The Fruit of Repentance

Advent reminds us that all of life is worship, and this season invites us to look again—really look—at the coming King. We lit the candle of peace, not to chase a feeling, but to welcome a Presence. Jesus says, “My peace I give you… not as the world gives.” Peace is not the absence of trouble; it’s the presence of Emmanuel—God with us—who will never leave or forsake us. We live between the first and second Advents: He came, and He is coming again. That reality calls us to readiness, not in anxiety, but in hope, joy, and reverent expectation.

John the Baptist stands as a bridge between covenants, calling us to prepare the way by repentance. Repentance is not a private nod to God—John names its fruit. When the crowds ask “What should we do?” he points to concrete, relational change: share with those who lack; refuse to exploit; be content; deal justly. Grace saves us, but grace also transforms us. If there’s no fruit, we should ask hard questions of our own hearts.

A theme we must recover is accountability. Our heritage, labels, or roles don’t excuse us—“We have Abraham as our father” doesn’t shelter anyone from the King’s searching gaze. Accountability is love with a spine. It refuses to blame-shift, won’t baptize our preferences, and places us under the greater Authority who sees rightly and judges justly. That’s why we can forgive: we entrust justice to the One who never errs, and we submit our lives to be examined by His Word and His people.

Repentance looks like generosity with our time, skills, and resources; justice in our vocations; and contentment where God has placed us. The tax collector who stops padding the bill, the soldier who refuses to bully, the believer who quietly refuses to leverage status—these are not small acts but signs that the Kingdom has taken root. We came to the Table because the Judge is also our Savior. This is the Lord’s Table, not ours. We remember His body and blood, receive afresh His mercy, and rise to embody His love—ready, watchful, and fruitful until He comes.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Repentance must bear visible fruit Repentance is more than remorse; it’s a reordering of our relational life. John answers “What should we do?” with actionable change: share what you have, stop exploiting others, and be content. Grace that saves will also reshape habits, desires, and economics. If the roots are in Christ, the fruit will show. [49:00]
• 2. Accountability restores integrity and hope Accountability keeps us from making ourselves the highest authority. It interrupts blame-shifting, names reality, and invites correction within a trusted community, under God’s authority. Because God judges rightly, we can forgive and be forgiven without pretending. Integrity grows where we submit to being known. [55:05]
• 3. Live ready between the Advents We stand between the manger and the trumpet: He came, and He will come again. Readiness is not panic but practiced faithfulness—worship, repentance, generosity, and justice in ordinary days. Advent trains our hearts to expect Him and to align our lives with His Kingdom now. [28:22]
• 4. Generosity and justice reveal new hearts John doesn’t tell tax collectors and soldiers to quit; he calls them to work differently. The Kingdom invades real jobs and daily choices: refuse to take more, don’t shake people down, and be content. Ordinary faithfulness—quietly, consistently—becomes a bright signpost that Jesus is Lord. [70:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:10] - Church App Sign-In Update
• [07:13] - Community Meal Invitation
• [10:26] - Christmas Eve Services Preview
• [14:18] - Kids’ Bells: O Little Town
• [19:17] - Advent Peace Candle Lit
• [24:17] - Emmanuel: God With Us
• [28:22] - Living Between Two Advents
• [34:59] - Prayers and Congregational Updates
• [47:47] - John the Baptist: A Bridge
• [49:00] - Reading Luke 3:7–18
• [53:27] - Repentance, Accountability, and Heritage
• [66:52] - Fruit of Repentance: Generosity & Justice
• [76:58] - Communion: Remembering the King
• [86:22] - Benediction and Sending

Bible reading
- Luke 3:7–18 (ESV)
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?”
11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics must share with him who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.”
14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

Observation questions (look carefully at the text and the sermon)

1. What sharp images and warnings does John use in Luke 3:7–9 to describe the urgency of repentance? What is he trying to move people away from and toward?
2. John gives different, concrete answers to three groups who ask “What shall we do?” — the crowd, tax collectors, and soldiers. List the specific actions he calls each group to (share clothing/food; stop overcharging; don’t extort and be content). How do those answers focus on relationships and daily behavior? [49:00]
3. Where in the passage does John connect repentance with visible “fruit”? What does the phrase “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” suggest about the relationship between inner change and outward action?
4. How do verses 16–17 describe the coming One’s work (baptizing with Spirit and fire; winnowing fork)? What hope and what warning are carried together in that image? [49:00]

Interpretation questions (seek to understand meaning and implications)

1. John warns that having religious heritage (“We have Abraham as our father”) will not excuse unfruitful lives. How should a Christian interpret the relationship between spiritual inheritance and present obedience? [49:00]
2. John’s commands address ordinary roles (tax collector, soldier) rather than telling people to abandon their jobs. What does that imply about how the kingdom transforms ordinary callings and the ethics expected within them? [01:10:06]
3. Accountability is described as necessary for integrity and for trusting God’s justice. How does being accountable to others and to God create the space for both correction and forgiveness? [55:05]
4. The passage ties good news (“the kingdom of God is near”) to urgent ethical demands. How should the nearness of the King shape everyday decisions about generosity, contentment, and justice? [28:22]

Application questions (personal, concrete next steps)

1. Identify one concrete, visible change that would count as “fruit in keeping with repentance” in your life this month. What specific action will you take, and when will you do it? [49:00]
2. Who are two people in your life who can speak truth to you and hold you accountable (not to shame you, but to help you grow)? When will you ask one of them to meet or speak with you about a specific struggle? [55:05]
3. Think about one ordinary place you spend time (work, classroom, team, family role). Where can you practice justice this week — refusing a small advantage, refusing to exploit, or choosing contentment in pay/position? What will you do differently in that situation? [01:10:06]
4. Beyond money, name one way you can be generous in the next seven days (time, skill, hospitality, encouragement). Who will receive that generosity and how will you schedule it? [01:09:00]
5. What simple daily rhythm (prayer, Scripture reading, a brief check‑in with a friend) will remind you that you live between the Advents and help you live ready with hope rather than anxiety? When will you start it? [28:22]
6. If someone asked whether your Christian faith is visible in how you treat others, how would you answer honestly? What small, measurable habit could you begin to make that visible faith more plain to others? [49:00]

(Use the Bible reading above to guide prayer and next steps in your group time.)