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Recovery Ministry

Re:generation

Step 5 - Confess

We confess to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our sins.

Foundation 5

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another; and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9)

Key Theme

By faith, confess sins and receive God’s grace and healing.

Remember

When you confess, you agree with God about your rebellion, realize your need for God’s mercy, and receive God’s grace through Christ.

Step 5 Week 2 Training Video

Things to Remember

  • A humble confession is the beginning of healing.
  • Grieve the damage of sin. Celebrate the grace of God through Christ.
  • Participants should all have dates/times set to confess inventory with their mentor.

Key Questions

  • Start with questions on Day 6.
  • Day 3, Q2: What is your biggest fear about admitting your sin to others?

Encouragement for Participants

  • See if anyone can quote the Extra Mile Memory Verse: James 5:16, “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.”
  • If not, review the memory verse. Remind them that God has established confession as a means for healing.
  • Offer courage for confession: Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
  • Make sure a date/time is set to share inventory. Have participants let you know when.
  • This week is when a Group Guideline changes. Include time at the end of each meeting to encourage others with scripture.
  • Remember confession is a blessing: Proverbs 28:13, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

Encouragement for the Leaders

  • Be ready to share ways confession of inventory was beneficial for you.
  • Answers questions about to whom they need to confess. Refer to the Take Note on Step 5, Week 1, Day 5.
  • Answer questions about when they should confess to those they’ve hurt.
    • Sometimes immediate confession may be appropriate.
    • Sometimes waiting for more prayer and planning may be best. Step 9 – AMENDS, will help them create a plan.
  • When do you consider asking a participant to step back from a group?
    • When you determine that they are not ready, unwilling or unable to take a step (not setting deadlines, missing deadlines, unwillingness to follow directions to get questions answered, not doing homework or attending).
    • When their actions or inactions begin to impact the group (and hold others back).
    • Remember, it’s ok if they are not ready to take a step. God prepares hearts in season. Some people aren’t finished with sin. Some people really do need extra time to process specific steps - but have them do this with their mentor while attending Groundwork.
    • It is loving to move someone out of a group when it’s clear they aren’t taking the steps. It is not loving to let them skip hard steps and graduate from recovery without doing all of the steps. Allowing them to continue in the group without completing steps could leave them believing that God’s Word is ineffective and untrue, that they are unique, and that there is no hope.
    • Recovery is the participant’s responsibility. Their role is to take the steps. Your job is to help them be honest about whether they are truly on God’s path of recovery, pray for them, and redirect them to the truth.
  • Only the Spirit of God can lead the participants’ hearts – not you. Pray for the participants to look to Jesus for the courage and humility needed to confess, and to receive healing from pain.
    • John 14:26-27, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
  • Thank you for leading through this important step. We pray for you to have courage to speak the truth in love and help participants be honest about their past and their present.