Introduction:

As you get started, catch up on how y’all are doing since you last met. Celebrate how God has been at work in your lives. Ask how have the identity in Christ meditations are going.

Biblical Foundations:

Confession is a vital practice for our growth in our new life in Christ. At its core, confession means "to agree with" or "to say the same thing as." When we confess, we're agreeing with God's perspective on sin, on ourselves, and on His truth.

1 John 1:8-9 "If we claim to be without _________, we _________ ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we _________ our sins, he is faithful and just and will _________ us our sins and ____________ from all unrighteousness."

Proverbs 28:13 "Whoever _________ their sins does not prosper, but the one who _________ and _________ them finds mercy."

James 5:16 "Therefore _________ your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be _________. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Psalm 32:3-5 "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I _________ my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will _________ my transgressions to the Lord.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin."

Questions for Discussion: Based on these verses, what does confession of sin do in our lives? What makes you excited about confession? How have you experienced the freedom that comes through confession?

Modeling:

For the Leader: Share your own experience with confession. Describe how you've learned to recognize sin in your life, your process for confessing to God and others, and how confession has brought freedom in your life.

Model Confession Using the Following Framework:

1. Acknowledge the specific sin - Be clear and specific about what you did wrong, avoiding vague generalities

2. Take full responsibility - Avoid excuses, blame-shifting, or minimizing

3. Express godly sorrow - Reflect on how your sin has grieved God and hurt others

4. Accept God's forgiveness - Receive His mercy and cleansing by faith

5. Share with trusted others - Practice confession in community when appropriate

Practice:

We want to build confession into our regular discipleship rhythms.

During your devotional times this week take time to meditate on these verses: 

Galatians 5.16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin in your life that needs confession. Use these questions as a guide:

• Are there ways I've dishonored God with my thoughts, words, or actions?

• Have I harbored attitudes like pride, bitterness, or selfishness (verse 18)?

• Have I failed to love others as Christ has loved me?

• Are there commands I've knowingly disobeyed?

When we come together next week we are going to take time to confess our sins to the Lord and one another.