Bitterness

What a great weekend we had at Mountainview! I'm incredibly pleased to see the positive response many of you had on Sunday. We are committed to praying for those of you who indicated your struggle with bitterness. In fact, many of you with week have been challenged to face your bitterness with courage and boldness. We are thinking of you and praying for you.
Bitterness ruins and forgiveness restores. Who are you bitter toward? Why are you bitter? How can you begin to forgive? What one step will you take this week to begin forgiving someone who hurt you?

Consider the following Scriptures and questions:

· Matthew 5:43-48

o How did Jesus say we ought to treat our enemies? (vs. 44)
o What did Jesus say we ought to do for those who persecute us? (vs. 44)
o Why type of people did Jesus cite as loving those who love them? (vs. 46)
o What exceptional standard did Jesus give us? (vs. 48)
o If our God is able to exhibit grace and mercy to everyone, why is it difficult for us to be like Him?
o What would have to happen in your heart in order for you to be able to pray for an enemy?
o In what ways does a loving spirit demonstrate that we are God’s people?
o For which of your “enemies” will you pray every day this week?

· Matthew 18:21-35

o What makes forgiveness difficult?
o What question did Peter ask Jesus? (vs. 21)
o What surprising answer did Jesus give Peter? (vs. 22)
o How did Jesus illustrate His answer to Peter’s question? (vs. 23)
o What did the servant go do after his debt was cancelled? (vs. 28)
o How did the onlookers respond when they saw the first servant throw the second in jail? (vs. 31)
o If God is so willing to forgive us, why are we sometimes unwilling to forgive others?
o How do we sometimes forgive with strings attached?
o What should we do if we don’t feel like forgiving others?
o What individual(s) do you need to “release from their debts” this week?

This coming Sunday we will continue our HOSTAGE series and look at worrying. The word worry comes from an old German word that means to choke or to strangle. This is what worry does sometimes. Worry strangles the life out of us, even though there are so many things to worry about. How many of us are held HOSTAGE by WORRY?

I pray you have a great week! Don’t forget to invite someone to church with you on Sunday, because no matter who they are or what they are going through, I believe they will walk out with much more HOPE than when they walked in! Mountainview, I am proud of you, I believe in you and I love you!

Pastor Tom