A One-Another Heart: Moving Beyond Yourself Dare To Be A Sinner James 5:16

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” - James 5:16

I. The Mandate A. The word James uses Homo = same Logeo = to say

B. The meaning James intends 1. What he does not mean a. He does not mean here that you are to confess your sins _______ to ____. privately God

b. He does not mean here that you are to confess your sins _______ to a _____. formally priest c. He does not mean here that you are to confess your sins ______ to ________. publiclyeveryone

2. What he does mean a. He means that you are to confess your sins to those you have _______. wronged help b. He means that you are to confess your sins to those who can ____ you ________ your sins. overcome

II. The Enemies a. ____Pride Fearb. ____ “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the Lord means safety.” Proverbs 29:25 NLT “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” - Proverbs 9:23 NLT

III. The Benefits A. Mutual confession is the way to ___________ reconciliation “So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” - Matthew 5:23-24 NLT

B. Mutual confession is the way to _________. wholeness “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” - James 5:16 NIV

C. Mutual confession is the way to _________. community “In confession the break-through to community takes place … If a Christian is in the fellowship of confession with a brother, he will never be alone again, anywhere.” -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

D. Mutual confession is the way to _______. witness “Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices … So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” - Acts 19:18-20 NLT

IV. The Guidelines A. When making a confession… 1. evaluate your ____ to be healed; 2. choose _______ the person to whom you confess; desire carefully

3. _______ it before making it; 4. assume full ___________ for your sins; rehearse responsibility 5. be sufficiently _______.specific

B. When hearing a confession… 1. be both ________ and __________; 2. learn to ____ silently and ____ quietly; shockable wait unshockable pray

3. don’t ________ the gravity of one’s sin; 5. ____ for total healing. minimize 4. announce the _________ that is found in Jesus Christ; pray forgiveness

A One-Another Heart: Moving Beyond Yourself Dare To Be A Sinner James 5:16