Two Turns

January 10, 2021

Main idea: Following Jesus starts with turns.

John the Baptist's ...

• Message (Luke 3:3-6)
• Warning (Luke 3:7-10)
• Exhortation (Luke 3:11-14)
• Witness (Luke 3:15-20)

Following Jesus starts with ...

• Turning from sin
• Turning to Christ

Icebreaker

Without thinking too much, who is the important person in the world? Why did you pick that person?

Digging Deeper

1. Read Luke 3:3 and Luke 3:8. From these two verses, how would you define "repentance"?

2. Continue exploring repentance in Luke by reading Luke 13:1-5.

   • What is Jesus' point here?
   • Why is He so adamant about this?
   • Do you sense such a passion about repentance in your own life? Why or why not?

3. Read the following and then discuss:

Theologians make a distinction between two kinds of repentance. The first is called attrition. Attrition is a false or spurious kind of repentance. It involves remorse caused by a fear of punishment or a loss of blessing. Every parent has witnessed attrition in a child when he is caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The child, fearing the paddle, cries, "I'm sorry, please don't spank me!" These pleas coupled with crocodile tears are usually not signs of genuine remorse for wrongdoing. This was the kind of repentance Esau exhibited (Genesis 27:30-46). He was sorry not because he had sinned, but because he had lost his birthright. Attrition, then, is repentance motivated by an attempt to get a ticket out of hell or to otherwise avoid punishment.

Contrition, on the other hand, is true and godly repentance. It is genuine. It includes a deep remorse for having offended God. The contrite person openly and fully confesses his sin with no attempt to excuse it or justify it. This acknowledgment of sin is coupled with a willingness to make restitution whenever possible and a resolve to turn away from sin. This is the spirit of repentance that David exhibited in Psalm 51. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me . . . The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:10, 17).

When repentance is offered to God in a spirit of true contrition, He promises to forgive us and to restore us to fellowship with Him: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). [source]

• Can you think of a time in your life when you exhibited attrition, but not contrition?

4. Read Psalm 1:1-2, Psalm 43:4, and Psalm 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174 (pick a few).
   • The psalmist often delights in the Lord and his Word. If you are honest, what delights you?
   • How can we encourage one another to have all-encompassing delight in the Lord?
   • Describe what your life would look like if you had such delight. What if your growth group had such delight? Our church?

Next Steps

1. If you are a Christian, how has following Christ been costly?

2. If following Christ has not impacted or challenged one's life, why might they have reason for concern?

3. How do we guard against nominal faith in our everyday ordinary life?