Unforgiving Servant
Unforgiving Servant
A parable is a short story or metaphor, drawn from familiar cultural context and experience, and prompted by Jesus’ need to explain himself and his ministry. Each week this summer we'll explore one of Jesus' parables, asking what it is meant to teach us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. In this week's parable, Jesus is conversing with Peter about how much a follower should forgive another. In doing so, he tells a parable, a ridiculous parable at that of how much a certain fellow is forgiven by a good master and yet still is mean and unforgiving to a fellow servant. The master then tortures and throws this slave out because the kingdom of heaven requires its participants to be forgiving of others. The parable seems to point at there needing to be more than just an awareness of how much we have been forgiven in order for us to live out the Kingdom of Heaven.
Community Discussion
Remembering how much you have been saved from:
What are some of the ways in which Jesus has healed you, forgiven you, and still named you even despite your sin? Do you have stories of His forgiveness and yet still inclusion in His family?
What are some of your habits of sitting with Jesus and being thankful and aware? What are some things you would like to try this week, month, or year?
Moving into what you have been called to, a family of forgiveness and reconciliation:
Are there people you need to talk to, to offer forgiveness (or ask forgiveness of)? What would that process look like?
Are the people you live around that you can commit to using the words, “forgive me” and “I forgive you” to this week as many times as applicable? Who are they?
Is there a deep hurt that you need seek out safe counselors for and begin walking through healing and forgiveness with and to? What is the hurt? Who will your safe counselors be? What will the process look like to offer forgiveness (letter, phone call, role playing conversation, etc.)?
August 4, 2024 - Scott Cooley