SERMON OUTLINE:
I. John the Baptist and Repentance
A. Matthew - Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.
B. Luke - Bear fruits worthy of repentance.
C. John was known for calling people to repentance.
D. An odd ball, who calls Herod to repentance.
E. He prepared people for Jesus by calling them to repentance.
II. Repentance
A. Calvin's definition of repentance. "...departing from ourselves, we turn to God..."
B. What comes first? Faith or repentance? In Reformed tradition, Faith.
C. Faith allows us to admit we were wrong.
III. Admitting you're wrong.
A. Seems to be challenging.
B. Don't ever follow a leader who won't admit he or she is wrong.
C. Story about time I was wrong. Nothing happened. (Onions)
D. You are wrong. Total depravity.
IV. Embracing Repentance leads to Freedom.
A. Powerlessness - 12 Steps.
B. Repentance acknowledges the same.
C. No one asks you to be perfect or to overcome sin on your own.
D. "Turn to God."
V. Repentance creates opportunity to see God's faithfulness in our lives.
A. Not easy.
B. The reward is worth it.
C. What in your life do you need to repent of?
D. With whom can you share it?
E. God is faithful.