The Way of Vulnerabilty - Pt 2 (Copy)

Written By Ryan Lovett

The Way

Recap

  • This isn’t about getting nuggets or a history lesson, this is about transformation.

  • The Way in terms of devotion:

    • Devotion was marked by a persistence of unwavering, Spirit-empowered commitment to Christ and His purposes.

The Way of Vulnerability

  • Why is vulnerability important?

    • It hinders or heals our relationships horizontally 

    • It hinders or heals our relationships vertically

What do you need to be more vulnerable in so God can bring healing?

Confession of Sins

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. - James 5:16

  • What did it look like in the 1st century church?

    • Community was a place of healing, accountability, and honesty.

    • Rather than hiding brokenness, first-century believers created a culture of honesty and healing. 

    • Confessing sins wasn’t about shame; it was about freedom.

  • Confession opened the door to accountability, reconciliation, and deeper community. 

    • It reinforced that grace wasn’t just vertical but horizontal and that healing flowed through relationship. 

    • By bringing sin into the light, the early church experienced the power of spiritual restoration and relational wholeness.

  • What public confession results in

    • Making it normal

    • Breaking down barriers of guilt and shame that keep us from doing it

    • Encourages others

    • Makes confession between close relationships easier

    • Frees us from condemnation

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. - I John 1:9-10

Forgiveness of Sins

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:31-32

  • What is unforgiveness rooted in?

    • Hurt, bitterness, and pride

      • Hurt is normal as a human, it’s the emotion side of us in how God created us

      • Bitterness is bait

      • Pride the result self-control

See below for graphics on pride.

Jesus’ Words on Forgiveness

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. - Matthew 6:14-15

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. - Mark 11:25

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:23

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have no right to withhold forgiveness from someone else.

Practicing Forgiveness

  • What needs to be done?

    • There needs to be a knowing that if this person is called a Christian, they will forgive me.

    • That I can go to my friend, confess my sin towards them, and know that on the other side of that, forgiveness will be there.

  • What is and isn’t forgiveness?

    • What it is

      • To carry on with someone and hold NOTHING against them.

    • What it isn’t

      • Saying one thing and acting in a different way.

Confession Linked with Forgiveness

  • When forgiveness is required, there are two things required of a person

    • Completely forgive them

    • Go to the Lord and get healed

  • Responsibilities

    • The responsibility of the offender is to confess and ask for forgiveness and repent in their way

    • The responsibility of the offended is to completely forgive them and go to Lord and be healed

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 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. - I John 1:5-7

Reflection Questions

  • What sins do you need to confess to someone else?

  • What in you needs to be healed so you can offer forgiveness to someone?

  • When will you pursue and practice The Way in these areas?

Pride and Unforgiveness Graphic

Pride and Unforgiveness Tree

For all of Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes, click here.

Ryan Lovett
Next

The Way of Vulnerabilty - Pt 3