Starting Over (4) – Release It

Welcome to CROLCC, we are so glad you are here worshiping with us. Next week we will be celebrating our church’s 15th anniversary. Winnie and I have been with this church for all 15 years of its existence. We have experienced the highs and the lows, much like how King David described in Psalm 23, we have lied down in green pastures and we have walked the darkest valleys. I know a pastor is supposed to say this, yet we really have experienced the goodness and the love of God throughout. Our prayer for our church would be that we continue to fear no evil, knowing that God has prepared a table before us in the presence of our enemies. And that we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I hope you will come and bring your friends and family as we celebrate together!

Today we are closing our series Starting Over. We all have made mistakes in our pasts—financial, professional, academic, relational. Unfortunately, we tend to learn from our mistakes in the areas that matter least and repeat our mistakes in the areas that matter most. Sometimes that’s because we avoid owning our part of a mistake. Sometimes it’s much easier to blame others. But once you’ve taken ownership of your part of a mistake, what do you do with the part owned by others? How do you get past the stuff other people have done to turn your life upside down?

Moving Forward

To ensure next time is better than last time, release the past so the past can release you. Pardon others as God has pardoned you. Decide they don’t owe you anymore. That’s not easy to do, but when you wait on others to make the first move, you hand them the keys to your future.

Changing Your Mind

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
Ephesians 4:31–32

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever wronged someone accidentally or on purpose, then owned your actions and asked that person for forgiveness? What do you think taking responsibility for your actions did for that person?

2. Talk about a time when you’ve seen a person unable to get past a wrong done to them by someone else. In what ways did that person’s inability to move on affect him or her?

3. Read Ephesians 4:26. Do you tend to resolve your anger quickly or do you have trouble letting it go? How does that affect your relationships? How do you think it affects the quality of your life?

4. What are some obstacles to deciding not to drag the wrongs others have done to you into your future? What would need to happen for you to overcome those obstacles?

5. Who is one person you need to forgive—not necessarily for his or her benefit but for your future? What can you do this week to take a step toward forgiving? How can this group support you?