We have made the slides you see on the screen during the message available to you here. Click the blue boxes to take notes. When you are finished taking notes, click “Email” at the bottom to send yourself a copy. If you prefer to take notes on paper, print this page before the service. Click here to go to our website.
Together, Part 2
Confession
Live Naked
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. —James 5:16
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. —Galatians 6:1-3
Confession is a difficult Discipline for us because we all too often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners. We feel that everyone else has advanced so far into holiness that we are isolated and alone in our sin. We cannot bear to reveal our failures and shortcomings to others. We imagine that we are the only ones who have not stepped onto the high road to heaven. Therefore, we hide ourselves from one another and live in veiled lies and hypocrisy. But if we know that the people of God are first a fellowship of sinners, we are freed to hear the unconditional call of God’s love and to confess our needs openly before our brothers and sisters. We know we are not alone in our sin. The fear and pride that cling to us like barnacles cling to others also. We are sinners together. In acts of mutual confession we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied, but transformed. —Richard Foster
What is Confession?
C = A3
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. —Romans 10:9
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. —Proverbs 3:34
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. —I Peter 5:7
Why should we confess?
Why should we confess?
1. Releases me of guilt
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. —Psalm 32:1-2,5
Why should we confess?
1. Releases me of guilt
2. Reliance on God
Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. —Psalm 55:22
Why should we confess?
1. Releases me of guilt
2. Reliance on God
3. Restores my relationship with God
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.—James 4:8
How do I confess?
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. —2 Chronicles 7:14
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. —Romans 12:13
“If you don’t know Jesus today, let me tell you that right here and now you can stop carrying the burden of your sins and your past on your own.”
If you have decided to follow Jesus today, we’d like to celebrate with you and help you with some next steps. Please text Life to 63566.