What is Repentance? Mark 1:1-4
Objectives:
Participants will learn what true repentance is and why it is needed to fully receive the Gospel.
Anchor
5-minute discussion:
• Recall a time when you know you should have apologised but didn’t.
• Think of a time when someone said sorry to you but you knew they didn’t mean it.
Add
Mark 1:1-4
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Weekly Learning Task 1
5-minute discussion
Do we see any of the “5 Mark Themes” from Bible Study 1 in this passage?
- Jesus’ power.
- Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God to people.
- His disciples struggle to understand who he is
- The religious leaders are corrupt and hypocritical and are united in their hatred for Jesus.
- A surprising cast of characters who do get who Jesus is and come to him in faith.
Learning Task 2
10-minute discussion
Focusing on v4: What is “repentance”? Why is it important?
Apply
15-minute discussion:
• When and how do you reflect on sins and repent?
• When you confess and repent how do you feel?
• How often should we repent?
• How does reflection on our sin helps us focus back on Christ?
Away
• Find verses in Scripture that mention “repent” or “repentance”.
For example: Job 42:5-6, Joel 2:12-13, 2 Corinthians 7:8-11, Matthew 3:8
• Think of how you would explain repentance to a non-believer and bring your ideas back to the group next week.