Application Guide: The Gospel of Matthew – Part 6

 

June 20, 2004:  “The Gospel of Matthew - Part 6” by Pastor Kimber Kauffman, Senior Pastor College Park Church.  Pastor Kimber continued his series on the Gospel of Matthew with a 2nd message on repentance in Matthew 3:1-10. 

 

Before you come together to discuss, ask God what sin he wants you to turn from, and pray for the other folks in your group- that he would show them their need to repent of a specific sin as well.

 

In verse 8 of chapter 3 of Matthew, John calls on people to produce fruits in keeping with repentance… and in verse 10, he says why this is important- because if a person has no fruit of repentance then no repentance has taken place and thus the person is not saved from wrath.

 

  1. Does the lack of fruit in some area of your life cause you to doubt your salvation?

 

Kim quoted a Puritan document which says “good works are not a necessary prerequisite for salvation, but they are a necessary result of salvation.”

 

  1. Do you agree with the above statement?

 

  1. When Kimber preaches that repenting of sin and a changed life are the signs of a Christian and without them you are probably not a Christian, does it sound like he is saying that God saves us based on our effort?

 

  1. When God saves someone, what does he base it on?

 

Kim stated that repentance is as necessary for salvation as faith is.  Think about that… 

 

Think about this also…Kim said that in the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-8…18-23) only one of the four men described by a type of soil is a Christian. 

 

Repentance, despite the recent well-intentioned evangelical emphasis on a one-time event, is more of a life-long and daily oft-repeated thing. 

 

  1. What was the last thing you repented of?  How long ago did this take place?

 

  1. If repentance is to be on-going, and assuming you are like the rest of us and still falling short of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus, what one sin do you think God would like you to turn from next?

 

  1. What is the worst thing about repenting?

 

  1. What is the best result of repenting?

 

  1. How can Matt. 7:17&18 be an encouragement to you as you consider taking this step of repentance? 

 

In closing, write down your answer to #6 on a note card and keep it before you until you can get alone with God and repent of it.