The Forgiveness Microscope

With a superb team of students, our new Center for Faith & Culture at Lindsey Wilson College has launched! These brief posts will share a summary of our discussion about the upcoming Sunday’s lectionary Scriptures.

We hope sharing our discussion with you will, at least on occasion, be the icing-on-the-cake you need for Sunday. Whether for your sermon or a seed to share in a Bible-study group, here are some ideas for further reflection.

At the crossing of the Red Sea, a detail of God’s power is verse 19: "The pillar of cloud moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies Egypt and Israel." This is the perfect Sunday to include the worship song Fight My Battles! - a present day response of Miriam in Exodus 15. Next, the theme of forgiveness abounds in the epistle and Gospel readings. If we’re truly honest, we must consider - since God has forgiven us - why can we not forgive others?!

Indeed, a look at ourselves through the forgiveness-microscope can be frightening. Stories of forgiveness throughout history can help us - even inspire us - to do the same.

The Center for Faith & Culture team at Lindsey Wilson College,
Gerald Chafin with Ryan Engle, Kayla Koerner, Kelsey Redford, Jerrica Townsend

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time/15th Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 14:19-31
Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35