BRIDGE

Pastor Jeremy Helmuth
“Forgiveness” (Luke 9:51-56) October 14-16, 2022

SHAKE the DUST off your FEET
When we feel rejected, we can respond two different ways. We can fight back and burn down the bridge, ruining any chance of a future relationship. Or we can follow the example of Jesus, offering grace in the moment and waiting for the right time to judge them.

When God gives you a

,
be

Reveal Answer

to accomplish it.

Satan’s strategy is to

you so that
your

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is on

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but your mission.

If our mission is to

,
our

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must be to

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.

1. Reveal Answer
2. Reveal Answer
3. Reveal Answer

Move

with your mission,
leaving past hurt in the

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trusting God as the perfect

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Discussion Questions

Getting Started

1) Have you ever burned a bridge and later regretted how harsh you were in judgment against someone? Did you try to rebuild the bridge? Were you successful? Share with the group your experience of “calling down fire” on someone.

Digging Deeper

2) God used three different words for “forgiveness” in the New Testament: giving grace (Eph 4:32); send away, release (Matt 18:21); set free, let go (Luke 6:37). This shows us the spiritual and emotional complexity of forgiving someone. Do you have someone in your life who needs forgiveness?

3) The phrase “shake the dust off your feet” is found four times in the New Testament (Luke 9:5; Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11; Acts 13:51). Sometimes, God expects us to stand firm right where we are to fight for the faith. But there are times when God grants us the freedom to move on. Is there someone in your life that you need to surrender to the Lord and emotionally let them go?

4) God clearly gives us our mission (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Luke 19:10; Rev 1:1-3). Have you been sidetracked by opposition? Have you forgotten your ultimate goal in this life? Do you need to hear Jesus’ gentle rebuke of why He has you on this planet?

Applying the Word to Life

5) Do you feel stuck in the dust of a past hurt? What can you do this week to trust God that He is in control of every time others disappoint you? How can you focus on a specific mission that God has for you so that you think about “saving others” instead of wishing people would get what they deserve?

6) Ask the Holy Spirit to place a picture of someone you need to build a bridge to starting this week. What will you do or say to show this person Christ’s love?