Weekly Roundup: Sunday, June 1, 2025
Read Matthew 18: 23 - 35
"Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy times," Jesus demands. His teaching on forgiveness sets in motion memories of people I have been reluctant to forgive, those still waiting on my forgiveness, and those I am not sure I have what it takes to forgive.
I got seven cards of forgiveness to give out. After they are gone, I am done. I like to give out forgiveness like I use my time and energy. I only have so much to offer, so much to give. So, here are the parameters, conditions, and qualifiers.
Jesus says, "Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy times."
Let's see if we can make this even more radical. "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants," Jesus begins his story. The first slave has an enormous amount of debt—150,000 years of back labor—an impossible amount to pay off. He begs for mercy. He gets mercy.
The forgiven slave goes to one of his fellow slaves and demands what is owed. He goes from forgiven servant to debt collector. Mercy is asked. He refuses to show it.
Word returns to the merciful king, and now his mercy runs out. The gracious king turns into a vengeful judge.
Did you notice what made the king turn so quickly? He asks, "Shouldn't you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you" (Matthew 18: 33)?
The forgiven servant refuses to forgive. The one shown mercy denies mercy. The one given a second chance offers no chance. We learn that forgiveness has limits, but in God's economy, the limits are the ones we choose to place on it ourselves.
The limits we place on forgiveness will be the extent to which forgiveness is offered to us.
I can find a million reasons not to forgive when I have been hurt. He doesn't merit forgiveness. After what she has done, she has no right to ask for forgiveness. They all deserve what they have coming to them. He must prove that he has changed if he wants me to forgive.
Yet, when I mess up and need forgiveness, I am quick to say, "I was being stupid. I didn't understand. I didn't know what I was doing."
They don't deserve forgiveness. But I deserve to be forgiven.
We need shocking stories like this from Jesus because much of what we have done in the name of forgiveness is simply tolerance. There is a difference between merely tolerating a wrong that has been done and actually forgiving the wrong. Forgiveness is the courage to confront the reality of pain but deciding not to let the pain define oneself.
How do we practice forgiveness?
Here are three suggestions on places to start:
First, We need to rediscover the humanity of the person who hurt us. Everyone is carrying a hurt that we know nothing about. It is worth reminding ourselves that we are all filled with pain and brokenness, and many of our actions toward others come from the place of pain instead of healing.
Secondly, We need to surrender our right to get even. We want everything to be transactional, even forgiveness. Jesus reminds us that it is relational. Relationships of any kind are impossible without forgiveness.
Thirdly, we need to revise our feelings toward the person we need to forgive. As long as you continue to see the other person as someone who wronged you, you will never be able to forgive. As long as you see them based on their worst actions, you can never forgive them.
Henri Nouwen said, "Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly."
Pastor Jamey
(Click Here to Watch the Worship Service from Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, Georgia)
Weekend Prayer
Merciful God, You have forgiven us far more than we could ever repay. Help us grasp the depth of Your grace and let that mercy shape the way we live and love. When it’s hard to forgive, give us courage. When the pain feels too deep, give us healing. Teach us to see others not by their worst moments but through the lens of Your love. Amen.
Wisdom Nugget: Jesus says not seven times, but seventy times seven.
Mercy isn’t math. It’s grace.
A Question to Consider: How does holding onto unforgiveness shape your identity or self-perception? What would change if you began to see yourself more as a forgiven person than a wounded one?
Meme of the week
Dad Jokes
Why did the banana apply sunscreen? Because it peels!
What does bread do on summer vacation? It just loafs around!
Leadership Reflection:
Anyone can lead when things are good. I believe authentic leadership is forged in the fire of adversity. What defines a leader isn’t the absence of difficulty but the presence of resilience.
Resilience is more than endurance. It’s the ability to absorb the shock of change, adapt with clarity, and move forward with purpose. It’s choosing not to be paralyzed by disappointment or derailed by unexpected challenges. Resilient leaders acknowledge reality but refuse to let it define the future.
Resilient leadership is less about managing and more about modeling. Teams don’t just need a new plan—they need a steady presence. They need to see a leader who communicates honestly, takes responsibility, and moves forward with courage and humility.
Resilient leaders offer hope with a backbone. They deny the difficulty. They simply refuse to be defined by it.
Pastor Jamey
Photo Taken By Me
Podcast Worth Listening to
What I Read This Past Week (Listen to on Audio)
The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe
Found Interesting on Social Media
Happening at Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, Georgia
North Georgia Nonprofit Highlight
On Friday, June 6th, Center Point will bring the fundraising event Over the Edge to downtown Gainesville, Georgia, with a unique adventure experience of safely rappelling down the Main Street Parking Garage.
From its beginning over 50 years ago, Gainesville First United Methodist Church has been a mission partner with Center Point. We believe in its mission to meet the mental health and personal development needs of young people and their families.
Our goal is to raise $5,000.00 for Center Point.
John Barbour-Hoffman, the Lighting Director for GFUMC, will repel down the Main Street Parking Garage wearing a costume that we’ll vote on.
About Center Point:
Center Point's mission is partnering with schools and community organizations to meet the mental health and personal development needs of young people and their families. Center Point has served the citizens of Gainesville City and Hall County for over 50 years. The Center has slowly transformed into arguably Hall County’s most successful and diverse student-and-family-centered non-profit. Our purpose is simple: enhance, strengthen, and change lives. This is what we are doing and what we will continue to do for years to come.
Weekly Blessing and/or Quotes
“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” ― Reinhold Niebuhr
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” ― C.S. Lewis
Let the love you have received
be the love you extend.
Release what you’ve been holding,
and walk in the freedom of grace.