Forgiveness And Reconciliation Forgiveness liberates the soul it

Forgiveness And Reconciliation ‘Forgiveness liberates the soul, it removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon. ’ Nelson Mandela

Understand: Why Christians should forgive Be able to: Link a case study to Christian teaching, and form a personal opinion on the topic Key skills being looked at: Group work/Research/Debate/Exam Practice Learning Objectives Know: What is meant by forgiveness and reconciliation

Your favourite CD is borrowed and comes back scratched You’re tripped up accidentally in the corridor Your boyfriend/girlfriend says they no longer like you and ends the relationship You break a plate in the canteen and everyone laughs at you Your best friend decides to be friends with someone else instead of you Your brother/sister plays a trick on you and puts salt in the sugar You friends lie to you Someone accidentally runs over your pet dog on the road Someone runs over your pet dog on purpose Someone spreads embarrassing rumours about you at school

Your friend borrows your best top and ruins it. Your parents forget to pick you up so you have to walk home in the rain. Your parents split up Your brother/sister reads your diary You’re bullied Your mum forgets to record your favourite TV programme Your parents won’t let you go to a party Mr Hollingsworth gives you a DT for something you didn’t do. Your exam paper is lost by your teacher.

Forgiveness definition: Nice and easy one this… ‘the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven’

Reconciliation definition: ‘Restore relations, settle a difference, coexist in harmony…’

What do Christians think About forgiveness? 2 minute discussion

What do Christians think About reconciliation? 2 minute discussion

BIBLE WARS! • • • Micah 7: 18 -19 Matthew 5: 24 Matthew 5: 44 -45 Matthew 6: 9 -15 Matthew 18: 21 -35 Thomas 16: 4 -8 Luke 6: 35 -38; 42

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12: 17 -18 If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 20 -21

Is it possible to forgive? And is it fair that Christians should? Class discussion

Anthony Walker Read Page 104 (remove this if not using text books) Hyperlink to Youtube clip on the picture

‘Unforgiveness makes you a victim and why should I be a victim? Anthony spent his life forgiving. His life stood for peace, love and forgiveness and I brought him up that way. ’ Gee Walker

‘Seventy times seven we must forgive, that’s what we were taught, that’s what the Bible said, that’s what we have to do. It’s an everyday thing. It is hard, it is so hard, but you get through it. It eases the bitterness and the anger if you can wake up in the morning and think ’forgive, forgive. It is a life sentence. What does bitterness do? It eats you up inside, it’s like a cancer. We don’t want to serve a life sentence with those people. Q: Has your faith been tested by Anthony’s death? Has my faith been tested? Lord, yes. My name’s Gee, not Jesus! It’s been hard, so hard, but I have to follow what the Lord teaches. It is easy to say those things, but when it is you who must do them, it is hard.

Could you do this? FORGIVENESS Class discussion

Summarise The Anthony Walker story and Gee Walker’s response. In your books

Exam Focus Page 113 (if using the OCR Ethics text books – if not – remove this bullet point): Explain how Christians’ beliefs about forgiveness and reconciliation may affect the way they treat others. 6 marks. Two different viewpoints shown.

Reflection A Christian response and challenge to forgiveness.

Homework: Discuss with teacher prior to lesson to determine this.