Step 6 - Repent

We become entirely ready to turn away from our patterns of sin and turn to God.

Foundation 6

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Key Theme

Respond to God’s grace by turning from sin toward him.

Remember

Freedom comes when we leave sin behind and pursue God.

Things to Remember

• Our natural response to temptation is sin.
• In this lesson, we make a plan to follow God’s direction, and rely upon his strength and provision to respond differently through the help of the Holy Spirit.
• At the beginning of group time, plan to answer “how-to” questions about the repentance plan charts.
• Then, use the remainder of the time for workshop time for participants to work on their own repentance plan charts so you can answer their questions.

Key Questions

Answer any questions regarding the repentance plan chart.

Encouragement for Participants

• The Repentance Plan is developmental work, so it feels different than other weeks. This includes studying sinful nature, God’s will, setting up boundaries, and a plan of action for when you are tempted.
• This is only a tool to help make changes in life. Don’t stress if you can’t fill out every box.
• Share your plan with others. Discuss your plan with your mentor, recovery partners, and leaders. Encourage them to ask for help as needed in finding Scripture for God’s plan and will for their lives. Don’t sign-off on a plan in isolation.
• Plan for godliness and rely upon God when called to respond to temptation.
• Continue to work on your plans this week.
• Ask if anyone can share the Extra Mile Memory Verse. Acts 3:19, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Encouragement for the Leaders

• Your group members are planning real steps of life change! Praise God!
• The Repentance Plan chart is a tool to help people identify what needs to change in their lives and to help them take real steps of obedience.
  • This exercise is to get them to look at sinful patterns, to understand God’s direction, set boundaries and plan a godly response – to take real steps of dying to their sinful patterns and turning to Christ.
• Go over a personal example of a repentance plan in your own life for participants’ understanding.
• Reserve some group time for participants to work on plans so you can help with questions.
• Heart change is infinitely more important than behavior modification. Though this lesson includes changing behaviors, participants won’t be able to follow their own plan with their own strength. It’s only by the Holy Spirit that they will be able to follow God’s plan.
  
• This plan helps people take real steps of change, but also show them that they need God’s strength to do God’s will.
• Remember how you responded to temptation and sin before coming to recovery. Praise God for the freedom he has given you!