Seeker Track – Just Teach Sheet
December Week 2 (2025)
Theme: Advent & Preparation
Focus: Why Repentance Is Necessary — and Why Christianity Takes Sin Seriously
Audience: Seekers, non-Catholics, returning Christians, honest questioners
Weekly Goal
To explain why Christianity speaks so directly about sin and repentance, especially during Advent.
This is not about guilt, control, or negativity — but about truth, healing, freedom, and love.
John the Baptist’s message only makes sense if Christianity is taken seriously as a claim about reality.
What You’ll Need
This sheet
A Bible (or online Bible)
Willingness to think honestly about right and wrong
Quiet time for reflection
Opening Prayer (Optional but Encouraged)
God of truth,
if You exist and You care about human life,
help me to understand why repentance matters.
Show me whether Christianity’s view of sin
is a burden — or a path to freedom.
Amen.
Day 1 – Who Was John the Baptist, and Why Was He So Direct?
Teaching
John the Baptist appears in the desert preaching a blunt message:
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:2
He didn’t speak about self-esteem, success, or fulfilment.
He spoke about moral change — because he believed God was about to act in history.
Apologetic Insight
John only makes sense if God is real, moral truth exists, and our choices matter.
If God is personal, then how we live actually affects our relationship with Him.
Reflection
If there is a God who created us, it would be strange if He didn’t care how we live.
Day 2 – What Do Christians Mean by “Sin”?
Teaching
Sin is not merely breaking rules.
Christianity defines sin as choosing against love — against God, others, or our own true good.
Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Catholic Explanation
Sin is real because:
Humans are moral beings.
We know, instinctively, that some things are wrong.
Guilt exists because conscience exists.
CCC 1849: “Sin is an offence against reason, truth, and right conscience.”
Apologetic Insight
Modern culture often denies sin — yet still demands justice, outrage, and accountability.
Christianity simply explains why those instincts exist.
Reflection
If evil were only subjective, injustice wouldn’t outrage us — but it does.
Day 3 – Why Repentance Is Not Psychological Damage
Teaching
Repentance does not mean self-hatred.
It means telling the truth about ourselves and choosing a better path.
Luke 3:8 – “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.”
Apologetic Insight
Pretending wrongdoing doesn’t matter doesn’t heal people — it numbs them.
Repentance is closer to moral clarity than shame.
Think of physical health: diagnosis is uncomfortable, but without it healing never begins.
Reflection
Has denying responsibility ever truly healed a relationship or a conscience?
Day 4 – Why Christianity Links Repentance to Hope
Teaching
John the Baptist did not preach repentance alone.
He preached repentance because forgiveness was coming.
Matthew 3:11 – “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
Christianity claims something radical:
God does not expose sin to condemn — but to heal.
CCC 1428: “The call of Christ to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians.”
Apologetic Insight
If repentance existed without mercy, Christianity would be cruel.
If mercy existed without repentance, it would be meaningless.
Christianity holds both together.
Reflection
Hope only makes sense if change is possible.
Day 5 – Why Advent Is the Right Time for Repentance
Teaching
Advent prepares for a real meeting with Christ — not just a celebration.
If Jesus is who Christians claim He is, then honesty about life is the only sane response.
Luke 3:4 – “Prepare the way of the Lord.”
Apologetic Insight
Christianity does not ask people to clean themselves before coming to God.
It asks them to admit the mess so God can do the cleaning.
Repentance is not fear of punishment — it is readiness for love.
Reflection
If God were to step into your life, what would you want healed first?
Weekend Wrap-Up – What We Learned
John the Baptist’s message assumes God is real and morally serious.
Sin explains guilt, injustice, and the human longing for forgiveness.
Repentance is truth-telling, not self-loathing.
Christianity connects repentance to mercy, not despair.
Advent is about preparing honestly for God’s nearness.
Key Insight
Christianity does not invent guilt — it explains it, and then offers a cure.
Journal Prompts
“What do I think repentance really means?”
“What would I want forgiven if forgiveness were real?”
“What kind of world would exist if repentance were normal?”
Apologetic Quick Reference
| Objection | Catholic Response |
| “Talking about sin is unhealthy.” | Avoiding truth is unhealthy; repentance leads to healing and peace. |
| “People should just accept themselves.” | Acceptance without truth traps people; love wants growth. |
| “I’m not a bad person.” | Christianity agrees — but insists even good people need mercy. |
| “Why can’t God just forgive?” | Forgiveness requires truth; love doesn’t pretend harm didn’t happen. |
| “Isn’t this just control?” | Control hides truth; Christianity exposes it and then offers freedom. |
Catechism & Sources
CCC 1846–1851 – The reality of sin
CCC 1427–1433 – Conversion and repentance
CCC 1451–1453 – Contrition
John 8:32 – “The truth will set you free.”
Further Reading
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Book III: Morality)
Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: Infancy Narratives
Bishop Robert Barron, Catholicism
G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
Closing Prayer
God of mercy,
if You are real and You see my life clearly,
help me to tell the truth about myself.
If repentance leads to freedom,
give me the courage to take that path.
Prepare my heart for whatever is true.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 