God’s Second Greatest Christmas Gift

1 John 4:9-10

Christmas is a highly emotional time with high expectations sometimes beyond what we will experience. Family gatherings can bring up some past hurts that need to be dealt with. Families that deal with their past will have a better future, but it won’t happen without forgiveness.

It is the ChristCandle that brings God’s second greatest gift of forgiveness.

Jesus was born so that we could experience restorationwith God AND man.

I. You Can’t Avoidthe Family Pastat Christmas 

“Forgivenessis giving up the possibility of a better past.”

Full-grown unforgiveness is called “Bitterness”. Hebrews 12:15

Be “grace-ful” with your familythis Christmas.

II. You Can Experience Forgiveness  

The Dimensionsof Forgiveness  

·       ForgivenessNEEDED

·       ForgivenessGRANTED

·       ForgivenessRECEIVED

·       ForgivenessREPEATED

Forgiveness is NOT…

·       Ignoringthe offense

·       Forgetting

·       Trustingthe offender

·       Removingconsequences

·       Healingemotionally instantly

·       Restoringrelationship fully

·       Releasingpower

·       Waitingfor an apology  

III. You Can Create a PositiveFamily Futurethis Christmas  Colossians 3:13 NLT

The ability to forgive is found at the Crossof Jesus.  

Steps to BeginForgiveness

1. Ask God to revealto you those you hold resentmenttoward

2. Bring the list to Jesus

3. Releasethem and pray God’s blessingfor them
and Get Right with God!