CELL NOTES 14/9/09

ICE BREAKER

What is your favourite item of clothing?

THEME

C for Community, with a special emphasis on forgiveness.

Reading; Eph 4 : 25 – 32

SERMON OUTLINE

1) Message centred on vv 26 – 27

2) Story of man who undermined Peter’s ministry, forgiveness, and the impact of that in the man’s life – he was able to forgive his own father, and became a changed man.

2) When we avoid forgiveness, we give the devil a foothold (27).

3) Forgiveness involves forgetting. If we don’t forget, when we have the opportunity to bless that person, we won’t, because we remember the offense.

4) Story of man who was forgiven for chasing children, who years later gave his life to Christ.

5) Do we have unforgiveness that always blocks our fellowship with God?

6) Unforgiveness can cause depression (whereas the other person is probably moving on!).

7) Unforgiveness can fester for many years, and become a long-standing, sub-conscious barrier to fellowship with God and others.

8) God calls us to totally forgive, and totally forget – so that we may receive the same ourselves from Him. If we don’t, can He forgive us?

9) Story of brother who misused the money Peter had sent home from the UK. Forgiveness transformed the relationship.

10) God can use the moment when I am hurt to transform me.

QUESTIONS OF APPLICATION

1)  Read the passage. How has God spoken to you through it, and the message on Sunday?

2) When have you been forgiven?

3) HOW do you forgive? How is that linked, in your experience, with receiving God’s forgiveness?

4) How many out of 10 would you give yourself in the last week for keeping to v 29?

5) What do you find the most challenging element in this passage? How may others in the group help you with this?