Kingdom Work Starts With Repentance

Repentance: We are not above it.

God’s kingdom work starts with and continues through true repentance. Following Christ calls for true, soul-felt repentance that shifts actions and frees us for new kingdom ways of living.

Psalm 51:16–17 NRSV

16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Jesus in Mark begins his earthly ministry with a call to repentance .

Mark 1:14–15 NRSV

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

The work of the Kingdom begins with and continues through repentance. Those of us here today that have decided to follow Christ are not above repentance. We have a gardener at work in us we call the Holy Spirit, removing things that stop growth, spreading manure that continued growth in Christlikeness will occur in us. When we fail to listen to his guidance, and repent of sins in us when he reveals them, we stop bearing fruit. We are not above repentance.

There are two things about sin that Jesus confronts in today’s scripture. 1, in the kingdom there aren’t worse sinners, Jesus confronts our own self-righteousness. 2, Growth cannot happen without repentance, and growth in grace is the work of God not us.

As we hear from God today, lets listen to how he challenges us to grow, and be quick to repent so the gardener can do what only he can do.

Repent or Perish

SELF-RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION

Suffering and sin/ wages of sin

Worse sin

Philippians 2:12–13 NRSV

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE

Bearing fruit takes work

Luke 3:8 NRSV

8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

We must repent when the holy Spirit convicts us of things that are hindering growth in Christlikeness. John 14:26

John 14:26 NRSV

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

We are called to love. Love the lord our God with everything we have and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Any Fruit we bear is the work of God not us.

Are you like the fig tree?

The work of the Kingdom begins with repentance. The growth in the fig tree begins with repentance. True repentance requires us to let go of self righteousness and to let the Holy Spirit work in us. It requires us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

None of us are the picture of the perfect image of Christ, God still has work to do in each one of us. The question we have to ask ourselves this morning personally and as a church, are we like the fig tree? Are we bearing fruit or just taking up space?

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 2 Pastoral Perspective

“Ask yourself if you are like that fig tree. Are you bearing fruit or just taking up space?”

Think of a time when this church was flourishing. What were some of the things the church was doing? The history of the church opening its doors to the school at a time of need. Think of this church as a fig tree, and dare to ask God what do we need to do so this fig tree bears the fruit he desires?

We’re too small-mustard seed/yeast

Responding to the word.

Anointing

Prayer

Psalm 139:23–24 NRSV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 51:10–11 NRSV

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Father forgive us for failing to love you with all our heart mind soul and strength, while at the same time failing to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Father we pray that you would give us hearts and ears to hear the guidance of your Holy Spirit. That we would allow your gardener to remove the things in us keeping us from producing fruit worthy of repentance. Father we ask that our individual lives and our lives together as your church would bear much fruit. We ask this in the name of your son our savior Jesus Christ.

Amen.