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As anyone who’s been hurt by another person knows, true forgiveness can feel out of reach. The forgiveness that we are called to, the forgiveness that allows us to bless those who have hurt us, would be impossible if it wasn’t for God’s help. This week, John Bailey and Mark Renfroe talk honestly about how to forgive when it’s the last thing you want to do.
Key Points from the Podcast
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We live in a fallen world. We will offend people and be offended by others. Forgiveness is an essential part of the Christian life.
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As Christians, we know we’re supposed to forgive, but it can be challenging at times. Ask the Lord to help you walk out the forgiveness he wants you to show others.
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If we do not practice forgiveness, we will not grow spiritually; and we will end up in a place where everything and everyone offends us.
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Complete forgiveness is when you can forgive someone and say, like Jesus and Stephen, “Lord, don’t hold this offense against them.”
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Totally forgiving someone, especially someone with a habitual pattern of hurt or deceit, does not mean they need to be part of your life. Boundaries are a necessary part of the Christian life.
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God created us with emotions. Jesus had emotions. He wept. He got angry. God also gave us the Holy Spirit so that we can control our emotions and use them in godly ways.
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Jesus tells us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast
Mark 9:17–24; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; Luke 6:27–28; Matthew 18:21–22; Proverbs 11:30; 1 Peter 5:1–4; Matthew 18:12; John 2:24; Matthew 7:2; Mark 3:5; John 2:13–17; Ephesians 4:26; John 11:35; Galatians 5:19–23; James 3:5–10; Romans 8:26
Resources Mentioned in the Podcast
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Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall [book]
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Restoring Thanksgiving through Forgiveness by Claude Houde [sermon]
About John Bailey
Pastor John Bailey serves as the Chief Operating Officer at World Challenge. John came to know Christ in jail after some difficult struggles as a young man, and God has done a powerful work of transformation since! Spending 13 years in Next Gen ministry, he excelled in discipleship and helping young leaders discover giftings to serve God. John was called next to serve as a missionary and pastor in Western Europe. John and his family then returned to plant the Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Today, the church is a thriving body of believers excelling in outreach and missions. John has now brought his giftings and vision to World Challenge, accelerating the spread of the gospel in America and around the World.
About Mark Renfroe
Mark married his college sweetheart, Amy, with whom he has four adult children—one girl and three boys. The Renfroes have been involved in field missions work for 30 years. They served in the Arab community of San Francisco for four years before becoming foreign missionaries in 1995. Mark was asked to serve as the Area Director for Assemblies of God World Missions in 2007. As part of his role, he led missionaries and interfaced with national church leaders in the 18 countries of the Arab World. In 2017, Mark created Reaching Africa’s Muslims, an initiative to mobilize, equip, and deploy indigenous African missionaries to reach Muslims on the continent. Mark has graduate degrees in Intercultural Studies and Executive Leadership. He currently serves as the Chief Missions Officer for World Challenge in Colorado Springs.
