March 22, 2026: “Forgiving Ourselves”

Mark 14:26–31 (NIV)

26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’  28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

 Matthew 26:69–75 (NIV)

69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Forgiveness is complete when…

1.  We have experienced the forgiveness of GOD.

2.  We can forgive OTHERS who have wronged us.

3.  We can forgive Ourselves.

·      Forgiveness from God is GRACE

·      Forgiveness from others is CHARITY

·      Forgiving ourselves is WISDOM

 There is a major difference between….

                  Being forgiven – God’s part

                  Feeling forgiven – My part

 Why we can’t accept forgiveness

1.  We have a PERFORMANCE-based mentality.

God accepts us based on what Jesus has done, not based on what we can do.

 2.  We are DISAPPOINTED with ourselves.

 3.  We Adjust & SURRENDER to a guilt-ridden life.

 4.   We have the expectation of REPEATING a sin.

 5.   Other people REMIND us of our sin.

 Consequences of Not Forgiving Ourselves:

1.  We BEAT ourselves up.

2.  We live in UNCERTAINTY.

3.   We have a sense of UNWORTHINESS.

4.  We practice EXCESSIVE behavior.

5.  We live with fake HUMILITY.

6.  We begin to practice SELF-DEPRAVATION.

 How can we forgive ourselves?

1.  Recognize the PROBLEM.

2.  REPENT.

3.  Reaffirm your trust in God’s PROMISES.

4.  Choose FREEDOM.

What happens when we forgive ourselves?

1.  The past becomes IRRELEVANT.

2.   We will feel WHOLE.

3.  We start to PROCLAIM what God has done in our lives.

2 Corinthians 5:17 -19 (NIV)

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

 Observations:

1.  When I come to Christ everything changes.

2.  God is the reason for these changes, not me.

3.  This is the message that we are to give to others through our lives.

Life Group Notes:

•  Which is easier for you, forgiving others or forgiving yourself? Why?

• Neal gave us 4 steps to forgiving ourselves: recognize the problem, repent, trust God’s promises and choose freedom.  Which one of those steps do you struggle with or don’t understand?

• Read the Mark and Matthew passages again. Think about how you would tell the story. What would you highlight in that story?

• We can’t give what we don’t have.  How important is it for us to live in God’s forgiveness daily?

• Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. It is important for us to become what God wants us to become. How does not forgiving ourselves keep us from being ministers of reconciliation?

• How does not forgiving ourselves keep us in bondage?

• How has a performance- based mentality affected your walk with God?

• Look at the consequences of not forgiving ourselves from your sermon notes.  Which one do you think is the most destructive to your walk with God?

• What about the sermon did you find confusing, difficult to understand, eye-opening or that you disagree with?

• Read the final three observations in your sermon notes.  Discuss what they mean in your life?

• How can you support someone else who is struggling to forgive themselves.