Sermon Notes + 8.16.2026
SERMON NOTES
Lord, How Many Times Shall I Forgive?: Cultivating a Heart of Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-35
Tyler Van Horssen, Assistant Pastor
Outline:
1. Forgiveness is VERTICAL, so receive it.
2. Forgiveness is INTERNAL, so cultivate it.
3. Forgiveness is EXTERNAL, so pursue it.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. Are there any conflicts you are currently engaged in? Where do you need to seek forgiveness in that conflict, and where do you need to offer forgiveness?
2. What are some common misconceptions of forgiveness you see in the world? How does the Bible offer a more beautiful picture of forgiveness?
3. What should you do when a conflict is taking place because of preferences and not actual sin? How should you proceed in the conflict?
4. Vertical forgiveness is the foundation of all the other dimensions of forgiveness. If you are struggling to forgive someone, meditating on God’s forgiveness for you should be the starting point for working through this difficulty. What does it look like to meditate on God’s forgiveness? How will you do so this week?
5. Are you struggling with bitterness, resentment, or anger towards anyone right now? How can you cultivate internal forgiveness within you?
6. Do you struggle to identify with those who have sinned against you? In what areas are you different than them, and in what areas are you similar?
7. Are any of your relationships hindered right now because of another person’s sin? How can you go about pursuing reconciliation with that person by lovingly confronting them (when it is wise to do so)?
8. How is God’s forgiveness both the motivation and the model for our forgiveness? (See Matt 18:21-35; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13; Ps 103:10-12)
Recommended Further Reading:
Keller, Timothy. Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? London: Penguin Books, 2022.
Jones, Robert D. Pursuing Peace: A Christian Guide to Handling Our Conflicts. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012.