Dear Reader,
About three years ago, Paul Williamson, a member of our board and frequent volunteer in our ministry, suggested that I explore how concepts of confession, confrontation and forgiveness might be communicated through story.
A year later the first draft of The Good Confession was completed. But I soon realized, with help from friends, that I had created a hybrid of narrative and teaching. Both had value and merit of their own, but were not happy together. I had to decide if my goal was story telling or instruction. I decided to tell the story and fit lessons, for those who wanted it, here on our website.
So here we are. If you have not read the story yet, I recommend that you do that first. It is best that you, and any who would join you in conversation, read the entire story through before stopping for questions or study.
The studies that follow are given for readers who would like to explore the principles of confession, forgiveness and reconciliation more deeply using the story of Em and his sheep as a picture. Each study is arranged by topic, roughly in the order that they appear in the book. However, they need not be taken in order. Feel free you can pick them up, or place them down, in any order that interests you.
Each study has a topic heading with a brief definition or description of the ideas, experiences and thoughts that guided how the story unfolds. After the description you’ll find a few questions for you to probe a bit deeper. The questions are by no means exhaustive. Rather they are given to generate your own thinking and questioning, in personal reflection or small group dialogue.
I hope that you enjoyed the story and that these studies will help you think about reconciliation in your own life and encourage you to be more redemptive in your relationship with others. If so, I quote Kiernan in saying, “Tanks be to Got.”
By the way, if you enjoyed the book, please recommend it to others. We self-published this book so our “marketing” depends upon people like you telling others. Also, in case you are wondering, all of the proceeds from The Good Confession go directly to the support of our ministry, not to me. So, please spread the word.
I welcome your thoughts about the story and the study. Until then, “May The Good One find you.”
Peace,
Jim Van Yperen
info@restoringthechurch.org
