The Next Day Q&A - Episode 3

This week on the Next Day Q&A podcast, we welcome our very first guest! We tackle questions on confession & talk about deconstruction. 

Listen to Katelynn Martin's Testimony if you missed it:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/554773/13694493

Scripture References: James 5:16; Genesis 3:8-13; Matthew 6:12 (Lord's Prayer); Matthew 18:15-20

Intro: These sermon notes capture the Next Day Q&A discussion, starting with an apology for missing the previous week. Featuring guest Caitlin Martin, this session revisits listener questions about confession (following the sermon on 1 John 1:8-2:2) and explores insights from Caitlin's testimony regarding faith deconstruction.

Key Points:

1. Responding to Confession (Listener Question): How should one respond when someone confesses sin? 
   • Goal: Maintain a balance of truth and mercy.
   • Do Not: Make light of the sin (it demeans the confession and the cross); act shocked; pile on with reasons why they shouldn't have done it.
   • Do: Respond briefly and positively, affirming their courage; lead them to Jesus in prayer for His truth and mercy.
   • Note: If you were directly hurt by the sin confessed, allow yourself space to process; the confessor should understand this.
2. The Ongoing Need for Confession (Listener Question): Why confess current sins if all sins (past, present, future) are forgiven? 
   • Biblical Basis: Commanded (James 5), modeled by God seeking Adam/Eve's admission (Gen 3), included in daily prayer (Lord's Prayer).
   • Purpose: Primarily for our benefit – acknowledging sin's weight, promoting healing through voicing it, maintaining open relationship with God and others. Hiding suggests incomplete healing or reception of forgiveness.
3. Guest Insights: Caitlin Martin on Deconstruction:
   • Finding Life in Church History/Theology: During deconstruction, Caitlin found these helpful because: they offered voices perceived as less biased than current leaders; showed others throughout history asked similar hard questions (not alone); provided a sense of belonging to an enduring historical faith family; demonstrated God's faithfulness through past crises.
   • Advice for Those Deconstructing: Don't fear difficult feelings or questions (God can handle them); seek to rediscover Jesus Himself amid the uncertainty; trust He wants to be found.
   • Clinging to Jesus: Acknowledged the element of grace in being able to hold onto faith in Jesus even when other beliefs seem to crumble, echoing the disciples' sentiment, "Lord, to whom shall we go?"

Conclusion: This Q&A sermon offered practical guidance on handling confession, affirmed the value of ongoing confession for relational health, and provided perspective on navigating faith deconstruction by learning from church history and clinging to Jesus, enriched by Caitlin Martin's personal testimony.

Call to Action: Receive confessions with grace and truth. Practice confession yourself for healing and open relationships. If facing deconstruction, explore the wisdom of historical Christianity and anchor yourself in Jesus. Extend forgiveness for last week's missed podcast!