week of 2/19

Unit 18  Session 4

A CONFESSING COMMUNITY

NEHEMIAH 9 - 10

We are to confess our sin so that we might be restored with God.

In Nehemiah 8, we saw that God's people had begun to weep as they heard the words of the law, pbviously realizing the gravity of their sins. But Ezra interrupted their time of consideration of sin because it was actually a time of festivity: time to celebrate God! And because God's Word is supreme, they obeyed. But when the festival was over and the booths had been put away, the tug of conviction was still strong. The people still needed to repent of their sin, and they did through a prayer recounting the mighty and gracious works of the Lord in contrast to the sinful works of His people, both past and present. 

Points to consider:

✞   Confession begins with a proper view of God.

     * Who has God shown Himself to be thus far 

        in our study of the storyline of the Bible?

     * Looking back at your own life, in the good 

        and the bad, what are some reasons you 

        can say, "God is faithful"? 

✞   Confession acknowledges the reality of sin.

     * How should we view sin in light of the 

        character and actions of God?

✞   Confession humbly seeks pardon and restoration.    

     * How do humbling circumstances serve the 

        purpose of bringing God's people to confession 

        of sin?