Prompts if no response: To stop doing the wrong thing, to turn around another way, to change.
Discussion Question 1:
Why is it hard sometimes to repent?
Prompts if no response: We are ashamed of what we did; we still think we are right and don’t need to apologize; we have justified or excused ourselves; we are scared of getting in trouble; we don’t want to give another person the satisfaction of admitting we were wrong.
Discussion Question 2:
Why is repentance so important for a Christian?
Prompts if no response: It shows God that we know what is right and wrong; it shows us that God is merciful and willing to forgive if we do our part; it helps us become better people because we confess and admit when we do wrong things instead of ignoring or excusing them.
Discussion Question 3:
Stiff-necked (ensure the children understand what stiff-necked means), stubbornness, and pride are mentioned as sins in the Bible. What can these three things do to us when we’re trying to repent?
Prompts if no response: Getting us to refuse to say sorry for wrong things we do; thinking we are so good and righteous that we don’t need to repent or change; making us think sin is not that bad and doesn’t really need to be repented of; and ignoring wrong things in our lives instead of trying to change them.
Hypothetical 1:
What would you think or say if you heard this: “If I sin, I can just repent later and God will forgive me. No problem.”
Prompts if no response: God doesn’t want you to plan to sin in any situation; God is merciful and forgiving, but He wants us to do the right thing instead of the wrong thing; this attitude makes sin seem like it’s not so bad when it is something that hurts us and others.
Hypothetical 2:
What would you say if you heard this: “I won’t apologize. I’ve done nothing wrong!”
Prompts if no response: We are all human and make mistakes; God is the only One who is perfect; we usually have some area in which we fall short or could improve; some of the biggest problems in relationships is when one or both people refuse to apologize for hurt feelings.
Closer
What are some things to remember about repentance to God and to other people?
Prompts if no response: We don’t just sin against other people, we sin against God too, so we need to repent to God and others (when we are able); a real apology includes admitting what we did was wrong and why, saying we will try not to do it again, and talking about how we can make it right; part of the model prayer is to “forgive us our debts (same meaning as sins) as we forgive our debtors (same meaning as those who sin against us).”
