Walking in Repentance

"Knowing Jesus means nothing without living in obedience to him." – Stacey Crawford

Pastor Stacey Crawford opened this message in the Following Jesus series by inviting the church to turn to Matthew 21. She reminded everyone that this series is about what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus. To illustrate the tension in following through on obedience, she began with a story from her own home. As a parent of a pre-teen daughter, she described the challenges of asking her to do chores. Sometimes her daughter obeys immediately, sometimes she argues, and other times she agrees but does not act. Stacey used this picture of delayed or partial obedience to connect with how we often respond to God.

Stacey led the congregation into Matthew 21:28–32, where Jesus tells the parable of a father with two sons. One son refused to work in the vineyard but later changed his mind and went. The other son agreed to go but never followed through. Jesus asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” The answer was clear: the first son, because he actually obeyed.

This parable was directed at the religious leaders who gave lip service to God but did not live in obedience. Jesus contrasted them with tax collectors and prostitutes, people considered outsiders, who responded with true repentance and faith.

Stacey explained that the second son represents those who say the right things but never act. Like the religious leaders, they had knowledge of God but no obedience. She shared from her own life as a rule follower and perfectionist. In her early faith, she thought Christianity was about keeping rules and proving herself better than others. Over time, she realized head knowledge was not enough. Knowing Jesus requires more than words; it requires obedience.

She reminded the church that knowledge of Jesus does not mean we know Him personally. God is not looking for lip service or appearances. He desires hearts that are transformed and lives that reflect obedience.

Turning to the first son, Stacey emphasized the power of his change of heart. Though he refused at first, he later obeyed. This is what repentance looks like. Repentance is not just saying “I’m sorry,” it is a change that leads to obedience.

She taught that true repentance goes deeper than words. It requires action. To help the church walk this out, she shared three steps:

We begin by admitting we are sinners in need of a Savior. Stacey admitted that as a perfectionist, pride often crept into her life. On her Sabbath day, she wrestled with frustration when others didn’t do things perfectly. God convicted her of her pride, reminding her again of her need for His grace.

Repentance requires honesty. Stacey joked about how difficult it is to admit when her husband is right and she is wrong. Yet this same humility is necessary before God. We must confess where we fall short and allow Him to forgive and restore us.

Finally, repentance means we change. Through God’s Spirit, we begin to walk in obedience. The prostitutes and tax collectors Jesus mentioned were welcomed into the kingdom because they not only believed but also turned from sin and followed Him. Stacey reminded everyone that change is not about perfection but about consistent obedience.

Stacey reassured the congregation that Jesus never expects us to fix ourselves before coming to Him. He invites us to come as we are, and He covers us with mercy and grace. But He also loves us too much to leave us unchanged. Every time we fail, we can run back to Jesus. He meets us with forgiveness and then helps us walk forward in obedience.

She reminded everyone that consistency and obedience confirm the reality of repentance. Following Jesus means coming back to Him again and again, not out of fear, but out of love and trust in His grace.

Pastor Stacey closed by encouraging two groups of people. For longtime believers, she urged them to examine whether they were like the second son, giving lip service without obedience. It is never too late to return to Jesus and walk in true repentance. For those hearing this message for the first time, she extended an invitation: life with Jesus is the best life possible. Repentance is not about perfection but about surrendering to Jesus, who meets us with grace and leads us into obedience.

She ended with a heartfelt prayer, thanking God for His mercy and asking Him to empower His people to live in repentance each day.