Dear Friends,
“I’ve changed my mind.”
When was the last time you said that? Was it when you were returning something you’d purchased online? Was it when you were ordering at a restaurant, and by the time the waiter had taken everyone else’s order, you had decided on something different?
When someone tells he has changed his mind, we expect there to be a different outcome. Imagine for a moment a conversation like this one:
“I thought you said you had changed your mind about coming to the movie.”
“I did.”
“Then what are you doing here at the theater?”
If someone says he has changed his mind, but his actions don’t change, he’s either changed his mind again or he never really changed his mind in the first place.
The Greek word metanoia means “a change of mind.” In our Bibles, that word is translated “repent.” To repent is to have a change of mind that is corroborated by a change in our behavior. Without a change of behavior, we’d have to conclude that there was no true repentance – no real change of mind.
This all may seem obvious to you, but here’s why I’m making the point.
When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he had some strong words for them. There was a lot about their behavior that needed correcting, and Paul was not reticent to admonish or rebuke them.
Apparently, when the Corinthians received Paul’s letter, they were grieved as they read about how their actions were dishonoring to the Lord. When Paul learned about their grief over their sin, he wrote back to them, telling them “I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting.”
Paul hadn’t written to them to shame them. But he did want them to see the sinfulness of their actions. He wanted them to be sorry for their sin, hoping that a sober grief would lead to a lasting change. And apparently, it did.
Paul goes on in 2 Corinthians 7 to explain that when we are confronted with the reality of our sin, there are two kinds of grieving that can take place. “Godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret,” Paul says, while “worldly grief produces death.”
Here’s what Paul is saying. It’s possible, when confronted with our sin, to be truly sorry for what we’ve done. We can be ashamed of ourselves. We might wish we had never done what we did. We can be sorry we hurt other people.
The question is whether the sorrow is godly sorrow or worldly sorrow. Godly sorry leads to change. Worldly sorrow leads nowhere. Actually, it leads to death. Because there is no salvation for the person who experience sorrow without change.
I remember sitting with a husband whose marriage was hanging on by a thread. He was an alcoholic and substance abuser who had been verbally abusive to his wife for years. His anger had intensified to the point where his wife had become fearful for hers and her children’s safety. On the night when this husband had grabbed his wife by her shoulders, shaken her and thrown her onto their bed, she was scared, and decided to take the kids to a place where they could all be safe.
As I met with this husband, he was weeping and shaking. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he told me. “Whatever it takes to save my marriage and be with my kids again.” His grief was real. And I was hopeful.
“Here’s what it will take” I told him. “Regular counseling. Faithful church attendance. And weekly drug testing. That’s where we’ll start.” He readily agreed. “Whatever it takes” he repeated.
Was his grief godly sorrow? Or worldly sorrow? There was only one way to find out. Godly sorrow leads to change. Worldly sorry evaporates.
The counseling happened once. The drug testing happened once as well. I don’t remember seeing him at church again. He stopped answering calls.
His marriage did not survive. His genuine sorrow did not lead to metanoia. To change.
JC Ryle give us a clear understanding of what real repentance looks like. "True repentance is no light matter” he writes. “It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation… To say that we are sorry for our sins is mere hypocrisy unless we show that we are really sorry for them, by giving them up… It is vain to say with our lips that we repent, if we do not at the same time repent in our lives.”
MEMBERSHIP CLASS NEXT WEEKEND
Would you like to know more about what’s involved in becoming a member of our church? On Friday night, May 22 and Saturday morning May 23, we’re hosting a Membership Class. It’s a chance for us to meet and explore together what it means to be a part of our church as a member.
Let us know if you’re interested in attending so we can know how much food to bring for dinner. Click here to register (https://us.list-manage.com/1BRCkIzHaqq?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
Questions? Contact Pastor Matt at mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com (mailto:mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com).
LOVE LIKE YOU MEAN IT MARRIAGE CLASSCould your marriage use a tune up?
I’m guessing just about everyone could say yes to that question. That’s why this summer, we’re planning a 10 week class for couples, taking place on Sunday mornings before church. We’ll be going through the book and video series Love Like You Mean It, looking at the Bible’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13 and seeing how it applies to your marriage.
Classes start on May 31. And as of now, there’s no child care available. If that changes, we’ll let you know.
To learn more about the class or to sign up, click here (https://us.list-manage.com/Lcr50eBflEH?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
BACKYARD BIBLE CLUB FOR KIDSOur annual Backyard Bible Club for kids happens the first week in June this summer. It’s a great week where kids are able to learn, grow and have a ton of fun. This summer, it will be Christmas in June as the kids hear about why Jesus is the greatest gift God has given us.
CLick here (https://us.list-manage.com/wOD3I4IcFhJ?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) to find out more or to register your kids.
And heads up – we’re planning on canvasing nearby neighborhoods to invite neighborhood kids to be part of the fun this year. So make sure your kids are signed up now, before we open up registration to neighboring kids.
Also, here’s a special way you can bless the kids who will be attending the Backyard Bible Club this year. You can order some of the materials needed for the week. Just click here (https://us.list-manage.com/pSPOaNzxS3H?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) and select the items you’d like to purchase on their behalf.
BACKYARD BURGER BASHPlan to bring the whole family out back to the playground at church on Wednesday, June 3 as we kick off summer with our annual Backyard Burger Bash, featuring Pastor Bob’s famous burgers. Food. Fellowship. Inflatables. And the best burgers in town!WOMEN'S 10:24 GROUPS THIS SUMMERLadies – make sure your summer plans include some informal time together with other women from our church. Learn more about what’s involved and how you can be part of our 10:24 Groups for women by clicking this link (https://us.list-manage.com/FxESJ73iJFs?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).MEN'S SUMMER FORGE GROUPSNot to be outdone – Redeemer men will be getting together for activities and iron sharpening in Forge Groups this summer. More details next week.
STREET REACH IN MEMPHISOur Roots Students are headed to Memphis again this summer for our Street Reach outreach to kids in the Brady Heights neighborhood. Students and parents can find out more about the trip and register to take part in this special week. Just click here (https://us.list-manage.com/OB8PxVRIXpU?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).ROOTS SUMMER CALENDARSummertime is fun time for our Roots Students. Here’s the summer schedule.RCC SUMMER CALENDARCheck out what we have planned for this summer, all in one location. You can scan our online calendar (https://us.list-manage.com/6PinZc1wf3W?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf), which is up to date. Use the grid display or the list display. Or you can review, download or print the summer schedule here (https://us.list-manage.com/P5nXCGatSjf?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is the preview (https://us.list-manage.com/scnIT9NuX0E?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
We begin a 12 week study of the book of Judges this Sunday. When God told the Israelites to take the Promised Land, that’s what they did – sort of. And as we’ll see this week, when it comes to following God, sort of ≠ obedience.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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