Matthew 6:7-15 • Lord's Prayer - Forgiveness
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Matthew 6:7-15
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
I am my Beloved’s and his desire is for me.
Our belonging makes room for our becoming.
Brennan Manning - “If I am not in touch with my own belovedness. Then I cannot touch the sacredness of others.”
AS WE ALSO
Sin - failure to love God and others by not treating them with the honor they deserve.
Tim Kreider - So many letters to the editor and comments on the Internet have this tone of thrilled vindication: these are people who have been vigilantly on the lookout for something to be offended by, and found it... Obviously, some part of us loves feeling 1) right and 2) wronged. But outrage is like a lot of other things that feel good but, over time, devour us from the inside out. Except it's even more insidious than most vices because we don't even consciously acknowledge that it's a pleasure. We prefer to think of it as a disagreeable but fundamentally healthy reaction to negative stimuli, like pain or nausea, rather than admit that it's a shameful kick we eagerly indulge again and again.... [It is] outrage porn, selected specifically to pander to our impulse to judge and punish, to get us off on righteous indignation.
Ephesians 4:26-27 - 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:31-5:2 - 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ronald Rolheiser - Only forgiveness (analogous to dialysis) can take violence and hatred out of a relationship.
Honesty
Humility
Resolution
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
Brennan Manning says “If I am not in touch with my own belovedness. Then I cannot touch the sacredness of others.” How does our belovedness give shape to the Lord’s prayer; that is, does it change how you read it?
When you think about forgiveness, what is the biggest hindrance you experience in receiving and offering forgiveness?
Discuss the steps Honestly, Humility, and Resolution. Where do you feel God inviting you to grow?
