Alignment (Part 1): Aligning Our Message With Jesus

TO START:

Make sure to talk to your group about our upcoming 2nd Annual SG Cornhole Tournament and BBQ on Saturday, May 8th from 10:30am-1:30pm. Let our Discipleship Minister, Matt DeLano (mdelano@rrcoc.org) know how many from your group will be able to attend and how many adults would like to play cornhole by Friday, April 30th! Lastly, we will be sending out a sign-up for sides, desserts and food service volunteers this week! We encourage your group to sign-up for at least 2 slots if possible. 

TO WATCH

Now watch a bit of Tim’s sermon together here: 

TO READ & DISCUSS

This week, we began a series on repentance by talking about the centrality of repentance to the Gospel message. It was very much a part of the message of Jesus, the early disciples and Paul. The message of our culture is that it doesn’t really matter how you live BUT the message of the Bible is that it does. 

What do you understand repentance as? (one definition → repentance: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to changing one’s life, turning to the good which in our case is turning to God)

Did you learn about repentance when you were growing up? 

What has happened to repentance nowadays? Why do you think repentance got pushed aside in much of our world including the church?

Read Mark 1:14-15 & Luke 24:44-48 together. 

What do you make of these passages? Isn’t Jesus supposed to be about God’s love and mercy?

What seems to be the most prominent action that needs to take place in light of the Gospel? (in these passages, a central element to following Jesus and proclaiming the good news is repentance)

These passages and many others in the Gospels, Acts and Paul’s letters which Tim explored Sunday speak of repentance as central to the Gospel so….

Why is repentance so hard to do? Do you think repentance is difficult for you? Do you find yourself practicing repentance regularly?

Tim points out the fact that in this series that the goal of repentance is not to beat us down but rather, it is to experience the blessing that comes from aligning the direction of our lives with God’s plan. He said, “the message of the Bible is that belief in Jesus inspires a way fo life that reflects belief” 

Read Acts 3:19-20 together then answer the following questions:

Do you believe that repentance is inspired by God’s love for us? Why or why not? 

Lastly, encourage your group to share a time when repentance on their part blessed their life or the lives of others.

TO PRAY

I want to encourage your group to pray this prayer from The Book of Common Prayer: 

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.