Doing Change God’s Way (Part 1)

Repent or Perish

Introduction

• Resolutions Require Change
• It’s hard to Change
• Doing Change God’s Way

I.    God Demands Repentance

• A Biblical Message (Ezekiel 14:6; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3)
• The Holiness of God (1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14; Habakkuk 1:13; Isaiah 59:2)
• The Brokenness of Man (Romans 3:10-11; Romans 3:23; Romans 3:12-13)

II.   God Grants Repentance

• He Allows it (Acts 5:30-32; Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25-26)
• He Initiates it (John 6:44-45; John 6:65; Romans 2:4-6; Acts 16:14; John 16:7-8)
• He Completes it (Philippians 1:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

III. God Welcomes Repentance

1. He Wants All Saved (2 Peter 3:9)
2. He Rejoices (Luke 15:7)
3. He Dwells with the Contrite (Isaiah 57:15)

IV.  Conclusion

• Applications
  • You Cannot Stay Where You are and Go with God.
  • All of our Brokenness Originates in our Sinfulness.
  • God has Provided a Means for you to Change
  • God Welcomes You When You Repent.
• Are You Doing Change God’s Way

How are you at keeping New Year’s Resolutions?  If you’re like me, you probably never get past the end of January with most of them.  Some of us have given up on resolutions altogether figuring that they are wasted effort inviting failure.

However, such thinking can be unproductive. Change is a necessary part of life and should be a serious part of our regular evaluations of life.  In a spiritual context, Jesus commands, “Repent… or perish” (Luke 13:3).  That can also be true in other areas of life.

The Bible says a lot of about repentance (change).  Perhaps, we haven’t tried doing change God’s way.  This will be the theme of my lesson series beginning January 2, 2022.  I hope you will join us!

Have a Happy New Year!  Joey