Product Overview
Forgive
We forgive because God first forgives us. When we forgive one another, we participate in God’s way of being in the world. At its root, the word forgiveness draws on a Greek word meaning “to let go.” When we forgive one another, we let go of anger over wrong; we let go of a desire for getting even; we let go of the burdens of shame and guilt. To forgive is not to forget; it is an active decision to not live in the past and to build toward a future. Forgiveness does not deny the realities of sin: betrayal, violence, anger, jealousy. It ensures that wrongs do not have the last word. The final word in forgiveness is God’s grace, available to those who seek to forgive and to move beyond separation and brokenness toward restored relationship with God and one another.
Congregational Guide
The Congregational Guide provides materials for the pastor, educator, and church leaders to connect the practice with congregational worship and life.
Included in this guide:
- Foundational Essay—written by a biblical scholar, these essays explore what each practice means and where it is found in the Bible
- Worship Helps—ways of incorporating this practice in worship through liturgy, song, and other suggestions
- Café Discussion Guide—self-guided, brief study for each practice
- Intergenerational Session—option for your church to have an event or explore the practice as a whole congregation together
- Curriculum Connections—information about what each age level is doing weekly
- Practicing the Practice at Home—a two-sided page for families about how to practice the practice at home
- Children’s Worship Leaflets—weekly two-sided page with practice ideas, games, an adapted Bible story, and a coloring picture
In addition to the material in the Adult Leader’s Guide and the Adult Reflection Guide, there are also free videos that leaders can use as conversation starters for the unit and each session. Visit our YouTube Channel, bit.ly/FMYouTubeGFR, to see the playlist for this unit.
Series Description
Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living is a twenty-seven-unit curriculum based on practices Jesus did and taught us to do as faithful followers. Written for people of all ages who wish to live out their faith, this new curriculum examines where these practices are found in the Bible and how they have been used in Christian faith then and now.
To learn more about the curriculum and view a sample of each component, visit our Follow Me webpage. Watch our trailer on our YouTube channel.