Category: Repentance
Subject: Repentance
Sermon: What Repentance is NOT!
It is important to properly define repentance, so that all will be confident that they have fulfilled this requirement, given by God for our redemption.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Lessons from a Barren Fig Tree
In Luke 13, Jesus spoke a parable discussing the need for repentance. He pictured a fig tree that did not bear fruit. The master of the vineyard told the keeper to cut it down, “why does it use up the ground?” (7). The keeper asked for another season to cultivate and fertilize it, with the hope that it would bear fruit. “And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down” (9).
The parable mirrors the petition made by Abraham to God, who had determined to destroy the city of Sodom, (Genesis 18:16-33). Abraham asked that the city be spared if fifty righteous souls could be found. He continued to intercede until God decided to spare the city if only ten righteous souls could be identified. Alas, the city was fully given over to ungodliness, and God destroyed the city.
A couple of things to note about the parable. First, there is no indication whether the master of the vineyard spared the tree for another season. (The petition was made, but we don’t know if it was granted). Second, without a change (from non-fruit bearing to fruit bearing) the fate of the tree was sealed.
How does this parable apply to us? First, we must note that our opportunity to repent is dependent upon God’s longsuffering. We may be granted a stay from judgment, but we have no guarantee beyond today! (cf. 2 Peter 3:9-10). Second, without repentance from our sins, our fate is also sealed. Twice in our context, our Lord said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (3, 5).
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Sermon: The Beginning of the Gospel
An examination of the text of Acts 2, as Stan describes the power of the gospel to pierce hearts and save souls.
Sermon: What is Fair?
An examination of Ezekiel 18, which give us much insight as to the grievous nature of sin, and how our righteous God deals with both those who pursue sin, and those who pursue righteousness.
Sermon: Jehoiakim’s Knife
The evil king Jehoaikim, when warned of coming judgments, did not fear nor repent. His rebelliousness brought destruction upon him and Judah.
Sermon: Learning from Israel’s Defeat at Ai (Joshua 7)
We learn of the consequences of sin, and the need to separate ourselves from ungodly men and worldly things, by looking at the narrative of Israel’s defeat at the hands of the men from Ai.
Invitation: Repentance and Sin
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
A short 10 minute talk where the following point is made. Sin constitutes a turning away from God. Repentance is a turn back to God. No sin can be forgiven unless repentance is present.
Sermon: Spring Meeting, 2021 with JR Bronger
JR Bronger from Blue Springs, MO preached a wonderful series of gospel sermons for the West Side congregation, May 1-6, 2021:
Saturday PM: The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9)
- A discussion of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. A religious terrorist who became a wonderful example of the saving power of God’s grace.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Sunday 1st Service: Evangelizing the World
- In the first century, Christians were able to spread the gospel throughout the known world, despite opposition and challenges. If we have the same mindset today, we can be just as successful!
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Sunday Class: Successful Marriages
- Foundational teaching on the subject of marriage. Principles which, if followed, will guarantee strong marriages existing in accord with God’s desire.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Sunday 2nd Service: The Hate of Christ and Christians
- The world hated Jesus Christ because of His mission and righteousness. He promised that the world would hate his followers as well. In our day such hate is prominent.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Monday PM: Christians Are Running a Race
- A runner himself, brother Bronger uses the Hebrew writer’s imagery in Hebrews 12:1-2 to establish a few important truths regarding the race the Christian runs.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Tuesday PM: A Rebel Returns
- A powerful lesson on rebellion and redemption, based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Young people need to hear this message!
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Wednesday PM: Do You Want to be Made Well?
- If you really wish for spiritual healing, you must stop thinking of yourself as a victim, stop blaming others for your failings, free yourself from fear and recognize the difference between wanting relief, and wanting a cure.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Thursday PM: Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart
- There were three responsible parties in the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. God Himself with His demands. The wicked court magicians. And most prominently, Pharaoh himself.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
The Patternists: The Bearer of Bad News
Jeroboam was rewarded by God with the 10 tribes which made up the northern kingdom of Israel. He became their king, according to the prophet Ahijah, because the reign of Solomon led to Israel forsaking Jehovah, and engaging in idolatry, cf. 1 Kings 11:29-39. His tenure as king was conditioned upon his obedience to God. The prophet Ahijah shared with Jeroboam these words from God, “Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in my ways, do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, I will give Israel to you” (38).
Jeroboam responded to Jehovah’s gift of the northern kingdom by rebelling against Him. Just as Solomon led Israel into idolatry, Jeroboam encouraged the northern Kingdom he ruled to worship gold calves he had fashioned for them.
Turn to Me with all your heart
“‘Now, therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:12-13).
The date of Joel’s writing is undetermined. Many speculate, but no one knows for sure. All that his known is that his warning to God’s people is for them to repent of their sins, and turn themselves back to Him.
The language used in this passage teaches us the nature of true repentance. “Turn to Me with all your heart…” indicates that repentance requires full submission to the Lord. You can’t have true repentance if you reserve the “right” to do as you will in any matter. “I will repent, but…” has no place in the Christian’s confession.
In order for repentance to be accepted by God it must be fully sincere. The phrase, “So rend your heart, and not your garments” shows this perfectly. Too often men make a show of sorrow, to lead men to think they are truly repentant. The Jews of Jesus day did this, disfiguring their faces while fasting (cf. Matthew 16:6), and praying on the corners of the streets “that they may be seen by men” (Matthew 6:5). When men see actions, God sees the heart.
Repentance must be total and heartfelt. If it is, God is “gracious and merciful” and just to forgive!
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Sermon: Lessons from a Wayward Son
In the parable of the prodigal son, (Luke 15), an examination is made of the motivation and actions of the son which led to his return to his father. Applications are made.
Sermon: I Am Not Responsible!
It has always been the tendency of men to rationalize away their own responsibility for their actions. They try to wash it away, deny it away, blame it away, and excuse it away. However, we will all appear before the judgment seat to give an account for our own behavior before God!
Sermon: Regret
All of us experience regret from time to time. Sin causes regret for the Christian. We all sin. How do we handle our feelings of regret? Our soul depends on the answer!
The Patternists: Restoring a Penitent Man
In 1 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul admonished the congregation there for maintaining fellowship with a sexually immoral man, “such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!” (1).
He called upon them to withdraw their fellowship from this man. “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh…” (5). The purpose of this disciple was “…that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (5).
Continue reading “The Patternists: Restoring a Penitent Man”
The Patternists: Responding to God’s Chastisement
In the book of Amos, the prophet recorded God’s disappointment with Israel. God had chastised His people in myriad ways, and yet they refused to come to repentance. Consider the ways that God chastised His people.
POVERTY: “‘I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; yet you have not returned to Me’, says the Lord” (4:8).
DROUGHT: “‘I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest… Yet you have not returned to Me’, says the Lord” (4:7,8).
Continue reading “The Patternists: Responding to God’s Chastisement”
