True Forgiveness

True Forgiveness

Author: Cory Driver September 7, 2026 Duration: 6:46

Genesis 50:15-21 & Matthew 18:21-35 Forgiveness is NOT having a moment. Some branches of Christianity are infatuated with violence and would try to draft the Prince of Peace to their side to promote vengeance. Other folks, understandably, are concerned about the ways that toxic abusers have weaponized "forgiveness" to preclude accountability, reform and harm reduction. I see the lectionary passages this week helping to explain a healthy and truer understanding of forgiveness that avoids excusing wrong AND hypocrisy.


For those who carry the responsibility of weekly preaching, the days are full-pastoral care, administration, and the quiet work of prayer can easily push sermon preparation to the margins. Moving Forward-Weekly Lectionary Podcast is designed to be a practical companion within that busy rhythm. Hosted by Cory Driver, this weekly audio resource arrives every Monday, offering roughly ten minutes of focused reflection on the upcoming Revised Common Lectionary readings. The idea is simple: to provide a thoughtful starting point early in your week, so you’re never truly beginning from a blank page, even if time forces you to start writing later. Driver shares his perspective to spark your own engagement with the texts, aiming to lighten the load of initial research. This isn't about delivering a finished sermon, but about offering a catalyst for your own creative and spiritual process. By integrating this short, consistent podcast into your routine, you gain a reliable touchpoint for the scriptural themes awaiting your congregation. It’s a tool for pastors and lay leaders alike who seek a structured yet flexible approach to connecting the ancient texts with contemporary life, helping you move forward with a bit more clarity and a little less pressure each week.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Moving Forward - Weekly Lectionary Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Welcoming a Prophet - But Which One? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:47
Jeremiah 28:5-9 and Matthew 10:40-42 - You know the injunction - welcome a prophet as a prophet and receive a prophet's reward. But how do you know who is really speaking for God, and who is claiming to be a prophet to a…
"That Sort of Christianity..." [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:04
Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Matthew 10:24-39. Look, be honest, there have always been disagreements about what God wants. Salad or Steak? Peace or Violence? Inclusion or Exclusion? This week, the lectionary texts wade into the…
Do You Really Want It? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:31
Exodus 19:2-8a and Matthew 9:35-10:8: Listen, the lordship of Jesus has costs. True, his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Also, we don't get to do whatever we want to whomever we want. We are purchased for a price,…
Lovingkindness, Not Sacrifice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:38
Hosea 5:15-6:6 & Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26. Bargaining is a natural human instinct, and one of the stages of grief. But, as it turns out, it's not God's favorite thing. Instead, Jesus models how God desires lovi9ngkindness t…
New Things! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:07
Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Matthew 28:16-20 - What's God up to? The same, old thing, or something new? Why not both? This week, we talk about God filling up creation with new things, again and again.
Prepoaring for Pentecost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:45
Acts 2:1-21 and Numbers 11:24-30 - What do you know about Pentecost? Is it something that comes up for the first time after the Resurrection, or are its origins much older? Come learn about some of the best good news tha…
Scattering Enemies or Making Friends? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:55
Acts 1:6-14, Psa 68:1-10; John 17:1-11 - What is the role of a Christian? Scattering our enemies or welcoming strangers?
Abiding Comfort [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:18
John 14:15-21 and 1 Peter 3:13-22 - First, sign up to watch Jeff Shulman's What it Takes. Then, think about what you would want if your life fell apart. Someone to stick by you, no matter what, right? Someone who has bee…
Jesus, Stephen and Violence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:07
Acts 7:55-60; 1 Petere 2:2-10; John 14:1-14. Look, Jesus isn't Caesar and he is not Spartacus. His revolt uses swords only to make sure that there is a pretext to arrest him, NOT to injure humans (ask Malchus!). Too ofte…
Listening to the Door [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:36
Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 - In this week's parable, Jesus is not shepherd, but door. How does this help us think about who is a shepherd and who is a thief? Jesus says it's all about who speaks like he…