Key Bible Passage(s):

Heb.12:4-11; Ps.119:65-72

Tier 1:

It can be a real trauma to be confronted by our sin, and to realize we aren’t who we thought we were. Because of that sense of destabilization, we need to be well trained so that responding well is ‘second nature’. Repentance needs to become a reflexive response, something we do instinctively. We are trained through the carefully constructed liturgies of confession we use week by week in our corporate worship. Although the precise wording changes, the prayers we use are variations on a theme, and combine the same elements.

Tier 2:

Our training begins as we are taught to reflecton God as Almighty (and so able to deal with our sin) and as Merciful (and so willing to deal with our sin). We address Him as Father, and as such as a God with whom we are in relationship through Christ. The Spirit of adoption gives us a security that allows us to engage with God over the reality of our sin, rather than feeling that we need to pretend to be more righteous than we are!

Tier 3:

If we think about God in ways that are not true to the reality of who He is we are not only at risk of idolatry, but also hinder our own spiritaul experience and growth. This can result in either a morbid and miserable distrotion of Christinaity in whch we end up feeling that we need to punish ourselves, or alternatively, a cheapening of grace as we underplay the reality of sin and presume upon a forgivenss without repentance.

Psalm 51 (Trinity Psalter)

to the tune of: Rock of Ages (Toplady)

God be merciful to me

On your grace I rest my plea

Your compassions overflow

Blot out my transgressions now

Wash me, make me pure within

Cleanse O cleanse me from my sin

My transgressions I confess

Grief and guilt my soul oppress

I have sinned against your grace

And provoked you to your face

I confess your judgement just

Speechless, in your mercy trust

I am evil, born in sin

You desire truth within

You alone my Saviour art

Teach your wisdom to my heart

Make me pure, your grace bestow

Wash me whiter than the snow

Gracious God my heart renew

Make my spirit right and true

Let me not abandoned be

Let your Spirit dwell in me

Your salvation’s joy impart

Steadfast make my willing heart

Sinners then shall learn from me

and to God restored shall be;

Saviour, all my guilt remove,

and my tongue shall sing your love;

touch my silent lips, O Lord,

and my mouth shall praise accord.

…whoever endeavours not to carry on their repentance, I doubt if they ever at all have repented yet … the heart first smitten with repentance for sin at the soul’s first conversion to God, the wound still bleeds and is never bound up to bleed no more till the band of glory be put about it in heaven.

Thomas Boston 

Discussion Questions

What do you believe about sin?

How serious is it for Christians to think, speak or act in ways that are sinful?

How do you think sin affects your relationship with God?

How far do you think Christians can go in the process of getting rid of sin from their character and life?

and later in the session

Read Hebrews 12:4-11

How would struggle against, and resisting sin result in shedding of blood?  What does this verse suggest about our relationship with ongoing sin?

Can you identify a time when you were rebuked / disciplined by the Lord?  How would you recognise this was what was happening?  In what ways did you feel like losing heart?

Hebrews suggests that ‘hardship’ is symptomatic of the Lord’s disciplining us?  Is this always the case when we are suffering or struggling?  Or does Hebrews have a specific kind of hardship in mind?

How much hardship / discipline would you be prepared to go through in order to ‘share in His holiness’?  Do you trust God with your hardship?

How can MIE support you in hardship to ensure that through it our Father achieves His end of training you in righteousness and peace?

Homework

Over this half-term we have been working to memorise Matthew 7:21-28. You will have to keep refreshing Matt.5:1-26, Matt.6:5-15 and Matt.7:7-12 whilst you do this.

(we’ll memorise the whole of the Sermon on the Mount over the 3 years of DTP

From last session, make sure you’ve done the ‘one question survey’, and continue to reflect on the cycle of repentance.

Read through Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143

(these are known as Penitential Psalms and have sorrow for sin, confession and repentance as common themes).

The Psalms were written to be sung. We continue to sing them as part of Christian worship, often setting them to well known tunes. Here are a couple for you to try out. If you don’t know the tune, find it on Youtube.

Psalm 6: 1-6 & 9-10 (Sing Psalms)

to the tune of: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (Rockingham)

Lord, in your wrath rebuke me not
in anger do not chasten me.
Have mercy Lord, for I am faint
Lord, heal me in my agony.

My soul in anguish is distressed
O Lord, how long will you delay?
Turn to me Lord and free my soul
In steadfast love, save me, I pray.

No-one in death remembers you
who from the grave can give you praise?
My groaning weakens me, at night
my bed is drenched with tears always.

The Lord has heard my prayer for help
the Lord has listened to my plea
My enemies, disgraced and shamed
will turn back from me suddenly.