The Gospel declares that confessing our sins is necessary for our healing, forgiveness, and transformation in Jesus Christ.

“Bland confession is like taking a shower with your clothes on: you avoid the embarrassment of nakedness, but it’s hard to get clean. Often in church groups the only sins that get confessed are vague and respectable — almost virtues...Where the practice of confession is superficial, the experience of grace will be superficial." - John Ortberg, Steps

"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." - James 5:16

There is no path to freedom and wholeness outside of vulnerability. Yet, we spend most of our lives choosing to be invulnerable.

What did vulnerability and in-vulnerability look like in the life of King David? Let's dive in together.

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin." -Psalm 32:5

The Gospel declares we are set free from sin by surrendering our lives to the grace and power of God offered through Jesus Christ.

AA Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him

"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." - Romans 8:13-14

Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

The Gospel declares that we are rescued, healed and transformed by God’s power in Jesus Christ.

“The Set Aside Prayer": God, Please help me set aside everything I think I know about myself, my sinful idolatry or spiritual workarounds, my spiritual recovery journey, and especially You; So I may have an open mind and a new experience of all these things. Please let me see the truth. Amen.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." - Romans 7:15-20

The Gospel of Jesus Christ confronts us with our powerlessness to overcome our sin and brokenness.

“Let me sum up, then, the foundational ways that I believe Jesus and the 12 steps of AA are saying the same thing but with different vocabulary. We suffer to get well. We surrender to win. We die to live. We give it away to keep it.” – Richard Rohr, Breathing Under Water

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” - Ephesians 2:1-3

Listening to AND obeying Jesus's teachings is the strong foundation for our lives.

Reflection Questions:

1. How am I working the words of Jesus into my everyday living?
2. What words of Jesus am I hearing, but not obeying?
3. Am I building my life on the rock or on the sand? Am I on the broad road that leads to destruction, or the narrow road that leads to life?

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” - Matthew 7:24-27 MSG

1. The Test of Inside-Out Consistency – Is there integrity between what they say or do on the outside, and who they are on the inside?
2. The Test of Good Fruit – Do they display the fruit of the Spirit and the character of Christ (especially when it seems no one is watching)?
3. The Test of Lordship rooted in Relationship – Do their words/actions overflow from deep abiding in Christ and surrendered obedience to Jesus’ Lordship?
4. The Test of Biblical Authority - Are they using the Bible to make their point, or are they highlighting the point the Bible makes?

“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other.” - Matthew 7:15-16 MSG

1. Principle #1: We only judge (ie. provide loving accountability) through the lens of righteousness that comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Principle #2: We only judge (ie. provide loving accountability) AFTER confessing and repenting of our own sin.
3. Principle #3: We only judge (ie. provide loving accountability) when people want help with the speck (or log) in their eye.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” -Matthew 7:1-2