Preparing Your Heart To LeadShembull

# Do we really need to worry about confession? When your child then says she has something she needs to confess, every imaginable fear rushes through your mind. But as you look into her nervous face with eyes brimming with tears, you realize that how you responded right now will impact this moment and the conversations to come. So you sit down and listen as she confesses what she did. She knew what she had done was wrong and she had asked God for forgiveness, but she needed to confess in order to heal.  Confession of sin leads to healing, which leads to fullness of joy (James 5:16). As group leaders, we are like spiritual parents to our group members. God has called us to shepherd and care for each member. While most of the time leading group is fun, there will be occasions when one of our people needs to confess sin. Receiving someone’s confession can be awkward and leave us unsure of how to respond. The good news is that our role is simple: listen, show love, extend mercy, and offer wise counsel, if needed. On the cross, Jesus provided forgiveness for every sin we would ever commit, long before we ever had the chance to confess and repent. The father in Luke 15:20 is an example of this kind of mercy, forgiving the son and running to meet him before he even repented from his sin. As group leaders, we are not expected to be perfect. We will find ourselves confessing and repenting along with the other group members. Our transparency and willingness to be vulnerable will provide a safe place for others to confess. And, like the father in Luke 15, we will see healing begin as we embrace the awkward and respond in love. Reflect: * Is there anything you need to confess and repent of? Who can you confess to today? * What makes someone feel safe? As you consider the qualities of a safe person, ask the Lord to show you how you can create a culture within your group that makes it a safe place for confession and healing.