In the conversation for this Sunday, January 24, 2016, Pastors Stuart Nice and Kim Nowlin discuss the importance of forgiveness and the freedom it affords for those who learn to forgive and live forgiven.
Click here to view the exercise sheet used in the conversation.
The passage for this morning's conversation is Matthew 5:21-26.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.’ But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire."
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you, leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift."
“Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. I can guarantee this truth:You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine."
(Matthew 5:21-26, God's Word Translation)
Sacred Reading, 00:00–14:45; Conversation, 14:45-46:54
Sacred Reading Text
God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ. God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.
Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame. This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains.
(Colossians 1:19-23a, God's Word Translation)