Spiritual Formation: Confession and the Practice of Truth

Spiritual Formation: Confession and the Practice of Truth - Jonathan Hurshman - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 11:00am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard 

Summary:

In this week’s message, Jonathan Hurshman continued our series on spiritual formation by exploring the practice of self-examination and confession. Drawing from 1 John 1:5–10, he reminded us that spiritual disciplines are not ends in themselves but training that prepares us for life in God’s kingdom. Just as scales prepare a musician or physical training equips a hiker, confession opens us to the transforming work of the Spirit not as a mere transaction for forgiveness, but as a way of walking in light and truth with God and one another.

Jonathan showed how confession is about “saying the same thing” as God agreeing with the truth of who we are, both in our brokenness and in our belovedness. He contrasted cultural distortions of truth, whether ignoring, weaponizing, or redefining it with the biblical call to authenticity before God. Confession, then, becomes a practice of freedom: it strips away pretense, unmasks the false self, and creates space for healing and growth in Christ. And when shared in trusted community, confession not only releases shame but also allows us to receive God’s forgiveness through the words of another believer.

The sermon closed with practical invitations into this rhythm of truth-telling: breath prayers like “Search me, O God,” the Anglican prayer of confession, the daily examen, and courageous honesty when tempted to hide. As we practice self-examination and confession, we are trained to embrace the truth rather than fear it, to live as our real selves before God, and to become a community marked by mercy, honesty, and grace.