Audio Recording

Sermon Outline

Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series: Maturing in Christ

Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Sermon Outline
1. When do we forgive?

[13] … if one has a complaint against another…

2. What does forgiveness look like?

[13] … if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other…

3. How can we forgive?

[13] … if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
[2:13] And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we live in a world of broken relationships where we have been wronged against, and we have wronged others. Our offenses are not always accidental, but often intentional. Instead of mending what’s been broken, we withhold forgiveness. We want others to pay for what they’ve done. Jesus, your grace is amazing because you gave us complete forgiveness before we uttered a word of confession. You bore the cost of our sin, and you did not make us pay. As you have forgiven us, may we forgive one another. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

What connected with you from the sermon or the passage?
Paul assumes that in the church there will be situations when people will hurt one another, and these won’t be accidents. Have you witnessed or experienced any “complaints” in the church?
How would you define and describe forgiveness?
What do you find difficult and challenging about forgiveness?
Paul uses the language of “forgiving each other” as though forgiveness will be ongoing. Have you had a situation where you’ve been challenged to forgive someone in an ongoing way?
Paul shares that the basis for our ability to forgive others is because Jesus has forgiven us. How does this help you to forgive? How might you still struggle to forgive?
If Jesus’ forgiveness towards us was full and complete, how does that give you assurance and comfort? What if his forgiveness was partial?
What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?