
Session 6 — Healing from Sin
PREPARATION:
01 What was your experience of noticing and naming your feelings before God like?
02 What were the most common feelings that came up for you? Was anything a surprise to you?
03 Where did you most experience God’s nearness in this practice?
Read pages 208-228 in Practicing the Way.
SESSION PLAN
Gather:
Pray
Video: [CLICK HERE] (21 minutes)
Pause for Discussion:
01 Growing up, what was your understanding of sin and God’s response to it?
02 When you sin, what do you normally do?
03 As you think about your sin patterns, what attachments or idols are you clinging to in your pursuit of happiness?
04 In light of this teaching, what steps may God be inviting you to take toward healing?
Continue Video: Practice: Confess and name your sin to someone you trust (13 minutes)
Continue the Conversation:
01 What comes up for you as you consider this session’s exercise in confession?
02 Is there someone who comes to mind when you consider practicing confession? Or would you be open to partnering with someone in your group?
03 What steps do you need to take to set yourself up to practice confession this week?
Pray
FOR NEXT TIME
Preparing for Session 7:
01 Where did you experience resistance in your practice of confession?
02 Where did you feel delight?
03 How does confession impact or change your view of God or yourself?
Confession
We heal from sin by coming out of hiding. This is why this session, almost more than any other, must be put into practice. The practice of naming your sin to another person is what the writers of the Bible call “confession.”
When we feel guilt and shame because of something we’ve done or not done, confession is likely the last thing we feel like doing.
But the path to being free from shame involves being open and transparent with someone we trust. In James 5v16 we read, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” When we name our sin or shame or secret with a trusted person, we can experience healing.
The practice is simple:
01 Find someone you trust who will both love and accept you, and call you up to holiness. This could be a spiritual friend, community member, pastor, spiritual director, or therapist.
02 Find a place to meet that is private enough for you to feel safe and at peace.
03 Name your sin or shame or secret. Tell them the sin done by you, to you, or around you.
04 Let them love you, be faithful to you, and speak Jesus’ forgiveness over you.
For those of you hearing a confession, your role is very important. Don’t shame or lecture or scold, just welcome in love.
Continue this practice on a regular basis, and keep the conversation going.