“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” —Mark 1:1-8
I. What
?
If repentance is the starting point, what does it mean to repent?
A. It has to do with
B. It has to do with
II. Why
?
There are many reasons why.
A.
Matthew 4:17 – “From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
B.
Luke 13:3 – “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
C.
Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…”
III. How
?
You prepare for what God wants to do in your life through repentance.
1.
. (Psalm 139:23-24)
2.
. (I Cor. 10:13, Rom. 3:23)
3.
. (James 5:16, I John 1:9)
4.
. (Ephesians 2:8, Prov. 24:16)
5.
. (Galatians 2:20, 5:16)
Take-home questions for Small Group and Family Devotions.
What was your previous understanding of repentance, and how has it changed after hearing this sermon?
Reflect on a time when repentance played a significant role in your spiritual journey. What was the outcome?
Of the five steps outlined for a prepared heart, which do you find most challenging to implement in your life, and why?
What obstacles or barriers do you face in embracing repentance as a continuous process in your life?
How can you incorporate the principle of repentance into your daily spiritual disciplines or routines?