Grudge or Goodness?

Genesis 37:4

Genesis 39:1, 5-6

Genesis 39:20b-23

Genesis 41:38-42

Today’s Core Truth: The Lord is with those who don’t harbor grudges but dwell on His Goodness.

Guarding from grudges to experience God’s Goodness:

⇒ Recognize God has been there even when we have not seen it or felt it.

⇒ Favor comes through God’s Goodness.

⇒ Forgiveness more easily when our hearts are healthy.

Matthew 6:12

⇒ How we the hurt will help us see the greater good.

Genesis 50:15, 18-20

Romans 12:19-21

Theme: Forgive…and Forget?

Reflect Together:

What impacted you the most from Sunday’s message?

Share Together:

When has there been a time when someone gave you a break? For instance, you owed them money, they excused you from failing on a commitment, etc. How about when you were given a second chance you didn’t deserve?

Read Together:

Genesis 50:15-21

Discuss Together:

• Joseph’s brothers, who abused him and sold him into slavery, now come in need of him and begging for forgiveness. What emotions do you think they were feeling, and why?
• How does Joseph respond to reassure them?
• Where did his ability to respond in the way he did come from?
• Why is verse 20 so significant, and what ways does it speak of revising our story of pain to become powerfully redemptive?
• When has there been a moment in which those that hurt you have come in need and wanting you to not only forgive them but help them? How did you respond? When has the situation been flipped, and you were needing forgiveness? What happened?
• We know we are called to forgive others as Christ followers, but is it possible to forget? Should we? Why or why not?
• How does forgiveness benefit us? Why is it so difficult?

Pray Together:

How can you use prayer to help you forgive others this week? Also, share how God is answering prayer and any prayer requests you have. Take time to pray for each other.