Theological Proposition/Focus: We are all fallen creatures before the holy God of the universe.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: The holiness of God should drive us to our knees in repentance, not just for the sins of today but for the fallenness of humanity.
Introduction: Memory Verse: 1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
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Preview: Today we are going to talk about repentance but not just personal repentance, corporate repentance. We will see that repentance ultimately acknowledges that we sin against God and must appeal to his mercy.
Text: Daniel 3:1-19, read Daniel 3:1-3 first then back to title slide then Daniel 3"4-19, then first point.
Setting the Stage:
The Fall of Jerusalem
The problems
The prophets
Daniel 9:1-3.
Body
Repentance requires personal and corporate confession (4-6).
Most of us are familiar with the ideas of personal confession of sin.
But the reality is that we should also consider corporate confession..
Wickedness, rebellion, disobedience, and failure to listen rank among the top corporate sins.
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MTR: Consider, what are some areas of corporate sin for which you should be repenting?
Repentance requires that we acknowledge that ultimately our sins are against the God of the universe (7-14).
When sin is allowed to linger it breeds shame.
Because sin is ultimately against God, God has the right to discipline.
God's discipline seeks to turn the sinner back to God.
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MTR: Search your own heart, are there areas in which God is trying to get your attention?
Repentance requires an appeal to God not based on our righteousness but on His mercy (15-19).
Appealing to God is the correct response to sin.
Calling on the God who mercifully forgives is appropriate.
For the Christian our appeal for mercy is grounded in the cross of Christ.
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MTR: Take a second consider the cross, come to God and ask for forgiveness, and joyfully praise the God who has forgiven.
