The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith
Week 9: Chapter 8 — God Is Forgiving
Read Chapter 8 of The Good and Beautiful God. Key Scripture: Luke 7:36-50; Psalm 103:1-14; Matthew 18:21-35.
Want the full guide for The Good and Beautiful God?
Free Week 1 sample in 5 min · $24.99 for all 13 weeks · 7-day refund
Forgiveness is the heartbeat of the gospel — but many Christians live as though God forgives others while merely tolerating them. This chapter is an invitation to receive, not just believe in, the forgiveness of God.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Smith opens with a distinction between believing that God forgives sins in general and personally receiving God's forgiveness for your specific sins. Which do you do more easily? What is the difference in how each one actually feels?
2.In Luke 7, the sinful woman anoints Jesus's feet with her tears and perfume — and Jesus says her 'many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much.' Smith focuses on the extravagance of her response. What does her posture suggest about how deeply she received forgiveness? What does our relative lack of extravagance in worship suggest about ours?
3.Psalm 103 says God removes our sins 'as far as the east is from the west.' Smith points out that north and south have poles — measurable distances — but east and west never meet. What is the psalmist doing with that image? What false narrative does it directly refute?
You're on Week 9 of 13
Don't lose momentum — get the rest of The Good and Beautiful God
All 92 questions across 13 weeks, with closing prayers and a downloadable PDF for your group.
One-time purchase · 7-day refund · Covers your whole group