The Power and Importance of Confession, Forgiveness and Reconciliation

What comes to your mind when you read or hear the word "confession." If you have a Catholic background you may be thinking of a curtain covered booth on the side of a cathedral or chapel where a priest listens to your admissions of sin; if you have a mobster background you may be thinking of Vinnie holding a hammer over your knuckles demanding that you 'confess' what you know about the location of the money, or else!...
Confession, as taught by Jesus Christ and his most insightful followers over the last two thousand years is much more intimate than those images above can convey, and much more powerful in the results it produces than most people realize. One's entire spiritual life begins with confession. Forgiveness carries a healing power in the lives of those who live by it, and pain or frustration for those who reject it. Reconciliation is rarely possible without the prior two practices in place.
So why is life so devoid of these three practices on a regular basis? Christians talk a lot about these things, but regular practice of them seems to be very intermittent at best. Why? How are these things best practiced in the way that Christ originally intended – both privately and publicly? Come find out from Jim Koch how practicing these three things can change your life and the lives of others around you.

About the Teacher

Jim Koch is a husband, a father, a friend, and a therapist. He and his wife, Ruthie have been members at SFC since 1982. Jim was active in leading youth for 10 years in Southern California throughout the 1970's. He graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Cal State Los Angeles and M.A. in Marriage, Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University. Jim has been exploring and applying Biblical truths as a therapist for the past 25 years. He has taught many times at SFC, at other Bay Area churches and in a variety of institutions in Eastern Europe.

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