3/28/2010

John Curiale

This morning at 10:39 (youth group discussion), we talked about forgiveness.  We talked about how other religions don't offer this FREE gift. 

We have all done something that has caused us to carry shame and guilt.  We sometimes carry this with us and it causes a spiritual heart attack.  Good shame should drive us to the cross of Christ, while bad shame (self-condemnation)--drives us away from Christ.  The question I posed was........"Have you ever felt a deep need to be forgiven?"

The Buddhist in the circle opened up and said that he did some things that he later regretted.  He didn't think there was true real, longlasting forgiveness.  But I told him that there was forgiveness.  If I could tell him that he could be forgiven and set free from condemning thoughts--would he want that?  He said yes, so I shared the Gospel with him!  He wants to know more and discover Jesus. 

I told him to picture Jesus wiping away all the wrongdoing he committed off the dry erase board (as a picture of God erasing the sins away that we committed).