Podcast Summary: Church of the Highlands – Sunday Messages – "Jesus Forgives"
Date: September 14, 2025
Series: The Goodness of God (Week 2)
Speaker: Church of the Highlands Pastoral Team (Primary speaker, referred to by congregation as "A"; references to Pastor Mark and personal anecdotes)
Overview: Main Theme and Purpose
In this emotionally charged and pastorally focused message, the speaker addresses the theme "Jesus Forgives" as part of the "Goodness of God" series. Against the backdrop of recent tragedy and national grief, the message delves into the theology and practice of forgiveness—both receiving it from God and extending it to others. The episode seeks to comfort the congregation, remind listeners of the relentless goodness of God embodied in Jesus, and challenge believers to act as conduits of divine forgiveness in a fractured world.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Goodness of God Amidst Tragedy (03:00)
- Speaker welcomes all listeners, including those in correctional facilities, emphasizing inclusivity and unity as a church family.
- Addresses recent events: “In the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk and all the events that have taken place in our culture… my heart and prayers are with Erica and the family and all affected by the tragedies this week.”
- Rekindles focus on the series’ foundational Scripture:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)
- Stresses: “Our God is good… The devil’s a bad devil. There’s no goodness in the devil, and there’s no badness in God because God is totally good.”
2. Wrestling with the Problem of Evil (06:30)
- Acknowledges the question many have: “Then why does God allow so much bad?”
- Offers Romans 8:28 as a key:
“We know that in all things—bad things, the unexpected—God will work it for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.”
3. Jesus Embodies God’s Goodness—and God’s Forgiveness (10:00)
- Recaps the series’ approach: showing not just the theology, but how Jesus lived it.
- Introduction of today’s topic: “Jesus Forgives—particularly difficult when you want to be mad, angry, want somebody to pay… but you can experience it today.”
4. The Nature of Forgiveness: God Cancels Debt (13:30)
- Defines forgiveness: “Forgiveness is the act God lets go of the resentment and the demand for recompense of hurt or offense… In the Bible, it’s even described as canceling debt.”
- Reminds listeners:
“We were dead… I had a death sentence… But because of his great love… God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ… by grace we have been saved.”
- Key Quote (15:40): “It’s the best part of his day when he can let you off the hook… He enjoys doing it.”
5. Forgiveness Is Ongoing (18:20)
- Explains the continual nature of God’s forgiveness: “He didn’t just forgive us of our sin, but he’s continuing to do it… past, present, future… the blood of Jesus purifies (ongoing).”
- Encourages: “If you feel like you’re not deserving—even as you walked in today—he’s still purifying and forgiving you if you’ve made him Lord.”
6. Jesus’ Stories of Forgiveness (22:00)
- Shares three key Gospel stories and their lessons:
- Peter’s Restoration—denies Jesus, but restored, chosen to preach first church sermon.
“He’ll give you a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance.”
- The Prodigal Son—father runs to meet wayward son before he can apologize.
“God’s posture already for you, before you even say the first word, is He sees you, has compassion, runs to you, throws His arms around you.”
- The Crucifixion—Jesus asks the Father to forgive his executioners.
“If there were ever a moment to break the rule of forgiving, he demonstrates it…”
- Peter’s Restoration—denies Jesus, but restored, chosen to preach first church sermon.
7. Focus Story: The Woman Caught in Adultery (34:15)
- John 8: Teachers bring woman caught in adultery, attempt to trap Jesus.
- Jesus writes in the dirt, then says (37:05):
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to cast the stone.”
- Possible humor: “Maybe Jesus was writing their mistresses’ names in the dirt!”
- Jesus tells her (40:00):
“‘Neither do I condemn you… Go now and leave your life of sin.’”
- Unpacks three lessons:
- Forgiveness comes at our worst moments: “He was offering it before she even asked.”
- Forgiveness doesn’t ignore justice; it shifts it: “Jesus takes the penalty for what she did… ready to take the blame for everything you did.”
- Forgiveness removes the past and restores the future: “He wasn’t just focused on what she did, but who she could become.”
8. How Should We Respond? (44:20)
a. Receive God’s Forgiveness (44:45)
- Calls out self-condemnation as destructive:
“Some of you have so self-condemned yourself… you’re not in conviction, you’re in condemnation.”
- Points to the importance of daily remembering God’s already-given forgiveness (the Lord’s Prayer).
- Illustrative Story (48:30):
- Shares family anecdote about his children fessing up to carving a bed post, using it as an example of how we can go to God confidently because we trust His merciful character.
- Quote:
“I always wanted to have a relationship with my kids who had the ability to immediately say, ‘Daddy, I did this… but I also know you, and I know you’re still going to love me.’… That’s the way He loves.”
b. Release Forgiveness to Others (52:00)
- Stresses the necessity to forgive because we have received forgiveness:
“You’ll never have to forgive somebody more than what Jesus forgave you.”
- Warns that unforgiveness harms the self:
“Unforgiveness is like setting yourself on fire and hoping your enemy dies from smoke inhalation.”
- Encourages proactive choice:
“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience… Bear with each other… forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3)
- Quotes C.S. Lewis:
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in me.”
- Reference to another forgiveness story: the sinful woman with alabaster jar—“He who has been forgiven little, loves little. He who has been forgiven much, loves much.”
c. Represent Forgiveness to the World (56:30)
- Charges listeners to be public representatives of divine forgiveness.
- Cites the response of Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church families after the 2015 shooting:
“The daughter of victim Ethel Lance looked directly into the camera and said, ‘I forgive you.’ Two days later. The mother of Tywanza Sanders: ‘May God grant you mercy.’ Reverend Anthony Thompson: ‘I forgive you—give your life to Jesus Christ. That’s what really matters.’”
- Notes President Obama’s reaction: their forgiveness was “unimaginable.”
- Core challenge:
“God’s forgiveness was never meant to stop with us. It was always meant to flow through us.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On God's goodness in hard times:
"God is completely incapable of anything bad. Our God is a good God. The devil's a bad devil. There's no goodness in the devil, and there's no badness in God because God is totally good." (05:45)
- On forgiveness as ongoing:
“The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies—not purified—purifies, ongoing. He's still doing it.” (18:30)
- On Peter’s restoration:
“He'll give you a second chance. He'll give you a third chance. He'll give you a fourth chance.” (24:05)
- On the Prodigal Son:
“He sees you. He has compassion on you. He’ll run to you, throw his arms around you and kiss you. Cause God loves you.” (29:30)
- On the woman caught in adultery:
“‘Neither do I condemn you… Go now and leave your life of sin.’” (40:00)
- On why we ask forgiveness in prayer:
“We ask God to forgive us, not because He hasn't, but so we can remember that He actually has.” (46:15)
- C.S. Lewis:
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in me.” (53:45)
- On releasing forgiveness:
“Unforgiveness is like setting yourself on fire and hoping your enemy dies from smoke inhalation.” (52:20)
- On legacy:
“Give people a second chance. You never know when you're going to need one, too.” (55:15)
- On forgiveness as representation:
“God's forgiveness was never meant to stop with us. It was always meant to flow through us.” (58:50)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:00] Introduction; responding to current events and tragedy
- [06:30] Wrestling with why bad things happen—Romans 8:28
- [13:30] Defining forgiveness; God cancels our debt
- [18:20] Forgiveness is ongoing—past, present, future
- [22:00] Jesus’ stories of forgiveness—Peter, Prodigal Son, Crucifixion
- [34:15] Key story: Woman caught in adultery (John 8)
- [44:20] Application: How to respond—receive, release, represent forgiveness
- [48:30] Family anecdote illustrating God’s fatherly forgiveness
- [52:00] The cost of unforgiveness and call to let go
- [56:30] Representing forgiveness in the world (Charleston church story)
- [58:50] Final call: Let forgiveness flow through you
Conclusion
The episode serves as both a theological deep dive and a practical pastoral manual on living in the reality of divine forgiveness. It urges listeners to internalize God's goodness, to receive personally the reality of total, ongoing forgiveness, and to mirror that grace in their daily interactions. Through contemporary examples, biblical stories, personal anecdotes, and poignant quotations, the message underscores that forgiveness is fundamental to Christian identity—even, and especially, in a world marked by anger and tragedy.
Final Charge:
“Go show people the goodness of Almighty God.” (59:10)
Useful For:
Anyone seeking hope, healing, or a practical Christian approach to forgiveness—whether navigating tragedy, wrestling with personal guilt, or struggling to release others. Especially meaningful for those needing a reminder that no mistake is too great for the forgiveness and restoration found in Christ.