The Necessity and Beauty of Repentance

The Beauty and Necessity of Repentance

Revelation 9:20-21 (See question 2 for additional scriptures to discuss)

Take-Home Truth: True repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction because you have a change of heart.

Christ-Connection: Our repentance is based not only on our understanding that sin is bad, but also a genuine belief that Christ is far greater (coin example: repent/believe).

Hook: (Ice-breaker question. Get the group talking!)

1. Share a time in your life when your mind/opinion was drastically changed. 

Engage: (Observe the passage and engage with the text)

2. As a group, read Revelation 9:20-21, Ezekiel 18:30, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 13:1-5, and Acts 26:17-20. How would you define repentance based on these passages? 

3. Discuss how these passages demonstrate the change of mind, heart, and behavior. 

 Reflect: (Reflect upon the key take-aways from the sermon)

 Note: The goal of this reflection is to build your own story of repentance so that you are able to share with others how your life was transformed by the Gospel.

4. Richard said, “Wrong thinking about God leads to wrong acting against God.” How were you wrong in your thinking of God and how did that define the way you lived?

5. What changed your mind (metanoia)? Do you remember a specific message, scripture, event or person that stirred your heart towards repentance? What was it about Jesus and his Gospel that drew you to him?

6. In light of Acts 26:20, how does your life since conversion reflect that you have changed?

Respond: (Apply the truths of God’s Word to your heart, affections, and actions)

7. When you put all of this (Questions 4, 5, and 6) together, you end up with your own personal story (testimony). Would someone be willing to share the 5-minute version of his/her story with the group as an example? 

8. Prayerfully consider one person you can share your testimony with this week. Will you commit to share your story?