In his sermon titled “Repent,” Dennis underscores the urgency of sincere repentance during the Advent season, as we get ready to commemorate Jesus Christ’s birth.
Utilizing Mark 13:24-37, he alerts his congregation to the imminent return of the Son of Man and the concurrent need for repentance. The sermon elaborates on the Signs of the Season, pointing to celestial signs presaging fear among those deviating from God. Notwithstanding, believers take heart in the future glorious arrival of Jesus and the promising restoration of everything.
The sermon then delves into the Call to Watch and Pray drawn from Jesus’s Parable of the Fig Tree that exhorts believers to stay vigilant and ready for His return. Simultaneously, Jesus warns against spiritual complacency and stresses the necessity for self-discipline.
The key theme, Repentance, is accentuated, highlighting the essentiality of acknowledging personal fallibility and the dire need for forgiveness.
In closing, Dennis underscores the urgency of repenting before Christmas as it primes our hearts to receive God’s transformative grace. The concluding prayer petitions for strength and courage to turn from sin, embrace grace, and also seeks spiritual renewal during the Advent season. The sermon serves as a wake-up call, reminding the congregation about Advent’s true purpose, which is fostering a renewed relationship with God.
If you could add a totally new tradition to the Christmas holiday, what would it be and why?
- How can we make sure we don’t overlook the importance of repentance during the Advent season?
- Context: Dennis emphasizes the need for sincere heart-change as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Application Question: What personal changes can you make to prioritize repentance in your daily life during this season?
- In Mark 13:24-37, what signs does Jesus mention that signal his imminent return, and how can we recognize them?
- Context: Jesus speaks of celestial signs that will cause fear and trembling, and he uses the Parable of the Fig Tree to urge discernment of the signs of His return.
- Application Question: How does being aware of these signs affect your relationship with God and your readiness for Jesus’s second coming?
- Why is it important to remain watchful and resist complacency during this season?
- Context: Jesus warns against spiritual drowsiness and stresses the importance of spiritual discipline, urging believers to stay vigilant and ready for His return.
- Application Question: What specific steps can you take to cultivate spiritual discipline and remain watchful in your faith during Advent?
- What does sincere repentance look like, and how can we differentiate it from merely feeling bad about our mistakes?
- Context: Genuine repentance involves heartfelt sorrow for our sins and a sincere desire to turn away from them and return to God.
- Application Question: Reflect on a time when you experienced sincere repentance. How did it affect your relationship with God and your spiritual life?
- How does repentance and embracing God’s grace lead to transformation and renewal in our lives during the Advent season?
- Context: By opening the door to God’s grace, repentance enables believers to experience forgiveness, renewal, and restoration.
- Application Question: Share a personal experience of how repentance has brought about transformation and renewal in your life.
Prayer Points
- Pray to sincerely absorb the urgency of repentance before Christmas.
- Ask God to help them identify areas in their lives that may need change and to give them the courage to turn away from those areas.
- •Request for discernment and vigilance as explained in the Parable of the Fig Tree. Ask God to help the group members to be on the constant lookout for the signs of His return and to avoid spiritual complacency.
- •Pray for the transformative power of God’s grace to be evident in everyone’s life. Ask for the strength and courage to embrace His grace, experience forgiveness, and undergo renewal and restoration.
Breaking Open 