This devotional guide examines several different passages about repentance, from Joel to 2 Chronicles to the Gospels.

This is the devotional guide for November 6-12, 2011. Looking at the examples of Hezekiah and Jesus, the guide helps you explore trust in God and learn how to trust God more.

This is the devotional guide for August 28-September 3, 2011, containing questions from Proverbs 4 and Matthew 6.

This is the devotional guide for August 21-27, 2011, which includes questions from Proverbs 3 and Matthew 5.

Please share with others and use it in your devotional time, and your family's devotional time, for your spiritual enrichment.

This week's booklet includes questions and prayer focuses from Proverbs 3:1-12 and Matthew 7:13-27.

In Matthew 3, Matthew reported that John the Baptist came on the scene preaching repentance because of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. But what was the nature or quality of the repentance he advocated?

Today, many understand repentance as a decision we make prior to baptism and conversion. In the "plan of salvation," repentance is merely one step in a process. Repentance is often understood or stated as though it was a feeling of remorse for past sin committed.

While this understanding of repentance is important, it is not the whole story. According to John the Baptist, repentance is a lifestyle of conforming to the values and priorities of God and his kingdom. He noted, in his preaching, that judgment exists for those who do not repent (Matt. 3:10, 12). But he also noted that one's lifestyle needs to demonstrate their repentance. Thus, repentance is a lifestyle; it must be ongoing. We must "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matt. 3:8).

So repentance is not just "felt" but also demonstrated. Repentance is a way of life within God's kingdom because the challenge of changing our lives--of being transformed--to be kingdom agents for God is ongoing and always in process.

Does your life demonstrate the fruit of repentance?

The theme for this guide is how we participate in God's mission: what does God expect and desire from us? Readings, questions and prayer foci are from Psalm 119:49-72, Acts 8:1-4, Romans 12:9-21, Hebrews 13:1-3, and Matthew 25:31-46.

As always, if you find this useful, please share it with others.

This is our family devotional guide for June 12-18, 2011. The questions are from Psalm 119:25-48, Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, and 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13. The focus is God's mission and what our participation in that mission should look like. Each day also includes a prayer focus drawn from the scriptural emphasis for that day.

If you find this useful, please share it with others, either online, or make copies and distribute them.