Week 5 - Repent and Return | Return | Aaron Pennington - Lead Pastor

What happens when we slowly drift from God without realizing it? In Week 5 of Return, Pastor Aaron Pennington teaches from Revelation 2:1-5 and Jesus’ words to the church in Ephesus: remember your first love, repent, and return. Repentance is more than feeling guilty about sin. The Greek word metanoia carries the idea of changing our minds and reorienting our lives. When sin, compromise, distraction, or spiritual complacency causes us to drift, repentance points us back toward Jesus. Pastor Aaron challenges us to stop becoming comfortable with the things Jesus died to set us free from, to practice ongoing confession and repentance, and to honestly ask what may be keeping Jesus from being first in our lives. Scripture in this message: Revelation 2:1-5 Matthew 4:17 John 8:34-36 1 John 1:5-10 Psalm 103:12 Return is a two-year discipleship initiative at Trace Church centered around returning to our first love, returning to God what is already His, living with urgency for the return of Christ, returning to the priorities of the early church, and being a place where prodigals can return home to God. Join us Sundays at Trace Church in Colorado Springs: 8:15 AM | 10:00 AM | 11:45 AM | 5:00 PM Livestream at 10:00 AM MT 📍 Trace Church 4330 Mark Dabling Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 ⸻ STAY CONNECTED 📌 Subscribe for weekly messages: / @tracechurch 🌐 Visit our website: https://tracechurch.com 📘 Like us on Facebook: / tracechurchcos 📸 Follow on Instagram: / trace.church 🎧 Listen to the Trace Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof... ⸻ 🚶‍♂️ TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP ✅ Connect with Trace: https://tracechurch.com/next-steps/ 🙏 Request prayer: https://tracechurch.com/need-prayer/ 💸 Give your First and Best: https://tracechurch.com/give/ ⸻ 📖 ABOUT TRACE CHURCH Trace Church exists to help people find and follow Jesus. From in-person worship in Colorado Springs to online services around the world, we create space for life-changing encounters with God’s Word and His presence. Whether you are exploring faith or looking for a place to grow, there is room for you here. ⸻ Trace Church Colorado Springs, Sunday church service, Christian church Colorado Springs, Bible believing church, worship service live stream, Jesus centered church, Spirit filled church, church livestream Colorado Springs Chapters: 00:00 Preservice Loop 04:38 At The Altar 11:32 Welcome 12:33 10-Year Anniversary 13:05 Giving & Generosity 14:28 Return Stories 18:26 Week 5 | Repent and Return 18:34 Have You Ever Felt Disoriented? 19:29 Revelation 2 19:59 Five Meanings of Return 21:14 Jesus’ Message to the Church in Ephesus 21:48 Revelation 2:1-5 22:20 Test What You Hear 23:02 You Have Forsaken Your First Love 23:15 Consider How Far You Have Drifted 23:41 What Does Repentance Mean? 23:53 Reorienting Your Life 24:33 Gannett Peak Story 25:36 Caught in a Mountain Storm 26:19 A Complete Whiteout 26:43 How Sin Disorients Our Faith 27:13 The Bible Guides Us Back to God 27:51 Pastor Aaron’s Story of Drifting 28:26 Repent and Return to Jesus 28:49 Repentance Is a First Principle 29:19 Jesus Begins His Ministry 29:49 Temptation When You’re Tired 30:31 Matthew 4:17 30:49 Jesus’ First Message: Repent 31:09 An Awakening in the Next Generation 32:15 What the World Promised Isn’t Working 32:58 Repentance Puts Our Lives Back in God’s Hands 33:07 Maybe Today You Start Fighting Again 33:20 Stop Playing With What Jesus Died to Free You From 33:40 John 8:34-36 34:00 The Damage of Unrepented Sin 34:24 God’s Calling Is Too Important to Live Wounded 35:03 1 John 1:5-10 35:54 How Do I Know If I’m Saved? 37:14 Growing Uncomfortable With Sin 37:29 Is Sin Losing Its Appeal? 37:38 Preaching Truth While Asking for $13 Million 38:00 I Will Never Water Down God’s Word 38:23 What Is Keeping God From Being First? 38:51 What Do You Keep Going Back To? 39:14 Part-Time Followers of Jesus 39:32 Everyone Has Something to Repent Of 39:52 Freedom Is Found When You’re Honest 40:01 Flash Paper Response 40:31 Psalm 103:12 40:41 Write Down What You Need to Confess 41:08 Walk in Freedom 41:34 Asking God to Consume What Keeps Pulling Us Back 42:09 Relying on the Holy Spirit 42:37 Four Fire Pits 42:53 You Don’t Have to Leave With Shame 43:08 Communion & Response 44:32 Invitation to Follow Jesus 45:00 Approaching 2,000 Baptisms 45:20 Freedom Begins With Honesty 46:40 When Wind Meets Fire 52:51 The Blessing 59:32 Response Prayer 1:00:41 Return Commitment Sunday 1:01:00 God, What Do You Require of Me? 1:01:40 Safe vs. Sacrificial Giving 1:02:47 How to Fill Out Your Return Commitment Card 1:03:50 Next Steps & Prayer 1:04:18 10-Year Anniversary 1:04:27 Go Be a Trace