Introduction

• Luke 19:8 – Zaccheus made a radical turn toward God. This is a great story of repentance.

I may be misunderstanding repentance.

I may thing it’s just a one-time thing.

• Everybody who has sinned needs to repent – and we’ve all sinned!
• Acts 8:13-22
• Romans 1:7; 6:3
• II Corinthians 7:8-9 – They needed to repent again!
• Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19
• God offers grace, but we must repent!

I may not realize I need to grow.

• Ephesians 4:1-3
• John 8:11; Luke 22:32 – God told people to grow!
• We can’t just say, “This is the way I am.”
• Acts 17:30
• I Corinthians 6:9-11 – These were hard changes to make!

I may not ever really commit.

• Acts 26:19-20
• Acts 2:41, 44 – Why didn’t they all obey?
• John 3:5-10

• Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus can be touched by our infirmities because He was tempted like we are, yet never sinned.
• Hebrews 4:16 – Because Jesus endured temptation, we know that He understands us and can approach Him with confidence.
• Hebrews 5:5 – Compare Acts 13:32-33. Thi sis referring to Jesus’ resurrection – not His birth.
• Hebrews 5:6 – See Psalms 110:4.
• Hebrews 5:7 – Jesus was clearly not praying that He would not die because it says His prayer was heard. The Father was able to save Him from physical death and Jesus was resurrected. Jesus was evidently praying that the time on the cross would be short, which it was (six hours rather than multiple days as was often the case for crucifixion). See Matthew 26:39-42; John 12:27; Acts 27:9; James 1:10.

Relationships affected by work

Do you think work ethic has changed in America?

• Galatians 2:20
• Proverbs 30:8-9

How does a good, strong work ethic affect my relationships with others?

• Genesis 2:15 – Work was part of God’s plan from the beginning!
• Psalm 128:1-2
• Ephesians 4:28 – Work so that you have something to share with others.
• I Timothy 6:17-19

What if I’m lazy and don’t work enough? How does that affect my relationships?

• II Thessalonians 3:6-12; II Thessalonians 2:2 – God expects us to work!
• I Timothy 5:8
• Proverbs 21:25-26

What if I’m alcoholic or materialistic? How does that affect my relationships?

• Luke 3:10-14
• James 3:13-18
• I Timothy 6:9-11
• Proverbs 15:16-17