Overcoming Offense

Pastor Joseph Aranza

February 16, 2025

Main Idea

The central message of 'Overcoming Offense' was about the power of relationships to bring us immense joy and deep pain. We were taught that while relationships are the source of our greatest pleasures, they can also cause significant hurt. The sermon emphasized the importance of dealing with offenses properly, as holding onto them can lead to a life of bondage. Pastor encouraged us to confront issues directly, repent for our wrongdoings, and surrender our pain to Jesus, highlighting that healing from past wounds is crucial to prevent us from causing harm to those who didn't hurt us.

Scripture References

Proverbs 19:11, Proverbs 18:19, John 10:10, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8, John 8:44, Psalm 34:18, Matthew 18:15-16, John 1:14, Romans 8:1

1. Can you recall a time when an offense affected your relationship with someone? How did you handle it?

2. How can holding onto offenses impact our spiritual and emotional well-being?

Discussion Questions:

3. What are some practical ways we can confront offenses in our relationships?

4. Why is it important to seek healing from past wounds, and how can we pursue this healing?

5. How does surrendering our pain to Jesus provide freedom from the bondage of offense?

Summary

In the sermon 'Overcoming Offense,' we were reminded that our greatest joys and pains stem from relationships. Pastor highlighted how holding onto offenses can lead us to live broken and bound, contrasting God's desire for us to live forgiven and free. We learned that offense is a strategy of the enemy to trap us in fear, control, and anxiety, preventing us from healing and causing us to hurt others unintentionally. Pastor shared the importance of confronting offenses, repenting when we've caused hurt, and surrendering our pain to Jesus when reconciliation isn't possible.