CHANGED: Downtown and North Campus

DOWNTOWN: Amy Edmonds

Amy's story was a powerful reminder of the grace that God gives, the necessity of forgiveness, and the promise that God can use your life despite a rough past.

1. After being physically abused by her father her entire life, including stitches in the face as a teenager and a blown out knee at 20, Amy still forgave her father.

a. What are some of the most powerful examples of forgiveness in Scripture (HINT: Read Acts 7:60 and Luke 23:34).
b. Read Matthew 18:21-35.  What are your feelings toward the man that was forgiven of his huge debt, yet was unwilling to forgive others that owed him?  How does that relate to how you should offer forgiveness?
c. Why would you be a great candidate to forgive others for the wrongs that they have done to you?  (Think about what Jesus has done for you.  All that he has forgiven you.)
d. What was the hardest thing you ever had to forgive someone else for doing? Why was it so hard?  Are there people in your life that you need to offer forgiveness to in order to show them an example of what Jesus did for you?


2. What are some reasons we give as to why God can't use us to do something incredible?  What excuses do we have to argue that we aren't worthy, can't be used, or that God wouldn't want to use us and our lives for something good?
(bad decisions we've made, baggage and a rough past, don't think we have an exciting story to share, etc)


3. Amy's story could be boiled down to those 3 words: grace, forgiveness, and purpose.  What would the 3 words be that would illustrate your story of life change?  What would you want people to know and be encouraged/challenged by as it pertains to what you've been through and what God has done for you personally?