“Debts & Debtors”

Chris Allen
October 23, 2022
Matthew 6:12; Matthew 18:23-35

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” —Matthew 6:9-13

Forgiveness is transferring

for what was

Reveal Answer

.

---

INVENTORY FOR LOSS OF THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
1. If you have a list of people that are “dead to you” because of irreconcilable conflict
2. If you periodically change occupations or churches because of the people
3. If you find yourself repeatedly lobbying other people to your side about someone else
4. If you ruminate late into the evening on the injustice done to you during the day
5. If you tend to assume the worst intentions of someone without knowing their side
6. If you automatically create a negative narrative or outcome to a scenario in progress
7. If you can’t remember the last time you said “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Will you please forgive me?”

---

The extent you’re able to

God’s forgiveness directly correlates to the extent you’re able to

Reveal Answer

Reveal Answer

.

---

A Prayer With the Full Power of Forgiveness

“Father, I

my debtors out of the

Reveal Answer

where my debts were forgiven.

Study Questions

Read the account of unmerciful servant again in Matthew 18:23-35

1. How does the King’s initial charge of payment (the servant, his wife, & children sold to repay the debt) strike you? If God is the King in this illustration, is it unsettling he would demand full justice like this?
2. We appreciate justice when it’s repayment for debts to us. We might see it as cruel or unkind when our own debts to others are demanded. God is just, either way, and transfers our debt to Jesus to pay with his life. This is profound. Are there seasons of life you can describe where you lost the “wow” of this transferred payment?
3. In the message, Chris said, the extent you’re able to experience God’s forgiveness directly correlates to the extent you’re able to forgive others. Do you agree? Where have you seen or experienced this?
4. When others need our forgiveness, how do we re-train our instincts of demanding payment, to instead, forgiveness out of the wealth where our debts were forgiven?