Thinking About
Forgiving & Being Forgiven

Gordon Atkinson

Forgiveness Stories

Think about a time in your childhood when you made a huge mistake and needed your parent’s (or someone’s) forgiveness. How did you feel? Were you forgiven?

Reflect about a time when you needed to forgive someone else. Were you able to forgive? What helped you to find forgiveness in your heart?

(Note: Some may remember that the one they needed to forgive was themselves)

Scripture Study

Read the following passages and contemplate for a few moments about what they say to you.

Matthew 5:23-24
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

Ephesians 4:32
and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Luke 17:3-5
Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

The New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1989.

In the gut