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GOT BAGGAGE?
The Lies That Keep You Stuck | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 3, 2026

What if the very thing keeping you stuck isn’t your past—but what you believe about it? This Sunday, we’re tackling the lies that make forgiveness feel impossible: that it excuses wrong, erases consequences, or forces you back into unhealthy relationships. The truth is far more freeing—and far more powerful. If you’ve ever struggled to let go, move forward, or make sense of the hurt you carry, this message is for you. Join us in person or online for Got Baggage? – Part 2: The Lies That Keep You Stuck.

Discussion Questions

OBSERVATION (Understanding the Text/Message)

Opening (Engagement)

When you hear the word “forgiveness,” what is your immediate reaction—and why?

Which of the myths discussed in the message do you think is most commonly believed in today’s culture?

Scripture & Understanding
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph clearly names the wrong done to him. Why is it important that forgiveness does not deny the seriousness of sin?

How does Galatians 6:7 help clarify the difference between forgiveness and consequences?

In the parable from Luke 15, what was the older brother afraid of—and how does that reflect our own hesitation to forgive?

Reflection (Personal Application)

Which myth about forgiveness have you personally struggled with most?

Have you ever confused forgiveness with one of the following: minimizing, excusing, reconciling, or forgetting? What happened as a result?

Is there a situation in your life where you’ve withheld forgiveness because you feared it would let someone “off the hook”?

Reconciliation & Boundaries

The message states: “Forgiveness depends on me; reconciliation depends on us.”
Where have you seen that distinction play out in real life?

Why is repentance, restitution, and rehabilitation necessary for reconciliation—but not for forgiveness?

Have you ever felt pressure (internal or external) to reconcile when it wasn’t wise or safe? How did you respond?

Deeper Work

The message described three levels of confession:
“I’m sorry I was caught”
“I’m sorry I was wrong”
“I’m sorry for what I caused”
Why is the third level so critical for rebuilding trust?

What does it practically look like to “not weaponize the past” in a relationship?

Closing (Action Step)

Is there someone you need to forgive right now? What is one concrete step you can take this week toward releasing that burden?

If you’re not ready to forgive, what would it look like to begin praying, “Lord, make me willing to be willing”?