Repentance
Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, 11 January 2009 09:00
Sermon Notes
Our apologies, we were unable to record today's sermon. Here is an outline of what Ed discussed.
6 Movements of Repentance (Thomas Watson)
- Seeing your sin (1 John 1:8,10)
- Sorrowing over your sin (Psalm 51:17; 2 Corinthians 7:9)
- Confessing your sin (1 John 1:9)
- Being ashamed of your sin (Jeremiah 6:15)
- Hating your sin (Job 42:5-6)
- Turning from your sin (Matthew 3:7-8)
Mark 1:14-15 "... The time has come... the Kingdom of God is near. Repent..."
Kevin Toczko's word from God in November 2008 that the Elders can affirm:
- Gateway has become complacent.
- Gateway's faith and worship has hit a ceiling and plateaued.
In the summer of 2002, we studied the book of Jeremiah. In one specific message entitled "Making It Real", Ed discussed "What kind of a religion is Christianity?" Here are the main points from that sermon:
- Christianity is essentially a religion of right action
- It is opposed to empty ritualism and superstition.
- It calls us to do justice
- Christianity nurtures a real relationship with God.
- We at Gateway are materialistic.
- We are too dependent upon ourselves. We do not spend time with God. Like any good relationship, we have to spend time with the other person and listen to him or her. We can't just see God once a week, sing some songs to Him, and then go home and not listen to Him or spend time with Him.
- Many of us have done well. We need to remember that is not due to our own strength or intelligence or whatever, but it is through God's blessing.
- Christianity is about God moving in real history in real time.
- It is based on a set of historical facts.
After that sermon, someone from the church felt a Word from God and got up and spoke. The message was "My servant has spoken, but you have not listened."
We are still struggling to listen.
Small Group Questions
Opening Question: When is the last time you realized that you were headed in the wrong direction (whether driving or pursuing an idea or working on a project)? How did you feel and what did you do as a result?
- What comes to mind when you hear “repentance”?
- Considering the six movements, which have you most personally identified with your own experience of repentance? Which least? How would this (the least) more fully help you deal with sin?
- At the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he declares, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) What is the basis of the response Jesus calls for? (How would you explain it in your own words?) What is the two-fold response called for? How are the two responses related? How have you seen this relationship (or lack thereof) in your own life?
- What is your remembrance of the two prophetic words to our church? What has been your personal response? How has today’s message added to your understanding about where our church is at in this time? What do you think our church’s response needs to be?
- Pastor Ed posed a question to us: Do you plan for what you can have or what you can give? How has this question clarified your financial priorities/values? If you are ready to share your response, please do so. What is a helpful question to probe or first step to take with regards to materialism in your life or in the life of your family?
- In Proverbs 3:5-6, what are the exhortations? What are the qualifiers? What is the promise? In light of the promise, why do you think it’s so hard for us to heed? Read the next four verses. How does this further explain the consequences and motivate you to wrestle with the exhortations? What is one obstacle that you want to bring before the Lord in this regard?
- What do you think repentance needs to look like for you? Please take time to either silently or publicly repent over the sins realized at this time.