Godly Sorrow | Francis Chan

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is a call to experience the miracle of Godly sorrow, where believers are deeply disturbed by their own sin and the sin in their communities. This sorrow leads to repentance, which in turn brings about spiritual transformation and salvation. The speaker emphasizes that this type of sorrow is not just a feeling, but a genuine expression of brokenness over one's own sin and the sin of others.

Key Scripture References

• Ezekiel 9:4-6 - In this passage, God sends an angel to mark those who sigh and groan over the abominations in Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of a judgment that will destroy the city, but it also highlights God's desire for His people to be broken over their sin.
• Ezekiel 9:4-6 - The fact that God starts with the sanctuary and the elders closest to Him shows that He is most disturbed by the spiritual leaders who are supposed to be leading others in worship, but instead are casual about His presence.
• Joel 2:11-17 - This passage describes the day of the Lord as a time when God's presence will consume all, and only those who return to Him with fasting, weeping, and mourning will be spared. This emphasizes the importance of genuine repentance in response to sin.
• Joel 2:12-13 - The call to "return to me with all your heart" suggests that God desires a deep emotional connection with His people, one that involves weeping and mourning over their own sin.
• Second Corinthians 7:10 - This passage explains that Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief leads to death. It highlights the importance of genuine emotional response to sin in order to experience spiritual transformation.

The Importance of Godly Sorrow

The speaker emphasizes that Godly sorrow is a gift from God, one that allows believers to see their own sin and be broken over it. This type of sorrow leads to repentance, which in turn brings about spiritual transformation and salvation.

Examples of Godly Sorrow

The speaker shares personal examples of experiencing Godly sorrow, including a time when he was confronted on his pride and responded with tears and mourning. He also notes that this type of sorrow is not just about feeling sorry for sin, but about being genuinely broken over it.

Application to the Church

The speaker emphasizes that the church needs to be broken over its own sin and the sin in its communities. This involves genuine repentance and a desire to return to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning. The goal is to experience spiritual transformation and salvation through this type of sorrow.