Millcreek Community Church

What Does True Repentance Look Like?

March 28, 2010 | Todd Cyphers

Luke 3:1-6

What Does True Repentance Look Like?

Luke 3:1-20

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 (NASB)

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said … "what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…..” Acts 2:37-38 (NASB)

With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 2:25 (NASB)

Repentance is to turn away from sin and from trusting in anything for salvation except the free grace of Jesus Christ

1. Every believer will begin to generously give & share

I am holding onto this money/thing because it will help me “make much” of Christ and His Gospel.

2. The greedy will become Godly & honest in their financial dealings

3. The hardened will become content and not misuse people or money

4. Every believer will become more reliant on the sovereignty and goodness of God

Questions for this week:

I. For Starters:

When you hear someone saying the word “repent”, what comes to mind?
What signs of repentance have been exhibited in your life since you came to know Christ? (In what specific ways have you done an about face with your life or actions)

II. Overview of Scripture

Read Luke 3:1-20. What strikes you as interesting or that would motivate you to dig deeper?
What was John’s message? Vs.3
How sensitive was John to his hearers and why do you think this is? Vs 7
What did John expect from those who had truly repented? Vs 8.
Notice in Verse 18 that John is preaching the “Gospel” to them. What did

John want them to know as part of his Gospel message? Vs. 9

Read verse 10. How do we know the ‘Gospel" message got through to some of them? What does this tell us that what we should watch for when we share our faith?
Why did John give them practical examples of true repentance and what do these examples show us today? Verses 11-14
In what specific ways do we know that John’s life was a glowing and Godly testimony for Christ? Vs 15 and 18-20
How did John describe Jesus and what can we learn from His description? Vs 16-18
What did John think about hell and how did that truth affect his preaching? Vs 17-18

III. Growing deeper

1. Review Sunday’s message with someone.

2. Read Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8 and 10:9-10. How would you summarize the “Gospel” message that needs to be proclaimed to others? Can you share this basic life changing message with someone in two minutes or less if needed?

3. What two major fruits of repentance are exhibited in every “genuine” believer’s life and are you confident you possess them? (Matthew 3:2, Acts 17:30-31, John 6:29 and 8:24)

4. Pray for one another that you would enjoy, declare and live the Gospel message in front of others each day.

Series Information

Other sermons in the series

Nov 01, 2009