John: You’re right. God. I’m really sorry for hitting Mark [hits Mark].
Michelle: Er... you’re still hitting him!
John: Yes, but I’m really, genuinely sorry about it; I feel bad about it, I’ve apologised to Mark, and I’ve said sorry to God. What more do you want from me?
Michelle: Am I talking to myself?! Stop hitting him!
John: Oh, I’m not ready to do that yet...


richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

John: No [hits Mark].
Michelle: You know that repenting means not just saying you’re sorry, but also choosing to turn away from your sin, right?
John: I’ve tried that. I turned away [turns 90 degrees, hits Mark even though Mark is now behind him and John can’t see where he’s aiming], and I turned away [turns another 90 degrees, hits Mark sideways], and I turned away [now facing Mark, hits him again]. I still don’t feel any better...
Michelle: Let me put that more simply for you, have you thought about stopping hitting Mark?
John: But it’s SO satisfying. I see him, and I want to hit him, it’s addictive [hits Mark]. There you go!
Megan: Wouldn’t it be more satisfying to have a clear conscience before God?

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Megan: Are you keeping short accounts?
John: [prods Mark in arm instead] I don’t keep accounts at all, Sarah does that in our house...
Megan: I mean with God! Are you regularly repenting to make sure you don’t have a build-up of sins against your name?
John: Oh, yes [hits Mark]. Sorry. See, I just apologised...
Megan: Have you said sorry to God as well?
John: [hits Mark] Sorry Mark; sorry God. [hits Mark – sighs] I still feel guilty...
Mark: Can I say something?


richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Scene: Mark sat on a chair on stage reading a book. Megan and Michelle sat on chairs next to him. John walks on, stands to the side of Mark and hits him on the head with a long cardboard tube (the sort wrapping paper comes on). Every time John hits Mark, Mark says “Ow!”
Mark: Ow! [rubs head]
John: Sorry [hits Mark again]. Oops. Sorry [sighs].
Megan: [over-sincere, like a TV agony aunt] You seem down John. What’s wrong?
John: Lately there’s been this distance between me and God [hits Mark]. I don’t feel I’m walking as closely with him as I used to I don’t know why. I’ve been reading my Bible, and praying, and singing praise songs. [hits Mark].
[Mark puts on a toy yellow builder’s hardhat]


richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Sketch showing the difference between feeling guilty and true repentance, which means to ask for forgiveness AND to stop engaging in the sin you have been indulging in. Otherwise we are in danger of abusing God’s grace.

Jesus, speaking to the woman caught in adultery: “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:11

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” Romans 6:15

Declares the sovereign Lord, “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.” Ezekiel 18:30-31

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Repentance
Sketch showing the difference between feeling guilty and true repentance, which means to ask for forgiveness AND to stop engaging in the sin you have been indulging in. Otherwise we are in danger of abusing God’s grace.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10


richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.