Pastor Chris reminded us that repentance is the boldest act of hope because it’s based on the promise that God will never turn away from a truly penitent heart. And that means we must confess our sin to God, without any blame-shifting.
MY STORY
Describe a time when someone was merciful to you when you least expected it
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment. (Psalm 51:1-4)
David begins this Psalm by asking God to be merciful to him. What can we presume about the humility in David’s heart when he makes this request?
Extra credit: Look up the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18. What does Jesus say about the man who made this confession: ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
What does David say that God delights in? How does the King demonstrate this in this psalm of confession?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passages above, what are the factual “takeaways” that are meaningful to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
What’s the difference between an anemic apology and a genuine admission of guilt and full responsibility that comes from the heart?
If someone betrayed your trust, and then acknowledged the damage that he or she had done to your relationship, and then said, “What do I need to do to regain your trust?” … What would that take for you?
How would this act of “bearing fruit in keeping with repentance” show you what genuine repentance looks like, especially when confessing a particular sin to God?
What does God want us to do? Flowing from our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit’s nudging us toward?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
Pick something for which you’ve been digging in your heels and refusing to acknowledge full responsibility. If you're not sure, ask someone who knows you well.
According to Pastor Chris, what would genuine repentance look like for you in this case?
Take those steps this week.
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step that the Holy Spirit is calling you toward?
Message Notes
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