BOTTOM LINE: Confession is the beginning of rebuilding hope.

Confess: to say the same thing, to agree with God

START TALKING

When have you been part of something or seen an example where there had to be agreement with or admission about what wasn't working in order for there to be hope that it would succeed or be rebuilt?

Why was it necessary to start with acknowledging this or agreeing with it? What would have happened if that step was missing?

START THINKING

Read Nehemiah 9:1. This verse tells us that they were in sorrow and even humiliated about something. What do you think it was? (hint...look throughout chapter 9!) Knowing that they had just recently fallen in love with reading God's Word and actually understanding it, why do you think their conviction was stronger than it had been before?

How does this show that they were already on their way to confession - agreeing with God?

Read Nehemiah 9:2. Then read Exodus 20:5-6. Why do you think it is important to simply agree with God about the sins in the generations before us? How is this different than blaming the generations that came before us? (Hint: Exodus 20:5-6 does not mean future generations are punished because of what others have done. Instead, it is the reality that the affects of sin are passed on to future generations until confession and repentance break the cycle!)

START SHARING

Read Nehemiah 9:16-18. When have you been proud and stubborn, doing "it" your way instead of what God's way would have been? What was the idol - the someone or something that was more important to you than Jesus? And then, how can you look back like the Israelites did and see that God was still faithful to you, still loving, and still forgiving?

How does reflecting on this make you more willing to confess? What do you find keeps you from confessing more regularly? Is it not being aware or thoughtful of God's standards and desires for you? Is it a fear of talking to God about it? Or is it something else?

Read Nehemiah 10:28-29. After the people confessed, they repented and went a different direction. When has confession led to a response of repentance for you? When have you gotten stuck at confession without repentance? What is holding you back from allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you to repentance?

START DOING

What will you do this week to make confession a routine and pattern in your life? How can being more active in reading and understanding God's Word help you to know what to confess?

How does this concept help you have a story to share those who are far from God or might be seeking to know Him more? How does understanding God as Father and you his child help you to do this?

START PRAYING

Pray for each person in the micro church to get to know Jesus more and better each and every day so that each of us will more readily know where we need to confess and repent of the idolatry in our lives. Pray that each person would have the opportunity to share with someone the hope that can come in when confession and repentance is a continual pattern in our lives.