L. UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE

The sign said, REPENT YOU SINNER! “What does that mean?”  One of the international students asked. He was curious to discern what it meant. It would mean that the words repentance and sinner must be explained.   The setting is that the Apostle Paul, before his repentance, was persecuting Christians for their faith. During this time, he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus to persecute followers of Jesus.  During this time, he experienced repentance (a turning around from persecution to following) and turning from his sinful ways. This verse in Scripture gives us a look into his words to the early followers of Jesus as they met together as a  church. Take a look at this passage of the Bible.

Acts 20:21-22

²⁰ You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

1. Who is the speaker of this first sentence?

2. How did he provide teaching?

3. Why does he mention Jews and Greeks?

4. What does he encourage them to do?

5. What are they turning away from?

6. How does repentance connect with turning away?

7. What are they turning away from, and to what?

8. What does it mean to have faith in the Lord Jesus?

1. What kind of experience have you had with repentance?

2. What do you think you need to do to turn to God?

3. What do you need to repent from?

4. How will you make this repentance a genuine experience?