Daniel 9: Part 1

The following few posts are from a Sunday school lesson I taught a few days ago, based on Daniel 9:

Does or did anyone ever watch NCIS? Do you remember Gibbs has rules? How many were there? Can you name any of them?

• Rule #1: Never let suspects stay together
• Always wear gloves at a crime scene
• Never be unreachable
• Best way to keep a secret – keep it to yourself.
• Don’t waste good
• #6 – Never say you are sorry
• #9 – never go anywhere without a knife
• When the job is done, walk away.
• Never, ever involve lawyers.
• Bend the line, don’t break it.
• #15 – Always work as a team
• #18 – it’s better to seek forgiveness than ask permission.
• #35 – Always watch the watchers
• #42 – Don’t ever accept an apology from someone who just sucker punched you.
• #45 – Clean up the mess you make
• #51 – Sometimes you’re wrong

Focus on rule #6 – Never say you are sorry because it is a sign of weakness.  If you lived by that rule, what do you think the impact would be on your life? The author of the curriculum says that “even if apologies project a stance of strength, relationship require the ability to offer and to accept apologies.” Think about Gibbs? How is he in the relationship department?

Why are apologies difficult? Other than they are sometimes an admission of fault?  (honest and vulnerable?) How do you feel after you apologize? (is there a relief to it? Does it sometimes feel as if you have opened a door to repair of the relationship?)