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, 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.