Do-Overs are Not Just for the Playground
Big Idea:
Our relationship with God: He allows us do-overs when we commit to doing the right things.
Our relationship with each other: We must allow be willing to give and receive do-overs.
Open:
Talk about being a kid on the playground and getting do-overs.
Transition to talking about what that would be like in the adults life
Husband/Wife
Between Friends
Boss/Employee
You/Bank
Trans: Do-overs are not a part of our everyday life. The reality is that when you mess up, you often must live with the consequences… when you hurt someone, they hurt… and making these mistakes better is not always easy. But I believe with everything in me that there are a couple of places in adult life that do-overs are really important.
The Individual’s Relationship With Christ
1. God provides for the ultimate do-over… spiritually.
John 3:3 - 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
2. God recognizes that we will be stumble.
James 3:1-2a - 1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways.
3. God knows that doing the right thing takes work.
Phil 3:12-15 - 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
A do-over with God is forgiveness combined with grace.
Our Relationships with Each Other
1. We are to forgive and move forward with hope for the future.
2 Cor 2:5-11 - 5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
The whole idea of allowing do overs is an attitude of grace towards each other and the world.
2. We are commanded by God to give forgiveness just as we received forgiveness.
Matt 6:12, 14 - 12and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Christ shows us this grace, we are to show others too.
3. It is acceptable for our do-overs to be conditional. What is important is true repentance.
Luke 17:3-5 – 3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
This grace is to be met by sincerity, not seen as opportunity… or weakness.
Conclusions:
Do overs can be a reality for each of us… both in our spiritual lives and in our personal lives. We are talking about Grace here… redemptive community.
Call for those to receive Christ.
Call for those to recommit to Christ.
Call for those who need to forgive themselves.
Call for those who need to forgive someone.
