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LifeLine Mini-books
Help! I Can't Forgive
A small book helping people who are finding it difficult to work out forgiveness in practical terms. What is one of the most common refrains heard in homes, relationships, churches, and even our culture at large? “I can’t forgive!” The struggle to forgive someone who has wronged us is universal. What is the answer? A fresh look at the gospel! Join the author as he takes you through a five-stop journey toward biblical forgiveness.
- GenresCounselling
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2012
10 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 1, 2022
Short but Powerful exposition on Matthew 18
Solid exposition and practical application for anyone who wants to understand biblical forgiveness. Includes questions at the end to help with personal application.
Solid exposition and practical application for anyone who wants to understand biblical forgiveness. Includes questions at the end to help with personal application.
March 18, 2022
Jim Newcomer's simple mini-book "Help! I Can't Forgive" is as clear as it is helpful. Newcomer reminds us that "The factory default mode of every person is to be unmerciful." Newcomer points to a number of way that unforgiveness impacts us including destroyed relationships, isolation, and the negative impact on our witness.
Newcomer speaks to the fear of everyone who has ever struggled with forgiveness. "How can I know this person is sincere," our hearts cry out. We cannot know, Newcomer says. "The good news, though, is that you don't have to answer fo the offender's sincerity; you only have to answer for your obedience."
Newcomer says that to forgive is to be vulnerable. "It takes faith to be vulnerable, but the place of vulnerability is the safest place to be." Newcomer then navigates the many scriptural imperatives to forgive. He ends by asking, "Is it possible to grow in Christlikeness at all if we do not have a posture that is ready to forgive?"
Following the parable of the unmerciful servant, Newcomer invites us to consider our own story of forgiveness. To consider our story of forgiveness, we have to consider the size of the debt and the enormity of our acquittal. To be forgiven means our sin "is never to be seen again," or "found again."
With this in view, we recognize that "Bitterness always reveals mercy-amnesia." To live with unforgiveness is to "effectively live life as if your big sin-debt was little."
Quoting Warren Wiersbe, we are reminded that, "The world's worst prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart. If we refuse to forgive others, then we are imprisoning ourselves and causing our own torment."
On the positive side, there are few things that reflect God's character through us than when we forgive. Newcomer encourages us, "When you forgive you put God's glory on display."
May we be people of forgiveness. I encourage you to pick up this practical booklet.
Newcomer speaks to the fear of everyone who has ever struggled with forgiveness. "How can I know this person is sincere," our hearts cry out. We cannot know, Newcomer says. "The good news, though, is that you don't have to answer fo the offender's sincerity; you only have to answer for your obedience."
Newcomer says that to forgive is to be vulnerable. "It takes faith to be vulnerable, but the place of vulnerability is the safest place to be." Newcomer then navigates the many scriptural imperatives to forgive. He ends by asking, "Is it possible to grow in Christlikeness at all if we do not have a posture that is ready to forgive?"
Following the parable of the unmerciful servant, Newcomer invites us to consider our own story of forgiveness. To consider our story of forgiveness, we have to consider the size of the debt and the enormity of our acquittal. To be forgiven means our sin "is never to be seen again," or "found again."
With this in view, we recognize that "Bitterness always reveals mercy-amnesia." To live with unforgiveness is to "effectively live life as if your big sin-debt was little."
Quoting Warren Wiersbe, we are reminded that, "The world's worst prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart. If we refuse to forgive others, then we are imprisoning ourselves and causing our own torment."
On the positive side, there are few things that reflect God's character through us than when we forgive. Newcomer encourages us, "When you forgive you put God's glory on display."
May we be people of forgiveness. I encourage you to pick up this practical booklet.
March 20, 2013
In Help! I Can't Forgive the author walks through the passage on forgiveness in Mt 18:21-35. Though he draws from other texts in scripture, his main focus is on this text in Matthew which I think really helps the reader through the process of learning to forgive which he calls the "pathway to forgiveness". Each chapter talks about a different "stop" on this pathway to forgiveness. The layout is very effective, especially as it follows the layout that Jesus gave when talking to His disciples.
The first stop is "Admit your Hesitancy" which includes the common fears that influence a person not to forgive. With each of the four common fears he explains why those fears are not legitimate reasons to withhold forgiveness and how a person should direct their thoughts in order to combat those fears. In this chapter he also explains what it means to be ready to forgive.
Second stop is "Remember Your Story" where he uses the parable that Jesus gave to remind you of your own salvation and how God has forgiven you.
Third stop is "Guard Your Heart" in which the author confronts the sin of not forgiving. He poses the question, "what comes out of your heart when you are wronged?"
Fourth stop is "Fear Your Lord" where he discusses the effects and consequences of the slave's lack of mercy to his fellow slave. The author in this chapter points out how professing believers who do not forgive will stand out in the church (which consists of forgiven people). He also points out how an unforgiving heart is an offense to God.
The fifth and last stop is "Enact Your Forgiveness" which is the actual act of forgiving another. In this chapter the author talks about when a person should lovingly cover or lovingly confront an offense. He also spends some time clarifying what it means to truly forgive, going beyond just saying the words "I forgive you."
The booklet ends with some personal application projects which I think would be helpful to anyone who is struggling with forgiving another person.
The first stop is "Admit your Hesitancy" which includes the common fears that influence a person not to forgive. With each of the four common fears he explains why those fears are not legitimate reasons to withhold forgiveness and how a person should direct their thoughts in order to combat those fears. In this chapter he also explains what it means to be ready to forgive.
Second stop is "Remember Your Story" where he uses the parable that Jesus gave to remind you of your own salvation and how God has forgiven you.
Third stop is "Guard Your Heart" in which the author confronts the sin of not forgiving. He poses the question, "what comes out of your heart when you are wronged?"
Fourth stop is "Fear Your Lord" where he discusses the effects and consequences of the slave's lack of mercy to his fellow slave. The author in this chapter points out how professing believers who do not forgive will stand out in the church (which consists of forgiven people). He also points out how an unforgiving heart is an offense to God.
The fifth and last stop is "Enact Your Forgiveness" which is the actual act of forgiving another. In this chapter the author talks about when a person should lovingly cover or lovingly confront an offense. He also spends some time clarifying what it means to truly forgive, going beyond just saying the words "I forgive you."
The booklet ends with some personal application projects which I think would be helpful to anyone who is struggling with forgiving another person.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews