Lessons from Sorry Çhristians

Small Group Guide: Sorry Christians
Opening Prayer
Begin your group time by thanking God for His Word and asking the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and reveal truth to each person present.
Icebreaker Question
Share about a time when you truly understood who you were in a particular role (as a parent, employee, friend, etc.). How did that understanding change how you acted?
Key Sermon Points
1. There Are No "Sorry" Christians - Only Awake or Asleep Ones
The sermon challenges the idea of Christians living in self-pity or spiritual sleepiness, emphasizing that we are either fully awake to our identity in Christ or spiritually asleep.
2. We Are Citizens of Heaven, Not Visitors
Our citizenship is in heaven - we belong there. We're not guests hoping to be welcomed; we're family members who have a home prepared for us.
3. Repentance vs. Being Sorry
Jesus started His ministry with "Repent" - not "be sorry." Repentance means turning away from sin and walking in a new direction, not just feeling bad about our mistakes.
4. Boldness in Our Identity
When we know who we are in Christ, we can come boldly to the throne of grace. We don't beg or plead - we come with confidence as children approaching their Father.
5. Reflecting God's Glory
Like Moses whose face shone after being with God, our private time with the Lord determines how much of Christ others see in us.
Discussion Questions
Understanding Our Identity (15-20 minutes)

1. The sermon stated, "You're not welcome in heaven - you belong in heaven." What's the difference, and why does that distinction matter?
2. Read Romans 8:1 together. What does "no condemnation" really mean for your daily life? Are there areas where you still condemn yourself despite God's forgiveness?
3. The pastor mentioned an entire generation of Christians "living in purgatory...stuck between the resurrection and the day of Pentecost." What do you think this means? Do you see evidence of this?

Repentance and Change (15-20 minutes)

4. What's the difference between worldly sorrow and godly repentance according to 2 Corinthians 7:10-11? Can you share an example from your own life?
5. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more" (not "I'm sorry"). Why do you think God cares more about our turning away from sin than our apologies?
6. The sermon mentioned that "there's no real failure as long as you learn from it." How does this perspective change the way we view our mistakes and struggles?

Living with Boldness (15-20 minutes)

7. Acts 4:13 says people recognized that Peter and John "had been with Jesus." Would people who know you recognize that you've been with Jesus? What would that look like practically?
8. Read Hebrews 4:16. Are you more likely to approach God with timidity and begging, or with boldness and confidence? What needs to change?
9. The pastor asked, "Do you have an apologetic stance when you get attacked by an atheist?" How prepared are you to defend your faith? What steps could you take to grow in this area?

Reflecting Christ (15-20 minutes)

10. Exodus 34:29-30 describes Moses' face shining after being with God. The sermon said, "You can only mirror Christ if you're looking at him." What does "looking at Christ" mean in practical, daily terms?
11. Ephesians 5:1 calls us to "be imitators of God." In what specific ways can you imitate God this week in your workplace, home, or community?
12. The sermon mentioned that Christians should leave "a breadcrumb trail of miracles behind us." What might this look like in your everyday life?

Personal Reflection (5-10 minutes)
Take a few minutes of silence for each person to consider:

• Am I spiritually awake or asleep right now?
• What areas of my life need true repentance (turning around) rather than just feeling sorry?
• Do I truly believe I belong in God's kingdom, or am I still acting like a visitor hoping to be accepted?

Key Takeaways
✓ Your worth is based on Christ's blood, not your accomplishments
✓ Repentance means turning away from sin, not just feeling bad about it
✓ You are a citizen of heaven who belongs there, not a visitor hoping to be welcomed
✓ Come boldly to God's throne as His child, not timidly as a beggar
✓ Your private time with God determines how much of Christ others see in you
✓ Living holy is your responsibility; being righteous is God's gift
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge:
Choose ONE of the following to practice this week:
Option 1: Morning Mirror Check Each morning, look in the mirror and declare: "I am a child of the Most High God. I belong to His kingdom. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." Then ask yourself, "Am I looking at Christ today, or at the world?"
Option 2: Bold Prayer Instead of timid, apologetic prayers, practice coming boldly to God this week. Approach Him as your Father, not as someone you're bothering. Keep a journal of how this changes your prayer life.
Option 3: Repentance Audit Identify one area where you've been saying "I'm sorry" repeatedly but haven't truly repented (turned away). Make a concrete plan to turn in the opposite direction and ask someone in the group to hold you accountable.
Option 4: Reflection Time Set aside 30 minutes three times this week to spend focused time with God (prayer, worship, reading Scripture). Pay attention to whether people notice something different about you afterward.
Option 5: Team Jesus Find one opportunity this week to boldly identify yourself as a Christian in a public setting - wear a Christian shirt, share your faith with someone, or speak up about your beliefs in a conversation.
Accountability Partners
Pair up with someone in the group to:

• Share which practical application you're committing to
• Check in midweek about your progress
• Pray for each other daily
• Share results at next week's meeting

Closing Prayer Points
Pray together for:

• Awakening - That God would wake up sleeping Christians in our generation
• Boldness - For confidence in our identity and courage to share our faith
• Repentance - For true turning away from sin, not just worldly sorrow
• Reflection - That we would spend time with God and reflect His glory to others
• Specific needs - Any personal requests from group members

Scripture Memory Verse
Philippians 3:20 - "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Challenge group members to memorize this verse before next week's meeting.
Preparation for Next Week
Read Romans 12:1-2 and come prepared to discuss what it means to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" in practical terms.
Leader Notes

• Be sensitive to group members who may be struggling with condemnation or feeling like "sorry Christians." Emphasize grace while challenging toward growth.
• Create safety for honest sharing about areas where people feel spiritually asleep or compromised.
• Avoid legalism - The goal is awakening to identity in Christ, not creating a checklist of behaviors.
• Encourage boldness without promoting judgment of others. We're bold about our own faith, not condemning of others.
• Follow up during the week with anyone who seemed particularly convicted or struggling.