Confession
Notes
Transcript
Is there anything more isolating than being alone when we fail?
Is there anything more isolating than being alone when we fail?
What Does it risk if they fail to hear from me?
What Does it risk if they fail to hear from me?
We are a community who talks about sin because we believe there is life and healing on the other side of confession.
Wisdom doesn’t mean we never fail or act selfishly. Wisdom invites us to consider the de-humanizing consequences of our sin and turn.
10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
17 How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.
And look! I strike my hand for your ill-gotten gain that you have made and at your blood that was in the midst of you.
I will scatter you among the nations, and I will disperse you through the countries, and I will purge your uncleanness from you.
For I have chosen him, that he will command his children and his household after him that they will keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham that which he said to him.”
21 “I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your assemblies. 22 Yes, even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them, and I will not look at the fellowship offerings of your fattened animals. 23 Remove from me the noise of your songs, and I do not want to hear the melody of your harps! 24 But let justice roll on like the water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
What Am I asking them to do
What Am I asking them to do
Ask God’s Spirit to make us aware of sin we need to confess.
Find a safe person who will hear your confession.
Find life on the other side of confession
2020 has been hard we’re all struggling emotionally, the nostalgia of Christmas will help, but will stuff.
Why Won’t They do It?
Why Won’t They do It?
What if people reject me?
If God forgives me why do I need to confess to others?
Confession will kill me.
I can confess sin abstractly but being specific is scary.
We yo-yo with generosity diets. Guilt motivates us to give more but then that fades.
Almost everything in our culture pushes us to want more. Even minimalism doesn’t cure a coveting heart.
What are next steps/What would people who believe this truth do?
What are next steps/What would people who believe this truth do?
Pray about adopting a family for Christmas.
Dead Dog Story- is there a confession story I can share?
Dead Dog Story- is there a confession story I can share?
Last Sentence
Last Sentence
This Christmas our theme is not alone. Sin isolates. Confession rescues us from being alone. Confession feels like it will kill us, but ironically we find life on the other side.