Bible Studies for Life | Adults

Session: 7 Date of First Use: November 29, 2026 Title: The Evidence of Forgiveness The Point: Experiencing God’s forgiveness is reflected in our willingness to forgive others. Life Connection: The offenses of others hurt; if they didn’t hurt, we wouldn’t be offended! Unfortunately, we often treat the slights of others as greater offenses than the way others see them. But even the greatest offenses against us are microscopic in comparison to our sins and offenses against a holy God. When we realize how deeply and completely God has forgiven us, how can we not extend forgiveness to others? Session Passage: Matthew 18:21-35 How this session connects to the overall study and the sessions that surround it: Receiving forgiveness shows us the value of forgiving others as well as how to do so. Forgiveness should be on display by those who have been forgiven by God. 

Session: 6 Date of First Use: November 22, 2026  Title: The Declaration of Forgiveness  The Point: When we are forgiven by God, we should let everyone know it. Life Through a Biblical Lens: Most of us don’t mind letting our affiliations be known. Whether it’s pride in our state or our favorite sports team, we’ll spend our hard-earned money to let everyone know our allegiance. Of course, our most important relationship as Christians is with the One who has forgiven us. It’s important to publicly declare our allegiance to Jesus through our baptism. Session Passage: Acts 10:44-48, 16:30-34, 19:1-5 

Session: 5 (Evangelism Session)Date of First Use: November 15, 2026 Title: The Path to Forgiveness The Point: We can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done for us. Life Connection: We expect others to do something to earn our forgiveness, and we project that idea onto God. Religions are built on this belief that there are things we must do to secure our salvation. Jesus changes all that. Since there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, Jesus did the work we could not. He is the One who makes salvation and freedom from sin possible.  Session Passage: Ephesians 2:1-10 How this session connects to the overall study and the sessions that surround it: In the previous session, we saw the love of God. Because of that love, God did what was needed through Christ to make forgiveness possible. 

Session: 4 Date of First Use: November 8, 2026 Title: The Reason for Forgiveness The Point: God loves us and wants to restore us for His glory.  Life Connection: Many find it difficult to move beyond their sin because they cannot forgive themselves. Unfortunately, we transfer to God our inability to forgive. We consider what we’ve done and wonder why God would even forgive some of our sins. God’s ability to forgive is not tied to the nature of what we’ve done but to His own character and desires for us.   Session Passage: Isaiah 43:1-7,21-25 How this session connects to the overall study and the sessions that surround it: We know in our heads that forgiveness is in God's heart, and it brings Him glory; but we may still wonder how that forgiveness is possible for us.

Date of First Use: November 1, 2026 Title: The Picture of Forgiveness The Point: God's plan has always included forgiveness for His people. Life Connection: Some people are visual learners. Not only do they need to see it to learn it, but some almost need to see it to believe it! The importance of forgiveness wasn’t a new teaching Jesus brought us. God had been teaching us about forgiveness throughout the Old Testament. The Day of Atonement gives us a vivid picture of just what forgiveness between God and humanity looks like. And of course it finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Session Passage: Leviticus 16:6-10, 15-19, 20-22 How this session connects to the overall study and the sessions that surround it: God put His plan for forgiveness on full display with the Day of Atonement. This is a good place in the study to help the group see God’s plan from the beginning and then make the connection to its fulfillment in Christ. 

Session: 2 Date of First Use: October 25, 2026 Title: The Source of Forgiveness The Point: Forgiveness reflects the character of God. Life Connection: We don’t always understand the full meaning and scope of forgiveness. Our culture often wants to color forgiveness with conditions, “I’ll forgive if ...” “When he begs, I’ll forgive.” “I’ll forgive, but I definitely won’t forget.”What does forgiveness look like? When we look to God, we get a complete view of true forgiveness. God’s forgiveness arises from His love, grace, and mercy toward us. Session Passage: Psalm 103:1-13 How this session connects to the overall study and the sessions that surround it: Our need for forgiveness can be met because forgiveness and grace flow from the heart of God. 

Session: 1 Date of First Use: October 18, 2026 Title: The Cry for Forgiveness The Point: When we sin, we sin against God so only He can forgive us.   Life Connection: Sometimes we want to downplay our sins as simply failures or mistakes, but we need to see them for what they are: sins. Those sins hang over our heads until we experience forgiveness, but forgiveness will elude us until we acknowledge our sin and look to God. Session Passage: Psalm 51:1-13 How this session connects to the overall study and the sessions that surround it: A study on forgiveness needs to start with the “why” question. Why do we need to be forgiven? Because we have sinned against God! 

Session: 6 Date of First Use: October 11, 2026 Title: God Speaks and We Respond The Point: When we discover God’s will, we are to follow it. Life Through a Biblical Lens: We often know what we should do, but we choose not to do it. For example, many of us can talk about the benefits of diet and exercise even though we never exercise nor eat right. Even more tragic is when God’s will is laid out before us, but we choose to do things our way instead. Ignoring God’s loving plan for our lives carries consequences, but obedience leads to great blessing. Seeing the World Through a Biblical Lens: A key part of developing a biblical lens is an understanding of the PEOPLE and specifically who we are. Being a follower of Christ means living under His lordship in full obedience. As we discern God’s will, we are to obey it. Session Passage: Psalm 119:30-40 Connection to the Previous Sessions:Understanding the ways God makes His will known to us is not enough. We are to respond with obedience to that will. 

Session: 5 Date of First Use: October 4, 2026 Title: God Speaks Through His Church  The Point: God communicates to us through other believers. Life Through a Biblical Lens: When you give your life to Jesus Christ, you don’t just come to Christ; you become a part of His church. While each of us has a direct connection and relationship to God, He uses His church to help us grow in that relationship. We’re taught, encouraged, and ministered to through other believers. It should come as no surprise, then, that God often uses other believers to help us know and follow His voice.    Seeing the World Through a Biblical Lens: A key part of developing a biblical lens is an understanding of the CHURCH. Just as God’s Spirit works in us and through us, He also works through other believers. God will use the body of Christ to help us see and affirm the plan God has for us. Session Passage: Ephesians 4:11-16,25-29 Connection to the Previous Sessions: While God often orchestrates our circumstances to put us in line with His will, we can also misinterpret those circumstances to fall in line with what we want. The Holy Spirit can work through other believers to affirm and/or caution us as we seek to understand God’s voice. 

Session: 4 Date of First Use: September 27, 2026 Title: God Speaks Through Circumstances  The Point: God uses circumstances to guide us in His will. Life Through a Biblical Lens: We’ve all had those “random” encounters that we look back on and realize how life-changing they were. Did we just happen to be in “the right place at the right time,” or was it God’s way of helping us follow His plan. In the Book of Romans, Paul gave us insight into how we should view our circumstances in light of knowing and following God’s voice.  Seeing the World Through a Biblical Lens: A key part of developing a biblical lens is an understanding of the nature and work of GOD and the HOLY SPIRIT. The circumstances and situations we find ourselves in are never an obstacle for God. In His power and sovereignty, God can work through those very circumstances to help us see His plans for us. Session Passage: Romans 8:26-35 Connection to the Previous Sessions: As the Holy Spirit helps us understand the Word of God and speaks to our hearts, He often confirms His will through the circumstances we find ourselves in.