at Jesus. But then this other thief on the other side who's observed all of this, and even though he might have taken part in the mocking, he has changed." [56:09] (Download | )

"We don't know their stories. We don't know what they did. We don't even know their names. The Scripture does not give us their names. But we do know this, that as they were there, they heard those words of Jesus from the cross." [52:54] (Download | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?