Introduction

• Wells Fargo – things changed
• Blue chair – things changed
• The aims of churches in today’s time have changed
  • Learn how to be good citizens and not faithful Christians.
  • Means by which we broadcast outwardly that we’re good people.
• The aims of the ancient church were much more closely aligned with Scripture
  • Making disciples was their primary task.
    • Year-long course of instruction
      • Instructed on the Scriptures
      • Participated in the work of God
      • Learned the practices of the community
        • One of those practices was confession of sin
      • WHOA! We’re not Catholic
        • And you’re right. We’re not
          • We DO NOT believe that confession of sin is a sacrament and must be shared with a priest who then mediates forgiveness for it to be effective
          • BUT we don’t want to throw out the baby with the bathwater
            • Confession of our sin to God and to another human being is a faithful and worthwhile undertaking that can help us and others

Reading of Scripture

• James 5:13-16 – “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Confessing our sin is difficult

• Irwin Lutzer – ““Forgiveness is always free. But that doesn’t mean that confession is always easy. Sometimes it is hard. Incredibly hard. It is painful to admit our sins and entrust ourselves to God’s care.”
• Fear that we will be rejected
  • So we keep it secret
  • Upsets our pride
    • PROBLEM -SECRETS KEEP US SICK
      • Anita E. Kelly, a doctor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame – “People who keep many secrets experience a significant amount of stress that has been scientifically proven to impact long-term health. They become prone to depression, anxiety, and body aches.”

Why Confession of Sins?

• It’s Biblical
  • Proverbs 28:13 – “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”
    • Jewish wisdom literature
    • Deeply understands human psychology