Getting/Giving Forgiveness – 2/8/26

Posted on by Wylan Swets

This AI-generated summary is provided as a helpful tool to review key themes and takeaways from the sermon. While it aims to capture the essence of the message, please remember that AI can sometimes miss nuance or context. This summary is not a substitute for listening to and engaging with the complete sermon.

Watch the sermon and view all sermon resources at https://northhillschurch.com/sermon/getting-giving-forgiveness-2-8-26/

Scripture Reference:
Matthew, Matthew 18:21-35

Teacher:
Peter Hubbard

AI Output:

Sermon Summary: Continual Forgiveness

Main Points:

  • Forgiveness is Counter-Cultural: While demonstrated powerfully by individuals like those at Emanuel AME Church and Erica Kirk, forgiveness is increasingly viewed as weakness or a trivialization of evil. Examples given include statements from President Trump and opinions expressed on social media.
  • Jesus’ Teaching on Relationships: The sermon focuses on the intense teaching on relationships found in Matthew 18, broken down into four parts: childlike humility as the foundation, the value of each individual, the upkeep of relationships, and the healing of relationships through continual forgiveness.
  • The Nature of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is not episodic but a way of life. It isn’t about setting a limit (like Peter’s suggestion of seven times) but eliminating the need for one.
  • The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: A king forgives a servant an enormous debt, but that servant then refuses to forgive a fellow servant a much smaller debt, demonstrating a lack of parallel mercy.
  • Down and Out – Receiving Forgiveness: The initial step to offering forgiveness is receiving it from God, acknowledging an unpayable debt.
  • Releasing Forgiveness: This involves releasing both the demand for justice and actively extending the mercy received from God.
  • Forgiveness vs. Trust & Consequences: Forgiveness doesn’t automatically equate to trust or negate the need for consequences in some situations.

Action/Application Points:

  • Start with God’s Forgiveness: Before attempting to forgive others, focus on receiving God’s forgiveness.
  • Examine Self-Deception: Recognize the tendency to believe one can earn forgiveness or repay a debt to God, and instead rely on His unmerited favor.
  • Avoid Dehumanization: Resist categorizing people as oppressors or oppressed, as this hinders forgiveness. See all people as both image-bearers of God and sinners in need of His mercy.
  • Practice Non-Transactional Forgiveness: Forgive even when the offender doesn’t seek forgiveness or show repentance.
  • Release the Demand for Justice: Trust God to handle justice and release the grip on demanding retribution.
  • Participate in Communion: Regularly partake in communion to remember and relish God’s mercy, allowing it to fuel the ability to extend forgiveness to others.
  • Daily Surrender: Continuously surrender resentment and bitterness to God, relying on his daily mercies to sustain a forgiving heart.