June Hunt - Choosing Forgiveness

Thank you. Sincerely. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to invest in the study of Gods Word with Gods people. The apostle John wrote that he had no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth (3 John 4). At Hope For The Heart , our joy comes from seeing God use our materials to help His children walk in the truth.

Gods Word is our sure and steady anchor. We believe the Bible is inspired by God (He authored it through human writers), inerrant (completely true), infallible (totally trustworthy), and the final authority on all matters of life and faith. This study will give you biblical insight on the topic of forgiveness.

The overall flow of this topical Bible study looks at forgiveness and unforgiveness from four angles: Definitions, Characteristics, Causes, and Biblical Steps to Solution.

• The Definitions section orients you to the topic by laying the foundation for a broad understanding of forgiveness from a biblical and emotional standpoint. It answers the question: What does it mean?
• The Characteristics section spotlights various aspects that are often associated with forgiveness and unforgiveness, giving a deeper understanding to the topic. It answers the question: What does it look like?
• The Causes section identifies the physical, emotional, and spiritual sources of unforgiveness. It answers the question: What causes it?
• The Biblical Steps to Solution sections provide action plans designed to help youand help you help otherslearn to forgive from a scriptural point of view. It answers the question: What can you do about it?

The individual sessions contain narrative, biblical teaching, and discussion questions for group interaction and personal application. We sought to strike a balance between engaging content, biblical truth, and practical application.

Applying the following biblical principles will help you get the most out of this Bible-based study as you seek to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

• Pray Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). Any progress in spiritual growth comes from the Lords helping hand, so soak your study in prayer. We need to depend on Gods wisdom to study, think, and apply His Word to our lives.
• Prepare Even ants prepare and gather food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:68). As with most activities in life, you will get out of it as much as you put into it. You will reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). Realize, the more you prepare, the more fruit you produce.
• Participate Change takes place in the context of community. Come to each session ready to ask questions, engage with others, and seek Gods help. And do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).
• Practice James says, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22). Ultimately, this Bible study is designed to impact your life.
• Pass it on! The Bible describes a spiritual leader who set his heart to study the Law of the Lord , and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules (Ezra 7:10 esv ). Notice the progression: study... do... teach . That progression is what we want for your journey. We pray that God will use the biblical truths contained in this material to change your life and then to help you help others! In this way, the Lords work will lead to more and more changed lives.

At Hope For The Heart , we pray that the biblical truths within these pages will give you the hope and help you need to handle the challenges in your life. And we pray that God will reveal Himself and His will to you through this study of Scripture to make you more like Jesus. Finally, we pray that Gods Spirit will strengthen you, guide you, comfort you, and equip you to live a life that honors Jesus Christ.