Sermon Tone Analysis

Start with the story of a guys who just couldn’t make a clean break up with his girlfriend.

We need a Clean Break-Up with our sin

7 Common Excuses used to Justify Sin:

“Everyone is a sinner”

It is true that everyone is a sinner, and that is why Jesus had to die for us.

But he did not die for us so that we would stay in bondage to sin, but rather that we would be free from sin.

“Sanctification doesn’t happen in a day”

You are absolutely right.

But this is no reason to procrastinate.

Don’t slow down the process by holding on to sin that you God has already made evident to you.

There is going to be enough sin in your life that you don’t know about to hold on to the sin that you do know about.

“Jesus will forgive me”

“It’s normal”

“It’s not that bad”

It was bad enough to separate you from God forever.

It was bad enough that Christ had to die for it.

“Don’t be legalistic”

Jesus loved the sinner man.

We are saved by grace.

“It’s not hurting anyone else”

It mars the witness of Christ.

It often does impact others:

Influence on others: “If kevin does it, it cant be too bad.”

Sin leaves a wake everywhere it goes, even when you think it is secret.

It’s robbing the life out of you.

Darkness

Death

Bondage

5 Real and Down to Earth Reasons on Repentance

Repentance leads to freedom

Sin is bondage

Sin is deceitful

When you are saved by Jesus, you are made aware of the old life, and want to run from it and go towards Jesus.

Story: Sexual Sin, my girlfriend

Repentance leads to deeper intimacy with God

Sin is like a dimmer switch in regards to our intimacy with God.

distance is created, there isn’t that openness anymore.

This is what Adam and Eve did when they had sinned.

Whenever you are in a relationship with someone, and you have done something wrong towards them, or you are doing something wrong towards them, you cant just go on having the same deep relationship until it has been cleared up.

Story: Julia

If God is your greatest love in the world, we should be stoked about any opportunity to deepen that intimacy with God.

Why would we want to hold on to anything that keeps us from intimacy with God?

Repentance leads to spiritual growth

We say “no” to sin and “YES” to Jesus.

Obedience often leads to understanding.

Because sin is so blinding, that when we finally break free of it, it provides new clarity and understanding in life.

Repentance leads to greater impact

Whenever we are in sin, we are distracted from making an impact for Jesus.

The modern missions movement is disproportionately dominated by women.

Can anyone guess why?

It’s because our generation of men has been captured by pornography addiction.

“To be more accurate, the actual situation among most evangelical faith missions is that between 80–85% of all single missionaries are women.”

-John Piper

This is what Heb.

12:1 is all about.

Throw off the distractions

Throw off the sin that entangles

And run the race!

Repentance leads to abundance, blessing and greater responsibilities.

The Four R’s

Repent

Receive

Rebuke

Replace

Questions:

What excuses have you have you used, or seen used to justify sin?

Which of the 5 Reasons for Repentance impacted you?

Is there anything in your life that you need to have a “Clean Break-Up” with?

(You can share specifics if you feel it is appropriate for the group)