Chapter 11 - Confession: Coming Out of the Closet

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

Mark here. Wow! This chapter really, really got to me. I found myself thinking about that Crusader's Cross that I talked about a couple of weeks ago in church. There are people walking around our world with open wounds that disciples of Christ have inflicted upon them. Even if we have not been directly involved, we carry that burden. The story of the confessional really blew me away. I found myself wanting to go out and do the same thing. I guess that is the first discussion point I wanted to throw out there. What did you think of the confessional? Would you ever want to do something like that? What do you think would be the value of such an opportunity?

We often talk of confessing our sins to God. Do you think there is a need to confess to another person as well? What are the conditions under which you would confess your sins and struggles to someone else?

In this chapter, Miller talks about Rick, who believed evangelism was reaching a felt need. Miller described evangelism to a radio host as talking about Jesus and his own journey to believing that Jesus exists and that Jesus liked him. What is your definition of evangelism? What is the difference between evangelism and "the network marketing guy trying to build my down line"?

Throughout the book, Miller has talked about embracing Christian spirituality, not Christianity. I don't think we have really asked this question yet: what do you think he means by Christian spirituality? What does that term mean to you? What do you think Miller means when he says that he is embracing Christian spirituality and not Christianity?

Chapter 5: Faith - Penguin Sex

Mark here. As I read the chapter for this week (How could you not read a chapter with a title like that?), there are several questions that emerge regarding the meaning of faith.

Miller tells the story of his conversation with his friend Laura, who talked about feeling like God was "after her". We often talk about conversion as "coming to Jesus". Does conversion also involve God chasing after us? What do you think this pursuit feels like?

Laura said that she is resisting God because "... it is all so stupid, so completely stupid." Miller explains her comments about faith by saying, "Laura was looking for something rational, because she believed that all things that were true were rational." Is reason a part of faith, or do you have to suspend reason to have faith?

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Mark 12:28-30 - "One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'"

Are there things about faith that confuse you? Do these things make faith difficult?

Miller talks about having a "radar" inside him that says to believe in Jesus. Though he can't explain it, this radar always leads him right. How does your "radar" work? What aspects of Christian spirituality help fine tune your radar?