Beneath Every Fin is a Scary Shark

Warmup: What’s the sin behind the sin? On index cards.

Lying, Cheating, Cussing, etc.

Confess how we shrink the cross
Pretending: “I’m not that bad.”
Performing: “I’m impressive.”
Pull our affections away from false saviors and fake sources of righteousness

What is repentance?
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I shouldn’t have said that. Will you forgive me?”
Or is this just scratching the surface?  We often repent of the surface sins and not the sins beneath the sins.  I’ll tell you I’m sorry for lying, but I won’t tell you that I’m sorry for hating you and thinking you’re not trustworthy.  Beneath every fin is a scary shark.

False Repentance
Remorse – Matt. 27.3-5
“I can’t believe I did that.”
We don’t believe how deep our sin really goes.
Lenient towards yourself, but harsh and resentful toward others.
Feel really sorry. Beat yourself up for stuff.
Resolution
“I will do better next time.”
We think we have the power to change.
Do something to make up for it.

True Repentance
Oriented toward God, Ps 51.4
Not self ‘make me feel better’
Motivated by godly sorrow, 2 Cor 7:10
See chart…
Heart, not external, Ps 51.10
Tell yourself the sin behind the sin
Lie – It’s really about control
Looks to Jesus, Acts 3.19-20
Leads to honesty
Leads to restoration

Lifestyle of Faith & Repentance – Like breathing
Breathe in – repent, Breathe out – faith, Breath in – repent, Breath out – faith, Breath in…

Small Groups: Practicing Repentance

We often make excuses for our sin to avoid the hard work of repentance. Below is a list of some common excuses—and (in parentheses) the inner thoughts they reveal. Take a minute to look over the list and then use the questions below to help each other practice genuine repentance.

» I was just being honest. (Can’t you handle the truth?)
» I’m just saying what I feel. (There’s nothing sinful about my feelings.)
» I was only kidding. (Didn’t you get the joke?)
» I misunderstood you. (You’re not as crazy as I thought you were!)
» You misunderstood me. (I’m not as bad as you think.)
» That’s just who I am. (I’m a sinner, so that excuses my behavior.)
» I made a mistake. (Don’t we all?)
» I didn’t mean to do it. (I didn’t mean to get caught.)
» I’m having a bad day. (I deserve better.)

Which of the excuses listed above can you identify with?

What is a recent example (or a typical situation) when you used one of these excuses instead of truly being broken and repentant over your sin? Write them down.

As a group, role-play what true repentance would look like in these cases, using the steps below.

Step 1: Acknowledge that you have sinned against God.

Step 2: Confess forms of false repentance and selfish regret (remorse,
resolution, etc.).

Step 3: Discern and repent of the underlying heart motivations that drive you to this sin.

Step 4: Receive God’s forgiveness by faith.

Step 5: Rely upon God’s power to turn away from sin.

Repeat this process, working through as many responses as time allows: identify excuses, share examples, and practice true repentance.