Forgiveness, the heart of Servanthood and fellowship

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Forgiveness, the heart of servanthood and fellowship

Luke 17:1-10

^{Lk 17:10} So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’

1. To whom is this addressed and in the matter of what? What is the inevitable course of life in faith? What attitude should we have to handle such ‘inevitability’ of things to come? What is the main cause of the things that causes people to sin(16:14; 16:19-31)? What other things are there that may cause men to sin?

2. Read v2. When a leader fails, what is the gravest out come of such failure? How serious is it to cause one to fail in the Lord? How to prevent such things to happen among leaders? (v3, 4) How difficulty is it to rebuke and to forgive? Why and for what is it necessary?

3. What is more difficult among these two recognized in the expression of the disciples (v5)? Read v4 and discuss about what entails the nature of forgiveness. How is it in line with the mission Jesus came to do?( Mark 10:45; John 13:8, 14)

4. Why is faith involved in forgiving 7 times? What is the faith that can forgive more than 7 times? Think about this by comparing the disciples request and Jesus’ demand regarding faith. What is the character and nature of faith that is so small but can make one able to uproot even mulberry tree? (John 14:12)

5. What is the topic in verses 7-10 and how is it related to forgiveness? What is at the heart of one, not forgiving others? What would be the desire of an ordinary servant who worked hard all day? What is the similarity between the servant who just came home for rest and the one who forgave few times already?

6. What is the further demand of the master? (v8) How far does a servant to go in his work of forgiving? How far did Jesus go to forgive us (23:34)? When do a servant’s duty ends? Think about this in the word ‘unworthy’ and ‘faith in me’(John 14:12)