The Way of Forgiveness Participants Book (Companions in Christ)

It takes a lot of willingness and practice to see life from God's perspective. Perhaps nothing goes more against the grain of human nature than forgiving those who wound us and accepting forgiveness from others. But practicing forgiveness will transform your life and help you grow in the heart and mind of Christ. In The Way of Forgiveness, an 8-week small-group study, MarjorieThompson examines shame, guilt, and anger, helping you release these emotions so you can move toward wholeness. She also deals with the topics of receiving God's forgiveness, forgiving others, and seeking reconciliation.

Thompson gives guidance for such ticklish questions as: Does forgiveness mean release from consequences of sin? Are there no limits to forgiveness? How do we deal with absent offenders or people who refuse to forgive us? A unique feature of this book is the inclusion of a reproduction of Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal Son. Over the course of the study, the artwork will serve as a focal point for reflection and discovery.

Marjorie J. Thompson is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She has served as director of the Pathways Center for Spiritual Leadership and as spiritual director to Companions in Christ, a program outgrowth of the Pathways initiative of The Upper Room. Companions in Christ is a series of small-group resources for spiritual formation in local congregations, suited to ecumenical use. Marjorie has exercised a ministry of teaching, writing, and spiritual guidance for many years.