Love as a Way of Life



Faith Crisisby Ron DunnDoes Confession Bring Possession? (pp. 70 - 79)January 10, 2016Session 06The main point of this lesson is: There is in the Bible a persistent link between believing and speaking.Focus on this goal: To help adults understand the significance of speaking their faith.Key Bible Passage: Matthew 12:34-37Before the SessionBring a garment to class for an object lesson (Step 2).During the SessionStep 1. Launch! Open the session by sharing famous quotes regarding the power of words, such as: “The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t thought of yet” (Ann Landers); or “The words we say will teach if we practice what we preach” (Unknown). Invite learners to share quotes they may be familiar with. State that words have power and that this session will focus on the importance of Christians speaking their faith.Step 2. Day 1 – Believing and SpeakingExplain that Jesus had much to say about the power of words. Call on volunteers to read Mark 11:23, Matthew 17:19-20, and Luke 17:6. Ask: What was the gist of Jesus’ message we see in these verses? Discuss the essential link between faith and confession, noting that the author defined confession as faith turned inside out (p. 70). Hold up a garment and say, “This is faith.” Turn the garment inside out and say, “This is confession.” Invite learners to share their definitions of confession (Day One, activity 1, p. 70).Step 3. Day 2 – The Prominence and Power of WordsCall on a volunteer to read Matthew 12:34-37. Explain that Jesus’ words in these verses clarify the object lesson of the garment turned inside out. Stress that our words give a true picture of what is in our hearts. Call on volunteers to read Genesis 22:5, 8 and Acts 27:25. Ask: What do the words of Abraham and Paul reveal about their hearts? Organize the class into small groups (five if feasible) and give them a few minutes to discuss within the groups their responses to Day Two, activity 1 (p.?73).Step 4. Day 3 – Why Confession?Ask learners to share how they physically exercise. State that just as physical exercise is important, so too the exercise of our faith is important. Explain that the author presented five different ways to exercise our faith (pp. 74-76). Assign each of the groups one of the five ways to exercise your faith. Ask each group to discuss and prepare to report back to the larger group the following: (1) a brief description of their exercise (2) a scriptural account of that exercise(3) a personal experience of how that exercise is lived out (Day Three, activity 2, p. 76). After a few minutes, call on each group to report. Ask: How would you summarize the importance of confession to the exercise of faith? Step 5. Day 4 – Cautions Concerning ConfessionState that, unfortunately, the biblical principle of confession can be misused. Its truth can be twisted and transformed into something unbiblical. Ask: How have you seen the principle of confession misused? Write the three misuses of confession (pp. 77-78) on a whiteboard, along with these three quotes related to the misuses: “Name it and claim it” “We have not because we hint not” “Believe and it will be so” Challenge participants to match each quote with the correct misuse (A Magic Formula, Priming the Pump, and Positive Thinking). Give a synopsis of each misuse, acknowledging that it is easy to fall into these traps. Ask participants to share which is the easiest trap for them to fall into and why. State that the best way to avoid the traps is to ensure that our confessions are scripturally based. Call on learners to discuss their answers to Day Four, activity 1 (p. 77).Step 6. Day 5 – What, Then, Are We to Confess?Reiterate the truth of this session with these two sentences (p. 79): Confession is agreeing with God, saying the same thing He has said. Confession does not create faith; faith creates confession. Ask: How does God speak to Christians through both the external Word of the Bible and the internal word of the Spirit? Point out that the author emphasizes three major things that Christians are called on to confess: We are what God says we are We have what God says we have We can do what God says we can do Make a chart on a whiteboard with these three (above) statements and, in the time remaining, guide the class to answer the questions in Day Five, activity 1 (p. 79). Step 7.Wrap-upRestate that there is in the Bible a persistent link between believing and speaking. Call on learners to read in unison (p. 73, margin) Matthew 12:34b: “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (HCSB). Call on learners to keep a journal of the confessions from their mouths in the coming week and to use that journal to spur them on to greater understanding of your own inner beliefs about God.Close in prayer. ................
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