What will it take to get you to repent? That’s quite a blunt way to start an article isn’t it? Repent of what exactly? And who am I to ask that of you? Isn’t the concept of repentance itself all a bit judgemental? Yet at the heart of the Bible’s good news message is aContinue reading “Unrepentant (Matthew 11:20-24)”
Tag Archives: Forgiveness
Complicity and saying sorry
In my article about the EHCR report on anti-Semitism I started to raise the issue of complicity. There is a level at which we all as a society (perhaps with one or two exceptions) have to recognise a level of complicity in the way that this toxic evil was allowed to get to the heartContinue reading “Complicity and saying sorry”
On wishing politicians dead
On wishing someone else dead “We should rejoice that this dictator is dead” said the preacher, to audible gasps from the congregation. “My daughter prayed that he would die at our family prayer time yesterday, and it has happened.” He then went on to explain his reasoning. The dictator could either die to himself andContinue reading “On wishing politicians dead”
Overcoming Fear (3) Christ our saviour
Here is the third in our series with a look at 1 John 2:1-6. What does fear have to do with repentance and forgiveness?
Love Conquers Fear (2) Forgiveness
Here’s the next in our series on “Love that conquers fear.” Today we are looking at the role forgiveness plays (1 John 1:5-10)
When you want to prevent others from receiving forgiveness
It only really struck me with force when I was actually preaching on Sunday. I guess it was because I was preaching specifically on this incident for the first time from Matthew’s Gospel, I’ve spoken on it many times from Luke’s Gospel but not from here. Matthew really brings out the hard hearted merciless waysContinue reading “When you want to prevent others from receiving forgiveness”
Forgiven (Matthew 9:1-13)
It’s one of the most wonderful words you can hear isn’t it? You’ve well and truly messed up this time. You’ve allowed something to catch fire in the microwave and whilst attending to that, you’ve allowed the sink upstairs to overflow so that water has rained through the ceiling into your front room. Then inContinue reading “Forgiven (Matthew 9:1-13)”
Does forgiveness need to be expressed to the other person?
RT Kendall’s book used to be considered the classic textbook for Christians on forgiveness. One of his main arguments was that forgiveness was primarily about the heart attitude of the offended. One of his key bits of advice was that if someone had offended you and you had truly forgiven them then you would notContinue reading “Does forgiveness need to be expressed to the other person?”
Forgiveness and reconciliation may not always mean a return to normal
A boyfriend completely forgets his girlfriend’s birthday and goes out with his mates for a drink instead. It’s not the first time he has let her down. She decides to break off with him. At the time he expresses sorrow, buys her flowers, chocolates and concert tickets but she sees through the remorse, this isn’tContinue reading “Forgiveness and reconciliation may not always mean a return to normal”
Does forgiveness remove the need for church discipline?
In my ten years at Bearwood Chapel, we’ve only felt the need to pursue full church discipline in line with 1 Corinthians 5 on one occasion. However the need to remove membership due to persistent, unrepentant and serious sin will sadly arise from time to time in church life. We’ve been talking about the importanceContinue reading “Does forgiveness remove the need for church discipline?”
