Week of April 8, 2013

The following are questions from Father Mike's sermon, "Forgiveness in the Family".

1. Read Colossians 3:12-15.
2. For each of the five qualities Paul lists in Colossians - compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience - think of an example (positive or negative) from relationships you have experienced, and imagine the alternatives.
3. Do you think forgiveness needs to be thought of or handled differently in a marriage than in other relationships?  Why or why not?
4. Think of a stone you've placed in your mate's backpack.  What steps did you take, or could you take, at each stage of forgiveness:
• Awareness
• Regret
• Confession
• Change
5. In cases where you haven't been able to change, how did you feel?  How do you think your mate felt?  How do you think God felt?  Have any of the participants' feelings changed over time, and if so, how?
6. "Marriage was not meant to be a life sentence."  Reflect on this sentence.  What thoughts does it call to mind?  Do you agree?  Why or why not?
7. What are some sins that you would be able to "bear with"?  What are some sins that you wouldn't?  For you, what's the dividing line?
8. What are some things you can do to keep the "drain clean" and the "tower high" in your relationships right now?  How can we support you?
9. Pray for one another....