“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22
Dear HBIC Family,
A few weeks ago, I was prepared to open our new sermon series on the Parables of Jesus. I wanted us to focus on these everyday stories of Jesus to help us learn more about God’s kingdom before we enter the season of Lent. In parables, Jesus teaches by changing how we think about God, ourselves, life, and the world around us. In parables we also meet characters that look like us, while we learn God’s truths.
Nevertheless, some wintry weather led us to cancelling our in-person services. Instead, we opted to begin our series through a service on Zoom. In that setting, we were able to share as family about some of our favorite parables and why they are our favorites. In our sharing, we were reminded that God runs towards us with mercy and grace, God’s love is available to all, we are called to serve others, and our God is good.
This past week, we were able to take a step back by looking at the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Here, we began the series anew to hear Jesus’ lesson that the kingdom had come, and that God will grow it in us and in our world from small to big and from obscurity to glory. The Mustard Seed parable also teaches us that the kingdom is for all the world, and from the beginning, God designed it to include all peoples of the world.
Now that we know what the kingdom is like, how it’s birthed and how it grows, who it includes and how it inspires us to live, we will focus on some foundational principles of the kingdom. This week, we will learn about forgiveness and the crucial role it plays in the kingdom. Our story this Sunday will be the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18. To prepare for this week’s services, I would like to invite you to read and reflect on Matthew 18:21-35. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
How do you define forgiveness?
How does this parable answer Peter’s question on forgiveness?
What does forgiveness look like according to Jesus?
Why is forgiveness so important to God? To us? And in the kingdom?
In relationships, for many of us, there’s the joy and blessing of loving and being loved. So much so, that we live for one another by sharing our love in our words and actions. When we think about the kingdom, it is good to be reminded of God’s love. When we think about life in the kingdom, it is good to be reminded that God’s love forgives us and calls us to forgive one another.
Sisters and brothers, may our God who forgives you of all sin free you and inspire you to forgive others. May the Holy Spirit that washes us form all unrighteousness lead you to bring peace to others with your forgiveness. And may the Lord Jesus our Christ be your light and example, as you live and love, like he lived and loved our world.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Matthew 18:21-22)