RESTORE

This chapter from the BFG Handbook (Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching) presents the gospel through a new "Expression" of God’s Love to RESTORE the Truth.

Chapter 79 from the BFG Handbook (Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching) presents the gospel through a new “Expression” of God’s Love to RESTORE people to the Truth.

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Chapter 79: Forgiving Debt

 

After settling a bitter dispute 1
Some resentment remains 
How can this be good?

The righteous man upholds his half of the bargain 1
But does not demand anything from the other

The righteous fulfill their obligations 1
But the unrighteous demand compensation 

Though our Heavenly God is impartial, 2
He gives to those who serve others 3

 

Scripture behind each line
1
“After settling a bitter dispute”
Luke 6:27-36
2
“Though our Heavenly God is impartial,”
1 Peter 1:17Romans 2:11
3
“He gives to those who serve others”
Proverbs 12:2Proverbs 22:1.

Settled, but Still Sore

Explains these lines

“After settling a bitter dispute

Some resentment remains”

Chapter 79 of the Tao Te Ching reflects on the importance of forgiveness, humility, and the proper attitude towards fulfilling one’s obligations, and these principles resonate deeply with Christian teachings. The chapter begins by acknowledging that even after settling a bitter dispute, some resentment remains, and this highlights the reality of human relationships. In the Christian faith, forgiveness is a key theme, and this teaching parallels Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:21-22, where He instructs His followers to forgive “not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” The chapter acknowledges the complexity of human emotions, such as resentment, and encourages an approach that transcends these feelings, calling for a heart that seeks peace and reconciliation.

Notice how honest the chapter is. It does not say the dispute ended in hugs and instant peace. It says the matter was settled, and still “some resentment remains.” Scripture is just as honest. Jacob had cheated his brother Esau, and they lived apart for many years. When they finally met, Esau ran to him.

“But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”
Genesis 33:4ESV

It was a real reconciliation, and yet afterward the brothers still went separate ways (Genesis 33:16-17). Peace can be true and still be healing. Resentment is the hurt that stays after the case is closed. Feeling it is not a sin; it is a wound. The danger is letting it put down roots, and Scripture warns about exactly that.

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled”
Hebrews 12:15ESV

The Christian answer is not to deny the feeling but to keep handing it to God, so that the hurt does not quietly harden into hatred. Forgiveness is first a decision of the will. The feelings often follow later, slowly, as God heals the memory.

The Church Teaches

“When we have been offended or let down, forgiveness is possible and desirable, but no one can say that it is easy.”Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia 106

“Forgiving does not mean forgetting. … In the face of something that cannot be forgotten for any reason, we can still forgive.”Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti 250

For Our Lives Today

The group chat finally calmed down. Your sister apologized for what she said at the funeral, you told her you forgave her, and everyone moved on. But every time her name pops up on your phone, your stomach tightens. That is Chapter 79 in real life: “After settling a bitter dispute, some resentment remains.” You are not a fake Christian for feeling it. You are a person with a bruise. Bring the bruise to God instead of replaying the argument, and let Him do the healing you cannot force.

Try this today: When the old argument starts replaying in your head, stop and pray one sentence of blessing for that person.


How Can This Be Good?

Explains this line

“How can this be good?”

Then the chapter asks a question many of us have whispered: “How can this be good?” A peace that still hurts does not feel like much of a peace. Yet the question is an invitation. Leftover resentment shows us that we cannot heal ourselves by willpower alone, and it sends us back to the One who can. Jesus taught us to bring this very thing to the Father every day.

“and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12ESV

Notice the word Jesus chose: debts. Every resentment is really a bill we are holding: you owe me an apology, you owe me respect, you owe me what you took. Forgiving does not mean the debt was never real. It means we stop collecting it and hand the account to God, who has already canceled a far greater debt of ours.

That is how lingering hurt can become good. Each time it rises, it becomes a prompt to pray, to remember our own forgiveness and to choose mercy again. Over time God does what we could not: He turns the sore spot into a place of compassion. That is the promise behind every “How can this be good?”

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28ESV
The Church Teaches

“This crucial requirement of the covenant mystery is impossible for man. But ‘with God all things are possible.’”Catechism 2841

“We need to think of ourselves as an army of the forgiven. All of us have been looked upon with divine compassion.”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 82

The Catechism says this about the Our Father’s petition to forgive as we are forgiven: we cannot do it alone, but God can do it in us.

For Our Lives Today

You and your coworker finally cleared the air after the project blew up. Your manager is relieved, the team is moving on, and you shook hands. But you still check whether he copied the boss on his emails, and you still feel a flash of heat when he gets praised. “How can this be good?” Maybe like this: every time that flash comes, let it be your cue to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” The hurt becomes a door to grace instead of a wall.

Try this today: Pray the Our Father slowly once today, and when you reach the words about forgiving, name one person in your heart.


Keeping Our Half of the Bargain

Explains these lines

“The righteous man upholds his half of the bargain

But does not demand anything from the other”

The righteous person, according to this chapter, upholds their end of an agreement but does not demand anything from the other party. This mirrors the Christian concept of grace, where believers are called to give freely, without expecting repayment, just as God has given freely to us. Luke 6:27-36 emphasizes love for enemies and generosity without expectation of return, instructing believers to “lend, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35). The idea of fulfilling one’s obligations without seeking compensation highlights the selfless nature of Christ’s teachings, where service to others is done without the desire for personal gain or recognition.

Upholding our half means being people of our word. Jesus kept it simple: no clever loopholes, no fine print. When we say yes, we mean yes. That looks like showing up when we said we would, finishing the work we agreed to, paying back what we borrowed, and staying faithful to our vows even when the feelings are thin.

“…Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:37NRSVue

The second line is the harder one: the righteous person “does not demand anything from the other.” That does not mean ignoring real wrongs or never asking for what is fair. It means our faithfulness does not depend on theirs. We do our part whether or not they do theirs, and we refuse to make our goodness a payment that waits for a return.

“If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Romans 12:18NRSVue

“As far as it depends on you” is our half. The other half belongs to the other person and to God. This is how God has treated us in Christ: He kept every promise of His covenant, even when His people did not keep theirs.

The Church Teaches

“Contracts are subject to commutative justice which regulates exchanges between persons in accordance with a strict respect for their rights. Commutative justice obliges strictly; it requires safeguarding property rights, paying debts, and fulfilling obligations freely contracted.”Catechism 2411

“We received life freely; we paid nothing for it. Consequently, all of us are able to give without expecting anything in return, to do good to others without demanding that they treat us well in return.”Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti 140

Keeping our word is a matter of justice; giving without demanding a return is the freedom of grace. Chapter 79 asks for both.

For Our Lives Today

You and your roommate agreed to split the chores. You have done your half all month, and the dishes in the sink say they have not. It is tempting to stop cleaning until they “pay up,” or to leave a passive-aggressive note on the fridge. Chapter 79 offers a better way: “The righteous man upholds his half of the bargain, but does not demand anything from the other.” Keep doing your part, then have one calm, honest conversation. Your faithfulness is between you and God, not a weapon in the standoff.

Try this today: Do your share of one shared task today without pointing out who has not done theirs.


Duty Without an Invoice

Explains these lines

“The righteous fulfill their obligations

But the unrighteous demand compensation”

In contrast, the unrighteous person is depicted as someone who demands compensation, which speaks to the human tendency towards selfishness and entitlement. This mirrors the warnings in the New Testament against greed and materialism, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:10, where Paul writes, “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” The unrighteous are concerned with receiving what they are owed, while the righteous find their fulfillment in serving others, not in demanding compensation or recognition.

Jesus told a parable that puts these two lines side by side. A servant owed his master a debt he could never repay, and the master forgave all of it. Then that same servant went out and found someone who owed him far less.

“But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’”
Matthew 18:28ESV

That is the heart that “demands compensation”: forgiven much, yet gripping every small debt. The righteous person lives the other way. Having received everything as a gift, they do what they ought to do at home, at work and in the parish, and they do not treat each act of service as a bill to be collected later.

Jesus Himself is the model. He owed us nothing, yet He came to pay a debt that was ours, not His, and He never sent us an invoice. Every time we serve without keeping a tab, we walk a little closer in His footsteps.

“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45NRSVue
The Church Teaches

“Justice consists in the firm and constant will to give God and neighbor their due.”Catechism 1836

“Forgiveness, in fact, shows that, over and above the process of “compensation” and “truce” which is specific to justice, love is necessary, so that man may affirm himself as man.”Saint John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia 14

Justice gives each person their due. Forgiveness goes further, past compensation, into love.

For Our Lives Today

You covered your coworker’s shift last week, and now you are waiting for her to offer to cover yours. You drove your friend to the airport, and you are quietly keeping track of whether he ever returns the favor. Little by little, kindness turns into a running tab. Chapter 79 names it: “The righteous fulfill their obligations, but the unrighteous demand compensation.” Jesus gave His life without sending a bill. When we serve like Him, we become lighter, freer and far less resentful.

Try this today: Think of one favor you have been waiting to have repaid, and tell God in prayer that you are letting it go.


The Impartial God Who Gives

Explains these lines

“Though our Heavenly God is impartial,

He gives to those who serve others”

The chapter concludes with the observation that while God is impartial, He gives to those who serve others. This aligns with the Christian concept of God’s justice and mercy. As stated in 1 Peter 1:17, God “judges each person’s work impartially,” and yet He rewards those who live according to His will, serving others in love and humility. Proverbs 12:2 and 22:1 both highlight the value of righteousness and integrity, which are highly esteemed in the eyes of God. In this sense, the true riches in the eyes of God are not material wealth but the spiritual wealth gained through acts of kindness, humility, and service to others.

God’s impartiality is good news. He does not play favorites based on money, looks, status or how many people follow us. St. Peter learned this when God sent him into the home of a Roman officer, a man many believers would have kept at a distance.

“…Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
Acts 10:34-35ESV

Yet impartial does not mean indifferent. The God who judges fairly is also a Father who loves to give. Jesus says He “is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35), and He sees every hidden act of service. His gifts are not always money or success; often they are peace, a good name, a lighter heart and, in the end, eternal life with Him.

So our service is never wasted. A meal for a grieving family, a patient hour with an aging parent, a coworker helped quietly, a prayer for someone who will never know: God remembers it all, even when no one else does.

“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”
Hebrews 6:10ESV
The Church Teaches

“When he comes at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, the glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works, and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace.”Catechism 682

“In the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel (vv. 31-46), Jesus expands on the Beatitude that calls the merciful blessed. If we seek the holiness pleasing to God’s eyes, this text offers us one clear criterion on which we will be judged.”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 95

For Our Lives Today

Online, it can feel like the world rewards the loudest and the best connected. The influencer gets the brand deal, the coworker who talks up his own work gets the promotion, and the nurse on the night shift gets nothing but sore feet. Chapter 79 sees it differently: “Though our Heavenly God is impartial, He gives to those who serve others.” God is not fooled by followers or titles. He sees the hidden servant, and His gifts of peace, joy, a good name and heaven itself are worth more than any like.

Try this today: Thank one quiet servant in your life today, and ask God to bless them in a way only He can.


Living the Chapter

From Chapter 79

The whole chapter, put into practice

In conclusion, Chapter 79 of the Tao Te Ching challenges individuals to act righteously, forgive willingly, and serve others without expecting anything in return. This mirrors the Christian call to live out the principles of grace, mercy, and selfless love. God’s impartiality does not diminish His abundant generosity toward those who live in accordance with His will, serving others and seeking His kingdom first. Just as the righteous do not demand compensation, so Christians are called to follow Christ’s example of sacrificial love, trusting that God will reward them according to His perfect justice and mercy.

Chapter 79 moves from a sore heart to an open hand. It starts with honesty about lingering resentment, asks how that can be good, shows the righteous keeping their half without demanding the other’s, refuses to send an invoice for service, and ends with the God who sees and gives. Each step loosens our grip a little more.

At the center stands Jesus. He settled the bitterest dispute of all, between sinful humanity and the Father, by paying a debt that was not His. He kept His word to the end and asked for nothing back. When we forgive and serve like Him, we are not losing; we are becoming children of the Most High.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Luke 6:36NRSVue
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 13:8ESV
The Church Teaches

“Mercy has two aspects. It involves giving, helping and serving others, but it also includes forgiveness and understanding.”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 80

“Once we allow ill will to take root in our hearts, it leads to deep resentment. … The opposite of resentment is forgiveness, which is rooted in a positive attitude that seeks to understand other people’s weaknesses and to excuse them.”Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia 105

For Our Lives Today

Picture an ordinary week lived the Chapter 79 way. You let go of the comment your brother-in-law made at the last family party, even if it still stings a little. You keep your promise to help a friend move, though she flaked on you last time. You do the extra work on the team project without posting about it. You stop keeping a mental scoreboard in your marriage. None of it makes headlines, but heaven notices. That is what forgiving debt looks like: a heart that keeps giving because it has been given so much.

Try this today: Tonight, name one debt you are still holding against someone, and in a short prayer hand it over to God.

Chapter 79 in one lineEven when resentment lingers, keep your half, forgive the debt and serve without sending a bill, because the impartial God who forgave you gives to those who serve.



RENEWAL

The Trinitarian M.A.P. is the method for RENEWAL, where God’s Love shapes our MINDSET, Trust in the Son directs our AIM, and Faith in the Holy Spirit guides our PRACTICE.

This chapter offers a new “Method” for the New Evangelization to RENEW our hearts and minds through the Trinitarian M.A.P. Bring this chapter into your day with the BFG Companion App. Pick Chapter 79 and an area of your life, and get Guidance made for you.

1Peace still healing“After settling a bitter dispute”
2Honest about the hurt“Some resentment remains”
3Our half, done well“The righteous man upholds his half of the bargain”
4No invoices“But the unrighteous demand compensation”
5The God who gives“He gives to those who serve others”
MINDSET
God’s Love shapes how we think

Renewal starts in the mind, and Chapter 79 starts with an honest one: “After settling a bitter dispute, some resentment remains.” The apology was made, the deal was signed, the family dinner went fine, and still something stings. God’s love does not ask us to pretend. It lets us name the hurt without shame, and then it reminds us of a bigger truth: we ourselves were forgiven a debt we could never repay. In the parable, the master “took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go” (Matthew 18:27). That is where a renewed mind begins.

Then the chapter asks, “How can this be good?” A mind shaped by God’s love stops keeping a ledger of who owes whom. St. Paul says love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5). That does not mean the wrong never happened. It means we stop rereading the bill every night. The leftover resentment becomes a signal, not a sentence: a place to bring to God, again and again, until His mercy fills more of our thoughts than the hurt does.

Try this: When an old hurt replays in your head today, say quietly, “Lord, You canceled my debt; help me cancel this one.”

Matthew 18:27NRSVue “And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.”

1 Corinthians 13:5NRSVue “or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs”

More Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32 · Colossians 3:13

AIM
Trust in the Son directs where we look

A renewed mind needs a direction, and Chapter 79 points us to someone who keeps his word: “The righteous man upholds his half of the bargain.” Jesus is the Faithful One. He kept the Father’s covenant to the end, even when we broke our side again and again. The psalm praises the one “who keeps an oath even when it hurts” (Psalm 15:4). So our aim is not to win the negotiation. It is to look at Christ and become people whose yes means yes, at work, at home and in the group chat.

The line goes on: “But does not demand anything from the other.” On the Cross, Jesus did not wait for an apology first. He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Fixing our eyes on Him frees us from waiting for the other person to go first. We can do our part and leave their part to God. We aim at faithfulness, not at a fairness score, and we trust the Son to carry what we cannot settle.

Try this: Keep one small promise today exactly as you said it, even if someone else has not kept theirs.

Psalm 15:4NRSVue “…who stand by their oath even to their hurt”

Luke 23:34NRSVue “[[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]]…”

More Scripture: Luke 16:10 · Proverbs 20:7

PRACTICE
Faith in the Holy Spirit guides how we live

Renewal becomes real in the everyday. Chapter 79 says, “The righteous fulfill their obligations, but the unrighteous demand compensation.” The Holy Spirit trains us out of the invoice habit: “I did the dishes, so you owe me,” or “I covered your shift, so where is my thank-you?” Jesus said that when we have done what we were told, we should say, “we have only done our duty” (Luke 17:10). The Spirit helps us do our part freely, without running a tab, because grace has already paid for us.

The chapter ends with a promise: “Though our Heavenly God is impartial, He gives to those who serve others.” God has no favorites, yet no one outgives Him. Jesus said to “lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35). So we practice hidden service: the ride, the meal, the patient answer, the help no one sees. The Spirit gives the strength, and the Father keeps the record.

Try this: Do one helpful thing today without mentioning it, and when you want credit, offer that wish to God instead.

Luke 17:10NRSVue “So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”

Luke 6:35NRSVue “Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.”

More Scripture: Galatians 6:9 · Matthew 10:8

In short: think humbly, aim at what is eternal, live by the Spirit. Let God’s love loosen the grip of old resentment, keep your half of every promise with your eyes on Christ, and let the Spirit teach you to serve without sending a bill, trusting the impartial God who gives.




RESPOND

Renewal brings the transformation of our spirit with ardor, empowering us to RESPOND to the call of holiness and make disciples of all nations. This encourages meaningful dialogue to embrace shared truths that transcend cultural and religious boundaries.

Respond · Go and Share
Go and Share: Responding as Missionary Apostles

Renewal does not end with us. When God cancels our debt, He sends us out to cancel debts too. Chapter 79 is honest that “some resentment remains” even after a bitter dispute is settled, and it shows another way to live: the righteous one “does not demand anything from the other.” A world worn out by grudges and score-keeping is waiting to see people like that. Forgiven people forgive, and God’s servants serve without sending a bill.

Step 1
The Call
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSVue)
“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts 1:8 (NRSVue)
Step 2
New Ardor, New Methods, New Expression

In 1983, Saint John Paul II called the Church to an evangelization that is “new in its ardor, new in its methods, new in its expression.” The Gospel never changes. The way we carry it must be alive for our time. Chapter 79 shows why: in a culture of call-outs, lawsuits and lasting grudges, people need fresh words for the old Gospel truth that debts can be forgiven.

New in Ardor
The fire

Ardor is the fire of a heart that has been loved by God. People feel it before they hear a single word. Chapter 79 says “the righteous fulfill their obligations” without demanding compensation. The fire of love keeps burning when we stop asking what we will get back.

New in Expression
The words

Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 79 asks an honest question, “How can this be good?”, so do not hide your own struggle to forgive; share how God is helping you through it.

New in Methods
The tools

Meet people where they are: on the phone in their hand. The BFG Handbook and the BFG Companion turn one conversation into a path to Christ and His Church. Chapter 79 says God “gives to those who serve others.” Our tools are simply ways to serve; the fruit is His to give.

Step 3
New in Ardor: The Fire
Pray first. Each morning ask the Holy Spirit, “Who do You want me to love today?”
Let joy show. A calm, joyful face says more than a perfect argument.
Give without keeping score. The chapter says the righteous one “does not demand anything from the other,” so serve first and let God settle the account.
Love the person, not the debate. Listen twice as long as you speak.
Be brave and gentle. “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15-16, NRSVue).
“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers.”Saint Paul VI
Step 4
New in Expression: Words for Our Time

Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 79 asks an honest question, “How can this be good?”, so do not hide your own struggle to forgive; share how God is helping you through it.

They say“I forgave him, but I’m still mad. Does that mean I didn’t really forgive?”
You can say“Not at all. There is a line I love: “After settling a bitter dispute, some resentment remains.” Forgiveness is a choice, and feelings often heal more slowly. Want to pray about it together?”
They say“I always give more than I get in this friendship.”
You can say“That is tiring, I know. A chapter I read says the righteous person “does not demand anything from the other,” and it promises that God “gives to those who serve others.” He sees what you give. It is also okay to talk honestly with your friend.”
They say“Why should I keep my word if they broke theirs?”
You can say“Because your word is yours, not theirs. I think of the line “The righteous man upholds his half of the bargain.” Jesus kept His promises to us even when we did not keep ours. That kind of faithfulness is rare, and people notice it.”
They say“I helped them and didn’t even get a thank-you.”
You can say“That stings. Jesus said to give “without expecting to get anything back,” and He promised the Father sees. Nothing you did in love was wasted.”
They say“God plays favorites. Some people get all the breaks.”
You can say“It can look that way. But Scripture says “God does not show favoritism,” and the chapter I am reading says He “gives to those who serve others.” His gifts are not always the ones we expect, but He is never stingy.”
They say“I can’t forgive what they did. It was too much.”
You can say“I hear you, and I am so sorry. Forgiving does not mean saying it was okay, and it does not mean forgetting. The Church reminds us that with God all things are possible, even the forgiveness that feels impossible. You do not have to do it alone or all at once.”
Your story in three parts
1Before

What my life was like before I really met Jesus.

2How

How He met me, and the moment things began to change.

3Now

What is different now, and the hope I carry. Like the chapter’s “bitter dispute,” is there a hurt God has helped you begin to let go of?

Step 5
New in Methods: The BFG Tools

Meet people where they are: on the phone in their hand. The BFG Handbook and the BFG Companion turn one conversation into a path to Christ and His Church. Chapter 79 says God “gives to those who serve others.” Our tools are simply ways to serve; the fruit is His to give.

BFG Handbook

Every chapter has its own song and is written in a language people of every faith can understand. A doorway for dialogue. Chapter 79, Forgiving Debt, helps anyone stuck in a grudge, worn out from keeping score, or still hurting after a conflict was “settled.”

Guidance

A friend shares a struggle. Together, pick a chapter and an area of life (start with Chapter 79 when someone still feels resentment after a fight is over, or feels they always give more than they get). In seconds: a reflection, the M.A.P., a saint, a prayer, Scripture, a song and a church nearby. Send it by email, PDF or a share link.

Ask BFG

Hard question? Ask it together. Answers are grounded in Catholic teaching, the saints and the BFG Handbook. Talk or type. Try asking together: “How do I forgive someone when the resentment is still there?”

Pray My Rosary

Pray the Rosary with a guided voice, the daily mysteries and beads that follow along. Pray it with someone, even over the phone. In the Sorrowful Mysteries we stay with Jesus, who carried the Cross for a debt that was not His, the very heart of Chapter 79.

Church Finder

Catholic churches near anyone, with Mass and Confession times, directions, and one tap to add a time to the calendar. Every conversation can end at a church door. In Confession God cancels our debt completely, and that mercy is what frees us to cancel the debts of others.

Reminders & My Journey

Morning, midday and evening prayer reminders, a daily streak and a steady prayer rhythm help a new believer keep going. A daily nudge to let go of yesterday’s resentment before it settles in.

Free to start, no card needed. Read aloud in 48 languages.

Step 6
Why BFG Is Made for the New Evangelization
1
It meets people where they are. In their pocket, at any hour, in 48 languages.
2
It is personal. It speaks to their exact question, not a one-size pamphlet.
3
It is faithful. Grounded in Scripture, Catholic teaching and the lives of the saints.
4
It leads to the Church. Every Guidance ends with a real parish, with Mass and Confession times.
5
It opens doors. The Handbook gives people of every faith a common language for dialogue. Every person has lived Chapter 79’s “bitter dispute” and the resentment that stays after it.
6
It keeps walking with them. Prayer reminders, the Rosary and My Journey help faith grow day by day.
7
It serves people; it does not replace them. Technology at the service of the human person. You are still the witness.
8
It has guardrails and safeguards. Every answer is checked to stay true to Catholic teaching, and anyone in crisis is pointed to real help right away. Like the righteous one in Chapter 79 who keeps “his half of the bargain,” it keeps its promise to stay faithful to the Church’s teaching.

One tool that walks with a person from the first question to the church door.

Step 7
Where Can I Go? Start Close, Then Go Far

Jesus sent His apostles first to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria, then to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Start where you are. Chapter 79 begins with a “bitter dispute,” so your first mission field may be the person you are still a little angry with.

1 Home & Family First
  • Pray the Rosary together on Pray My Rosary.
  • Bless your children at bedtime.
  • Share a Guidance with a spouse or child who is struggling.
  • Find Sunday Mass times together with Church Finder.
  • Read Chapter 79 together and ask: “Is there anything we are still keeping score about in this house?”
2 Friends
  • Text a verse from your Guidance.
  • Ask, “How can I pray for you?” and pray right then.
  • Invite a friend to Mass, then go for coffee.
  • Send the line “He gives to those who serve others” to a friend who has been serving quietly.
3 School & Work
  • Be the calm, kind one.
  • Pray on your lunch break with a reminder.
  • Start a small chapter group that meets once a week. Begin with Chapter 79, Forgiving Debt.
  • Respect the rules: invite, never push.
4 Parties & Get-Togethers
  • Listen for the moment: “Things have been hard.”
  • Offer: “Can I send you something that helped me?”
  • Share the Chapter 79 song.
5 Meeting People One-on-One
  • Ask good questions and really listen.
  • Share your three-part story.
  • Open Ask BFG together when a question comes up.
  • When a friend is still upset after making up with someone, share the line “Some resentment remains,” and tell them it is normal and that God can heal it.
6 Your Neighborhood & Parish
  • Visit the sick, the elderly and the lonely; pray the Rosary with them.
  • Serve at a food bank.
  • Welcome newcomers at Mass.
  • Join your parish evangelization team.
7 Local Businesses
  • Ask shops, cafés and offices to display a BFG card with a QR code.
  • Offer a short lunch talk on faith at work.
  • Business owners: offer the Companion to staff as a free gift, never a requirement.
8 Popular Places: Gyms, Parks, Coffee Shops & Game Days
  • Go where people already gather, and be the friendly one who listens.
  • Pray quietly for the people around you.
  • When a talk turns real, share a Guidance or the chapter song.
  • Wear or carry a simple sign of your faith, like a cross or a rosary, that can start a conversation.
  • After a heated game day, when tempers flare over a bad call, be the first to shake hands; Chapter 79 says the righteous one “does not demand anything from the other.”
9 Hold an Event
  • Host a Chapter 79 “Forgiving Debt” night, a Handbook chapter night, a Rosary night or an “Ask Anything” faith night.
  • Show the Companion on a big screen and let people try it.
  • We did this at our free conference, The New Evangelization in the Age of AI, at Christ Cathedral.
10 Online
  • Share a Guidance, a chapter song or a Scripture card. Try: “He gives to those who serve others.”
  • One post can reach someone you will never meet.
11 Other Countries
  • Join a parish or diocese mission trip.
  • The Companion speaks 48 languages, so you leave behind something that keeps speaking after you go home.
  • Disputes, debts and lingering grudges are understood in every culture, an open door to the Gospel of a God who forgives debts.
12 Help Groups Doing the Work
  • Your parish ministries, the Legion of Mary, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, prison, hospital and campus ministries, and mission groups.
  • Bring the BFG tools to their work.
Step 8
Your Mission M.A.P.
M
Mindset “I am sent.”God has loved me, so I can love others without fear. I have been forgiven a debt I could never pay, so I can let go of what others owe me.
A
Aim “One person this week.”Write down one name. Jesus always went to the one. Point them to Jesus, who kept His word and forgave without demanding anything back.
P
Practice “Pray, share, invite.”Pray for them by name each day, share one thing that helped you, and invite them one step closer. Serve one person this week without expecting anything in return.
Five steps of every conversation
ListenHear their story first.→LoveShow you care, whatever they believe.→ShareTell what God has done for you.→InviteOffer one next step.→Walk withStay with them after the first yes.
Step 9
Your 7-Day Mission Challenge
Step 10
Sent Out

Some people will not thank you. Some disputes will stay a little sore. But Chapter 79 says the righteous “fulfill their obligations,” and it promises that God “gives to those who serve others.” Go with a forgiving heart. Go with open hands. Go together. The same Spirit who renewed you now sends you, to forgive as you have been forgiven and to serve without sending a bill.

“…And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’”Isaiah 6:8 (NRSVue)
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”Romans 10:15 (NRSVue)
A prayer before you go

Father, who forgave our debts, Holy Spirit, set my heart on fire. Jesus, send me to the one You love. Father, make me Your witness today. Amen.

NRSVue © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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