Week 11 - Day 1
THE STORY
You?
We’ve worked our way through the Bible’s Story. This is what we have covered.
Creation
Rebellion
Rescue
Mission
Return
YOU?
Which brings us to a very important question: You? How are you going to respond to this Story? How can you make this Story part of your life’s story? How do you become a follower or a disciple of Jesus?
In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter shares the heart of The Story. Here are his conclusion and the response.
Acts 2:36-41 (NIV)
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:38 spells out how to respond to The Story.
Acts 2:38 (NIV)
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
There are four ways to respond:
Make It Personal
Make It Public
Receive God’s Forgiveness
Receive God’s Spirit
We’ll work through this verse this week.
Here’s what Acts 2:38 looks like graphically.
MAKE IT PERSONAL
REPENT
First, Peter says, repent. The excuses must stop and we must own our sinful rebellion against God.
Basic to repentance is the activity of turning. Through a change of mind and a change of heart we turn our lives around. We do a 180° life pivot—a personal U-turn.
What do we turn from when we repent?
What do we turn toward when we repent?
Why is repentance a personal responsibility?
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Romans 2:4-5 (NIV)
Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
What is the Good News and bad news in these two passages?
How does the Good News encourage us to repent?
How does the bad news urge us to repent?
BELIEVE
In addition to repenting, we Make It Personal by believing in Jesus.
John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Acts 20:20-21 (NET)
You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
What does it mean to believe in or put your faith in Jesus?
Why do repentance and faith go together in becoming a follower or a disciple of Jesus?
So how do you make it personal? You repent of your sin and you believe in Jesus Christ? And this is a personal thing. You can’t depend on your parent’s faith or your Christian community’s relationship with Jesus. It must become your faith and your relationship with Jesus. You must make it personal.
Have you? Why or why not?
How could your group help you repent and believe?
In light of what you have discovered through the Bible readings and your personal reflections, how will you respond? Finish this sentence: I will …